Ice Baron (Ice Chronicles, Book One (science fiction romance)) by Jennette Green Page B

door slid open. Beautifully flowing gowns hung from the racks. Anya
rapidly slid open drawers and sighed with satisfaction when she found a case
containing a small, hand-held fabric simulating machine. She should have known
the baron’s rooms would carry no items so mundane as a needle and thread.
    Carrying it to the bed, she
pressed the sensor against the parka material. Cool blue light and invisible
sound waves permeated the coat’s specialty fabric. The digital readout said “Re1D.”
She plucked the appropriate fabric cartridges from the case and inserted them
into the wand. Meshed fibers, looking like a fine net, extruded from the
simulator. A few passes over her parka and the fabric wound was healed. A few
minutes to dry, and it would be as good as new. Anya healed the fabric on her
shirt and snow wear, too.
    A knock came at the door.
    “Just a minute.” She swiftly
pulled on her clothes and opened the door.
    Joshua wore a frown. A moment elapsed
while he eyed her wet hair. The cool air from the hall swirled in, mingling
with the rose scent from her shower, still lingering in the moisture laden air.
When she gestured him in, he hesitated before entering.
    He crossed to the window, which
offered a clear view of the snow-capped Tien Shan to the north. His shoulders
looked stiff.
    “What’s wrong?”
    “Onred bombed Irgiz.”
    Anya gasped. “No.”
    “He knows we’re in Aksu. If I don’t
surrender, Omsk is next. He’s given me twelve hours.”
    “What about Irgiz’s missile
defense system?”
    “Failed, just like Astana’s.” He
shoved a violent hand through his hair. “I wish I knew why! ”
    Anya rapidly assimilated this
information. Onred would not be satisfied with only Joshua’s surrender. If he
knew she was alive—as it appeared he did, from the “we” in Joshua’s words—he
would demand her surrender, too. “How does he know we’re here?”
    Tersely, he said, “I don’t know.
Maybe Richert let it slip. Maybe they scanned our voices in their airbird. Good
news is, Onred confirmed he has your family.”
    Anya felt relieved—and fearful. “Tell
the truth, Joshua. Onred wants me, too, doesn’t he?”
    His tawny eyes met hers, and they
burned like fire. “You will stay here. I’ll pretend to surrender to Onred. Meanwhile,
the extraction team will rescue your family. I’ll kill Onred, if I can.”
    Completely aghast, Anya stared at
him. “No. I’m going with you.”
    “You won’t. That is an order.”
    Anya’s temper flamed. “Forget you
and your orders! My family’s in danger. It’s my fault people are dying.
I will not sit on my hands and do nothing!”
    He turned back to the window,
dismissing her protestations without bothering to reply. “I spoke to Richert
and his commanders. The extraction is set for zero hundred hours tonight. It’s
our game. They’ll help, if needed. I’ll surrender when Onred calls the time.”
    Anya deliberately relaxed her
fists, telling herself to bide her time and get more information. “What’s the
plan?”
    “After I leave here, I’ll go to a
Donetski outpost and communicate with my men. Then I’ll take the enemy airbird
and fly to the surrender location. Onred refuses to tell us the location yet.”
    “When do you leave here?”
    “In two hours. After lunch.
Richert insists I sleep for an hour.”
    “I’m going with you. My brothers
and sisters…”
    “No.”
    That flat, inflexible command
infuriated her. “You can’t win this war alone.”
    “You will stay here, where you’ll
be safe.”
    “I failed my people. You have to let me make this right.”
    His brown eyes appeared to be
swallowed up by darkness. “Obey me.”
    “You’re not infallible. You don’t
know what’s right.”
    “I want what’s best for you.”
    “Do you?” Her voice rose sharply. “Is
that why you sold me to Onred? Because you wanted what was best for me? ”
    His solid shoulders flinched.
    “I wish I had obeyed now.” Her
voice trembled.