Star Raiders by Elysa Hendricks Page A

screamed.
    Another blast and Shyanne’s gasp wiped away Greyson’s smile of satisfaction. He caught her as she fel and carried her inside. Able smacked his hand against the ramp controls. The ramp slid upright and the door closed.
    “Get us the hel off this rock,” Greyson commanded.
    Shyanne’s crewman hesitated long enough to ask, “How bad is she hurt?”
    “I don’t know.” Greyson stared at Shyanne, saw a long burn mark on the side of her head near the temple. “Alert Eldin I’m bringing her to sick bay.”
    “It’s just a flesh wound,” she muttered, opening her eyes and shaking her head.
    “Put me down. It just grazed me.” Then her eyes closed and she went limp.
    The sound of his captain’s irritation motivated Able. He nodded at Greyson and ran for the bridge.
    The smel of laser-seared flesh burned Greyson’s nostrils. Shyanne’s ashen complexion and shal ow breathing were worrisome. He smoothed a strand of hair away from the wound. Off to the side, Bear waited with the children. Stil awed by his size, they huddled together, but their sobs along with the continued ping of laser-fire hitting the ship’s hul pierced Greyson’s brain like icy daggers.
    “Can the crying,” he snapped.
    The older girl stopped sobbing to ask, “Is she dead?”
    “Why the hel do you care?” The rage and pain churning inside him revealed just how much he himself cared. His concern made his tone harsher than he intended.
    The girl straightened her shoulders and growled, “I don’t.” But the tremor in her voice put paid to her words. Tears spiked her lashes and streaked the dirt on her face. Her lower lip trembled, though she met Greyson’s gaze without flinching.
    Greyson put his fingers against Shyanne’s neck. The strong, steady beat eased the ache in his heart and he said, “No, she’s not dying, but when she wakes up she’l have a hel of a headache.” He couldn’t stop his grin of relief.
    The girl smiled back, then jumped as another vol ey blasted the ship.
    “What now?” the oldest girl spoke up.
    Greyson examined her. She was older than he’d first thought, closer to twenty than seventeen. “What’s your name?” he asked.
    “Brina.”
    “Wel , Brina, would you please help Bear get the children settled?” Brina turned uncertain eyes toward Bear. To her credit, she hesitated only a second before nodding and moving to the others. They went eagerly into her arms.
    Greyson watched in admiration. The girl had been through a horrible trauma, probably seeing her family and friends kil ed, had been beaten and probably raped and stil she sought to care for and shield the younger girls. Who was she? Who were these children? Where had they come from, and why did this whole situation feel as if it had been a trap from the get-go?
    Liberty lifted off. Shyanne groaned, and Greyson stroked her cheeks and forehead. Answers would have to wait.
    “Go on with Bear,” he urged Brina. “He won’t hurt you or the children. I know you have a lot of questions. We’l talk more later, but you’re safe now. I promise.” He couldn’t help flinching. If this was a trap, had he made another promise he wasn’t sure he could keep?

Chapter Six
    Simon Dempster watched with satisfaction as the blip appeared on his scanner.
    How easily she’d taken the bait. And as directed, the slavers had tagged her ship.
    He had her now. For over twenty years he’d been waiting to obtain his goal: possession of Shyanne Kedar. Success was only a few steps away.
    When she was a child, she’d stolen the one thing he desired above al else—
    Stewart Kedar’s love. He’d worked hard to position himself at Kedar’s side, to eliminate al others who’d command the man’s attention or affection. Then she’d come into his life, and Simon had ceased to matter. Then she’d caused Kedar’s downfal .
    Years it had taken for Simon to recover and rebuild her father’s empire—the empire that should have been his. He’d earned it