Page 19 of Stealing the Star Stone

Chapter Thirteen

Laurus Research Vessel

Not all bad things happen in the ‘dark.’

Day Three.

A looming shadow yanked Eli awake. He blinked, not sure what he was looking at in the softer lighting. Nova snuggled into him, a solid arm wrapped around his waist. So who—

Frederik!

“Ms. Blake, you and Mr. Thorne must come with me.”

“What?” he whispered, nudging Nova with an elbow.

“Hurry.” Frederik cast a glance over his shoulder as if he expected an interruption. That gesture alone sent a frisson of cold fear through Eli.

He sat up, shoving back the duvet. “What time’s it?”

“Two.”

Eli stared at the man like he was mad.

“What’s happening?” Nova asked, pushing herself up.

“Frederik wants us to go with him,” Eli said.

“Get dressed.” Frederik marched toward their closet, tossing pants, shirts, and jackets at them.

“This sounds ominous.” Eli snatched up jeans, pulling them on without panties. He eyed yesterday’s bra, grimaced, and clipped it on, mumbling when his nipples ached. For no damn reason.

Nova was scrambling into cargo pants, peeling on a T-shirt, then sitting on the edge of the bed to put on socks and boots. Getting dressed was so much easier for men.

“What’s Orien up to, Frederik? Can you tell us that?” Nova demanded, grabbing their notes from last night, the books with the maps, and a few bottles of water. She held the box of tea, hesitating, then threw that into the bag, as well, darting around the burly bodyguard.

“This isn’t from Lord Orien,” Frederik announced.

Eli stilled, glanced at a pale Nova, then stood, stomping his feet in the boots. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve prepped the shuttle.”

A slow smile spread across Nova’s lips. “You didn’t.”

“We must hurry. The pilot has flown past Artivar, bringing you closer to Lethara. The delay might not be noticeable if we can make it to the station-sec rendezvous before Lord Orien awakens.”

Eli reeled, unable to believe they’d found an ally without realizing. “I love you, Frederik.”

The man scowled. “Do not say such things, Ms. Blake.” He ushered them out of the cabin and along many passages. As he did so, he said, “The shuttle’s stocked for an expedition. Lethara is programmed into its navigation. That’s all I can do.”

“You’ve done more than enough,” Nova said.

“Good. I’ll be fired or jettisoned out of an airlock when Lord Orien finds out.” He dropped his head. “Does that job offer still stand?”

“Hell yes,” Eli said. “Please, if you get a chance, let Graham Whitney know what happened to us. He’s Eli’s manager. He’ll take care of you.”

“Will do.” He stepped aside to let them enter the Viator IV.

“Why the change of heart?” Nova asked. “Why now?”

“Since we’re supposed to hand Ms. Blake over today, Lord Orien ordered shock therapy and an MRI. First thing in the morning.” Frederik frowned. “Only you, Ms. Blake.”

“Well, then thank you, my friend,” Nova said. “I won’t forget this.”

“Good luck,” he said, smacking the button to shut the shuttle’s door.

She faced Eli and squealed. “Can you believe this?”

“We couldn’t have asked for better assistance. Now, can you fly this thing?” Eli tapped the back of the pilot’s seat.

She stilled, glanced at the console, and approached, sinking into the chair while running a delicate touch over the keys. “I hope so. This is state-of-the-art. Some of these functions I don’t know.”

“To be expected of an expedition shuttle.” He looped his hand through a ceiling-mounted strap.

“We don’t have a choice. I have to figure this out. I suspect, the moment I start up the engines, Orien might be notified.” She tapped a few keys but nothing happened. “Why won’t it— Oh, yes.” She grabbed the lever with her hands and flicked a button on it. “Extra safety feature. Okay, here goes.”

A steady thrum burst into life, sending a tickling vibration up Eli’s feet.

“Docking bay opening,” a computer intoned in a feminine voice. “All personnel evacuate for your safety.”

Eli leaned forward, hoping to catch no glimpses of Frederik putting himself in danger.

“He’s gone. Seems he must have charmed Laurus’ pilot.” Nova swiveled the shuttle, bringing the gaping mouth of the bay door into line of sight. “Only two ways to open that door: pilot or emergency button. And since Frederik’s nowhere to be seen…”

Out they shot, exploding into the black vacuum of space. Never had Eli felt freer, like a weight had been stripped from his shoulders. Excitement merged into a waterfall of butterflies, from his chest to the pit of his stomach. They could do this. Find a stone. Swap bodies.

With his free hand, he squeezed Nova’s shoulder, grateful to have been stuck with her. Sure, he could try and pilot this thing, but he’d learned on a chaser, not something designed as a mobile lab.

“Do you think anyone’s noticed our escape?”

She flashed him a smile. “Besides the pilot and Frederik, no. But this thing has no tracking on it as far as I can tell. Even if the galactic armada was on our ass, we wouldn’t know.”

“Destination Lethara is in two hours, twenty-seven minutes, and fourteen seconds,” the computer said.

Eli chuckled. “Feels surreal. Pinch me.”

“I know, right?” She hitched a thumb behind her. “Check the stocks. See what he prepared for us.”

“Good idea.” Eli released the strap and started opening-closing panels. “Dry foods, water, some mining gear too new to touch. Oh, these are nice.” He pulled out leather coats, lined and with hoodies.

She laughed. “Any weapons?”

“Getting there,” he said, trying on the coats, then holding up a few to measure the width of her shoulders. Tossing one over her lap and shoving his into the bag, he said, “Sorted. Next.” Tap-tap went the panels as he searched. “Nothing yet, except for a few devices of unknown purpose.”

“Weapons, a fire starter, a space blanket or two. If we’re trapped in a cave overnight, I don’t want to freeze to death.” She spun the shuttle, checking behind them, before resuming course.

“We have hours to sort through this thing.” He pointed to the console. “Isn’t it on automatic pilot?”

“Yes, but if we’re chased, I don’t want to be on the other side of the compartment.”

He ran his hand along an unmarked panel, not expecting it to pop open when it didn’t resemble the others. A light flashed on, illuminating a toilet, basin, and a tight shower. “Oh, they have a mini-bathroom.” Which meant water stores were on board.

She bolted out of the seat, striding past him, then snapped the door shut in his face.

He grinned and moved onto the next cupboard closest to the shuttle’s main door. The panel was taller—that looked promising. Sure enough, laser rifles, blasters, machetes, and daggers were clipped in place. “Found the weapons,” he hollered.

“Great,” she said, striding out while zipping up. “I miss bladder control. Yours is like my gramma’s.”

“Y’know, I’ve never considered it, but you’re right. I’ll pee though, just in case.”

There was a slight pressure building, but he somehow knew, he was in no hurry.

He didn’t bother to shut the door when she’d returned to the seat.

And as confined as the bathroom was, for his petite stature, it was quite spacious.

He washed his hands, gazing at his reflection in the mirror.

The shock of seeing himself through her amber-colored eyes had dwindled.

Now, he noticed his messy hair and a little sleep at the corner of one eye.

He was becoming too comfortable in her body. Gone was the initial shock or the excitement to know aspects of her he’d never have gotten the chance to. If they did stay this way, it would sadden him to say goodbye to his body. But being stuck in hers wasn’t so bad.

“Water?” he called, going through the panels to find the one holding bottles upon bottles of purified water—and the brand he liked, too. “For now. Pretty sure there’s a coffee station somewhere in this shuttle.”

“That would be too good to be true. Coffee, tea, something hot.” She uncapped the water and sipped.

“On it,” he said, giving her a salute. “Gotta feed the addictions.”

Silence settled around them. The swell of hope filled the space with simmering excitement.

Beside the console was the final panel, and when he opened it, the sight of a hot-water pot summoned a smile.

All good so far. He dug out her box of tea and ordered a coffee for himself.

The aromas were an added comfort as if their escape had been blessed by the tea/coffee gods.

When he placed the cup in her hand, her joy was unparalleled.

“I can’t believe we’re doing this.” She hummed on a sip.

Her expression, those lips, the flop of hair across her brow and the waterfall of it down her back added to the zing tightening his nipples.

The urge to kiss her blazoned across his mind.

She’d slap him for sure. And coming from a big hand, it would hurt.

Drawing in a calming sigh, he said, as a distraction, “Let’s go over our strategy. ”

She arched a brow. “When it’s as basic as you can get?”

He grinned. “True. Steal a shuttle. Check. Heading to Lethara. Check. Find a cave?” He yanked up the knapsack and took out their notes. “A cave system north of the equator. Dense forest; maybe they skipped it because it’s unnavigable?”

“Mm, instinct says we try it, but if we can’t land…” She changed the holographics overlaying the forescreens. “Here’s a basic map.”

He reached around her and tapped the general location of the cave. “I think it’s here.”

She hadn’t moved away in time, and the warmth of her breath across his cheek made him meet her gaze. Intense emotions swirled in the dark-green depths of her eyes. The tension thickened. His heart leaped into his throat, and he glanced at her lips.

“You’re dangerously close to kissing yourself,” she whispered.

“I’m not the one leaning in,” he breathed.

She ran her gaze over his face, her chest rising and fallen with every ragged breath. But when she shifted, instinct told him that kissing wouldn’t happen anytime soon.

She pulled back, and with a clench of his teeth, so did he.

The sense of loss cinched his chest, strangling his throat.

He struggled to focus on what they’d been doing.

“You could…” he coughed to return his voice to normal, “drop down and machete a clearing. If it’s jungle.

It would be a bitch and time consuming, but the trees might help to hide the shuttle. ”

“From a distance, but above the shuttle, no,” she said.

Back and forth, he shifted his hand as if he stroked velvet. “If we drape the cuttings over the shuttle?”

“You’re assuming we’re being hunted.” She winced. “Which we should when Orien’s such an asshole.”

“This would only work if it’s a jungle. Sand dunes would be out in the open. He’d have chosen this location for its lack of hinderances.”

“Ice would be the worst.” She nudged her head at a book. “It described the location, right?”

“Yeah, as inaccessible.”

“Let’s check it out first before we plan a landing.” She zoomed out until the 3D map of the moon spun before them. “South is another location near a lake. The map says it’s called ‘Vael’Tir’”

He shook his head. “My guts with you on this one. I like the first spot.” He studied his hand and wrist, the blue flowery spirals were halfway down his forearm. Two ends had formed familiar symbols. His breath caught. “Um, Nova, does your arm look like this?” He shoved his in front of her face.

She lifted hers and held it against his. Identical. They hadn’t noticed that before.

“Huh,” she said. “Did we bring the book with the alphabet?”

He lunged for the bag and stacked the books they’d earmarked. Sprawled on the hard metal floor didn’t bother him as he flipped through and tossed aside book after book. The second-to-last one had him slumping. He rotated the page, trying to align the symbols to those on his arm.

“It’s…” He swallowed hard. “A countdown. That’s a number two?” He clambered to his feet and brought the book to Nova.

She studied it, comparing the alphabet to her tattoo. “Yes. One, two…” She met his gaze, her eyes widening. “I think you’re right, Thorne.”

“How long do we have? I mean, we’ve been stuck like this for two days. That’s not a coincidence. But does the countdown end when it reaches our shoulders…”

“Or our hearts?” She stroked the blue symbol for ‘two.’ “Could be a toxin, killing us if we don’t switch back before an unknown number of days.” She raised her chin and offered him a sweet smile. “Well done for spotting this. It’s something even if it’s scary as hell.”

“We never considered there’d be a time limit.”

“No.” She squared her shoulders. “It just means we can’t afford to fail.”

The severity of this discovery settled on him like a solid weight. Gone was the excitement of earlier. Now, only dread remained, growing until it almost consumed him.

“We’ll tackle this one step at a time.” She lifted her chin in a show of determination or courage.

He tried to smile but couldn’t. Then he lurched, the force snapping his head forward.

“Shit,” she yelled. “Someone’s shooting at us.”

“What?” he gasped, scrambling to his feet to grip a ceiling strap.

Her fingers flew across the console, making it flicker in a kaleidoscope of colors. “We’ve gotta push the engines.”

“We’re still an hour away.”

“I know,” she said. “I’ll head for the Kegawa Belt, maybe lose them amid the asteroids.”

He gaped as the forescreens filled with endless bands of rocks that had to be the size of moons. “Nova, can you navigate through that?”

“I have to,” she said, squeezing and releasing the lever.

“Auto-pilot deactivated,” the computer intoned. “Manual override in place.”

She rolled her shoulders back and veered toward the belt. “Fifteen minutes before we’ll need to start dodging. We can make it.”

His gaze was transfixed while his senses waited for the next hit. When it struck, jerking the shuttle forward, he shuddered. “Any damage?”

“Just photon blasts.”

Like he knew what that meant.

“Keep a look out for anywhere we can hide.”

He blinked at her. Is she serious? “We’re in outer space. There’s nowhere!”

“I can try hiding on an asteroid.”

Fuck. She’s serious. “You’re mad.”

“We need more speed. Maybe if we slingshot around Nyxara.”

His mind reeled. Is she even listening to herself?

“The shield might not hold.” She giggled. “Or we could crumple this shuttle like a tin can.”

Great! He gaped, horror widening his eyes. “You’re enjoying yourself.”

“Beats dying in a lab on Laurus .”

“In an explosion? Our bodies obliterated in an instant?” The insanity of their situation, that somehow he’d become the voice of reason, had him laughing. “Sure. Let’s show them, Nova-honey.”