Beyond Galaxy's Edge (13 page)

This time she watched him carefully. He choked on his next sip of drink. She was gratified to see perspiration break out on his forehead.

“Woman, I am going to come
right here in my pants.” He shot her a slumberous look through half-lowered lids. “Want to come over here and make that naughty little fantasy a reality?”

The idea of sliding down on her knees between his legs, of lowering his zipper and freeing his cock made her hands shake. Oh, she wanted. For a long time, this man had starred in her dreams and left her twisting in her bed sheets.

Did she
have the courage to make fantasy a reality?

Her console chimed. This time it wasn’t a message from Justyn. “My search found something in the Hydrae records.”

In a blink, Justyn morphed from lazy lover to focused man. He leaned over her shoulder to look at her screen. “It’s a record of people who’ve stayed at the caravanserai in the town of Meni.” He glanced at her. “That’s the caravanserai
we use.”

“I know,” she replied. “I can see the Phoenix brothers listed in recent times.”

His eyes widened. “This record goes back fifteen hundred years!”

“By the Goddess.” She looked up at him. “Justyn, look.” She pointed to a line listed a thousand years before.

A Captain Griffin had stopped at Hydrae.

Justyn gripped her shoulder. “We shouldn’t get our hopes up. Griffin isn’t exactly
a unique name.” He grinned. “But it looks like we’ll be joining the Phoenix Convoy and heading beyond galaxy’s edge. You’ll get to see the caravanserai for yourself, Captain Sander.”

Nissa’s shoulder tingled from his touch, the warmth spreading through her. They were really going to do this. Head off into the unknown after a millennia-old treasure. The flutter in her belly felt good.

All of
this was thanks to the man beside her.

A man she really, really wanted to get naked.

Nissa blew out a breath. Damn, she was going to do that, too. It would be another adventure.

“What if it isn’t him?” Going all the way to Hydrae might just be a big waste of time.

He flicked a finger against her chin. “Gotta take a risk to get the reward, Nissa.”

She felt a tug low in her belly. She
knew he wasn’t talking about finding ancient treasures. Her Sync chimed. “Another naughty message?”

He didn’t smile. “Sorry. Not me this time. I hope no one else is sending you dirty love notes.”

With a frown, she realized it wasn’t a message but a transmission. And she knew exactly who was calling her. All the lovely fizz in her blood evaporated like it had never existed.

Schooling her
features, she accepted the call. “Dad.”

“Nissa, what the hell is going on?”

She took in deep, even breaths. Her father’s craggy face filled the screen, along with his scowl. His iron-gray hair was combed neatly, in exactly the same style he’d had her entire life. Adventure was not in Commodore Jonathan Sander’s vocabulary.

“I was going to call—”

“I heard from a colleague that you’ve take
a leave of absence and you’re on some crazy, wild-goose chase.”

“Yes—”

He powered over her, his voice deep and resonating. “Of all the irresponsible, careless things.” He shook his head. “You have responsibilities. And you’re endangering your career.”

“No, Dad. I’m going after an important artifact that the authorities want back.”

He waved a hand, his jaw tightening. “A treasure hunt.”
He said it like it was something dirty. “You aren’t a child, Nissa. You should be on your damned ship doing your duty. Not sullying the Sander name.” He expelled a noisy breath. “I never expected you to act like this. To act like your brother.”

Nissa’s body flushed cold, then hot. She kept her tone modulated. “Except I don’t kill people. I’m sorry you’re disappointed. I have work, I need to
go.”

“Nissa—”

She’d heard that disapproving tone so many times before. Sometimes it felt like nothing she did was ever good enough. “I’ll contact you once I’m back on the
Freedom
.”

“And when will that be?” Icy-cold words.

“I don’t know.” And I’m sorry that makes you unhappy. “I have to go.” She ended the transmission.

She lifted her gaze, saw Justyn watching her. She was so stupid to
think diving into an adventure was the answer to anything. She did have responsibilities that were so much more important than her own whims and desires could ever be. She pushed away from the table.

“Nissa—”

She held him off with a hand. “I’ll be in my cabin. I’ll keep going through the documents. Let me know when it’s time to get underway.”

She tried not to think of anything as she walked
to the cabin she’d been assigned. She entered the small, but well-equipped space and heaved out a long breath.

Her Sync chimed yet again.

Her stomach dropped. Surely her father didn’t have anything left to lecture her about.

But this time it wasn’t her father’s face that appeared on the screen. It was Admiral DeRuyter’s.

“Admiral,” Nissa said, surprised.

“Captain Sander. I was informed
that you’ve taken a leave of absence.” The admiral’s shrewd eyes glittered. “And that you’re heading off on a treasure hunt after the Constitution.”

Nissa stayed silent. Right at that moment she wasn’t GSS. “Ma’am, I’m on leave—”

The admiral waved a hand. “I want that document, Sander. And I expect you to get it for me. Whatever it takes.”

Get it for her?
“Admiral, if I find the Constitution,
I’ll do everything I can to ensure it is given back to the Institute of Galactic—”

“Those idiots couldn’t look after it in the first place! I want the document delivered directly to me. I will ensure its safety.”

“With all due respect, Admiral, what do you plan to do with it?”

The admiral’s face took on a hard and unforgiving look Nissa had never seen on her before. “That’s classified, Captain.
I need you to trust me. All you need to know is that we need that document to secure law and order in the galaxy.”

“I’m on leave—”

Admiral DeRuyter leaned forward. “Nissa, I will ensure you get that transfer you’ve been wanting for a long time.”

“That’s generous, but I don’t feel comfortable—”

“I also believe that very soon your father’s due to receive a commendation for his years of excellent
service in Patrol, correct?”

Dread turned Nissa’s heart to ice.

“Get the Constitution for me and I will ensure your transfer.” The admiral smiled. It was hard as steel. “I will also ensure your father receives what most consider the pinnacle of achievement in a career like his. You’re aware that the commendation also secures his pension for the rest of his life. Without it…” she trailed off.

Nissa swallowed around the knot in her throat. Without it, he wouldn’t exactly be penniless, but his savings certainly wouldn’t last that long.

“Are we clear?”

Blackmailed and trapped. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Good. I’ll expect regular updates. I want to know every step you’re taking, and where you’re going. And I’ll also expect that Phoenix will not know anything about our…agreement. Understood?”

Nissa ground her teeth together. “Yes.”

Justyn stood on the bridge of the
Sky Nomad
watching Dare’s crew work with practiced precision as the ship pushed back from Galaxy’s Edge.

He loved the beginning of a convoy. The sense of potential and excitement.

Justyn could see it in his brothers, too. Ahead of him, Dare stood in his usual spot in the center of the bridge, his posture sharp and his expression serious,
watching both his crew and the viewscreen with focused intensity.

“Evan, once you’ve finished pushback, get us on course.” As always, Dare’s voice rang with command. Justyn could easily imagine Dare in charge of a fleet of warships. He might have done well in the military, except he needed to make the rules, not follow someone else’s. Justyn was well aware what had left his brother with a driving
need to be in control. None of them had escaped that basement unscathed.

“Yes, sir.” The
Nomad’s
pilot hurried to obey.

Justyn listened to Tasha, the comms specialist, communicating with the other ships that would be part of the Phoenix Convoy. They were all pushing back from the space station’s docks.

But through all the organized chaos, he was excruciatingly aware of Nissa standing off
to the side. She looked cool and calm, but he knew it for a brittle façade.

God, her father was a piece of work. Spit and polish to the bone. Commodore Sander had given his daughter her height and the shape of her jaw, but Justyn had seen little else of her in the hard man. A man who seemed to be living through his daughter’s career.

Justyn moved toward her. Behind her stood a small group
of convoy passengers who’d paid for passage on the
Sky Nomad
. There were two Cathar monks in their blood-red robes, hands pressed together, quiet eyes watching the proceedings. Three adventurers—two men and a woman—bouncing on the balls of their feet, watching on with excitement. And five colonists looking for new worlds to settle. They looked a little awed by it all.

One of the colonists, a
curvy woman with a cloud of golden hair caught his gaze and offered him a smile filled with invitation. She wore simple fitted trousers and a button-down white top, but she’d left a few buttons open to display all her charms. She whispered something to her red-haired friend, a taller woman wearing a similar outfit. The redhead also looked his way and they both giggled.

Justyn gave them a polite
smile before reaching Nissa. “You okay?”

“Fine. Eager to be underway.”

Her voice held about as much emotion as the ship’s metal walls. “What do you think of all of this?” He waved at the viewscreen. A dozen ships of varying makes, sizes and shapes were moving into formation behind the
Sky Nomad
on Dare’s commands.

Something sparked in her eyes. “Dare runs a tight ship. His crew knows what
they’re doing.”

Of course she’d be focused on the ship and crew. Justyn grinned. “Dare gives orders and expects complete obedience.”

An almost-smile on that generous mouth. “Yeah, I got that. When he was giving the pilot orders, I almost jumped to do it.” She turned to look at Dare as he issued orders to a ship that was late getting into line. She lowered her voice. “He’s actually a bit scary.”

“This from an experienced GSS Patrol captain? I thought you’d be used to following orders.”

“Ah, but most of mine come across the safety of the comms. And I don’t fear for my life if I don’t follow them.” She watched the pilot for a moment. “He’s not bad. A little heavy on the thrusters, though.”

“Evan’s new. This is only his second convoy.”

A wistful look crossed her face. “Sometimes I
miss the feel of a ship’s controls under my fingers. All that power at your fingertips, waiting for the right commands.”

“Downside of being promoted, I guess.”

“Yeah.”

Suddenly Dare’s raised voice cut through the bridge. “
Galactic Pride
, get into line
now
or we’ll leave you behind.”

On the bottom of the viewscreen was a small square showing the cockpit of the
Galactic Pride
. A young man
with a long, shaggy hair waved a hand at them. “We just want to swing around and get some shots of the space station.”

“In line. Now.”

Dare’s voice was like a blade. Justyn grimaced. The
Pride’s
captain was an idiot.

“We just need a couple more minutes. We’ll catch up.”

“No, you won’t. You’re off the convoy. Head back to dock.”

“What?” The young captain’s eyes bugged out. “I paid good
e-creds—”

“They’ll be refunded to your account.” Dare looked away. “Tasha, contact the next ships in line and have them close the gap.”

“Phoenix! You can’t kick us off this fucking convoy before we even get going.”

“We got going twenty minutes ago when the
Sky Nomad
started her engines. If one ship disobeys convoy orders while out there in uncharted space, it could mean we all die. I told
you when we went over the convoy agreement, you follow my orders without question, without hesitation, or you’re off.”

The
Galactic Pride’s
captain kept spluttering, but Dare chopped a hand through the air and the screen showing the
Pride
clicked off.

“Not the forgiving type, is he?” Nissa said.

“No.” Dare didn’t have a forgiving bone in his body. Born out of the bleak, horrible things of
their childhood. A bad taste filled Justyn’s mouth, but he wrestled the dark memories away.

“How long to Hydrae?”

Nissa’s smoky voice brought Justyn back with a start. “A week at convoy speed.”

“We won’t be at interstellar speed?”

“For some parts of the route, but not all of it. Some people out there like to set ambushes for ships at interstellar speed. They can attack before you know
they’re there. Where Aurina tells us it’s safe, we’ll use interstellar.”

“We could go ahead in your runnership.”

She’d watched him dock the
Mercury
in one of the Nomad’s bays. “Not a good idea.”

“Why?”

“Because—” a voice from behind them said “—you’ll set yourself up as pirate bait.” Aurina’s red-gold hair swung in a high ponytail. She was wearing olive-green cargo trousers and tight white
tank. “For now, it’s safer with the convoy.”

Nissa raised a brow. “But you go ahead.”

Aurina shrugged. “I’m a trained, experienced scout. My scoutship has exceptional cloaking. And I do a hell of a lot of research before I take off into the black.”

“You aren’t heading out yet?”

“Nope.” His sister sank onto a chair and crossed her long legs. “This part of the route is well known. I’ll head
out after Hydrae.”

Nissa sighed. “I just want to get to Hydrae as quickly as possible.”

Justyn’s mouth tightened. That call with her father had crushed the shimmer of excitement Justyn had seen in her yesterday.

And damn it, he wanted it back.

“Come on now,” he said. “Treasure hunters don’t want the hunt over quickly.”