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Cedra
“Hush.” Through the fevered pounding in my head, I thought I heard Ana’s voice. “I’ve got you, Cee.”
I tried to raise my head, but a blinding flash of pain drew a groan from my lips instead.
“Twyla...”
“You should rest,” Ana coaxed. “You have a nasty gash at the back of your head. I’ve sealed the wound.”
“Twyla,” I said again, a little stronger this time. My fingers blindly reached for my friend, trying to absorb some of her strength.
Ana’s hesitation pulsed in the air around us. Her fingers cupped mine, holding them tight as she murmured, “They took her, Cee. I’m so sorry.”
For a moment, I couldn’t summon the energy to speak. Pain stabbed through my chest, making the raw gash on my head feel like child’s play.
I wanted to scream—tell the gods to return what they’d so cruelly taken away. It was heartless to let me experience such perfect bliss and have a little taste of what life could be, before snatching it back without remorse.
A sharp pinch on my arm made me jerk.
“Just a shot for pain,” Ana explained, her voice exuding the calm I so desperately needed.
All I could see was Twyla’s face twisted in a mask of grief as I collapsed onto the floor, still reaching for her as I fell.
“Get her back,” I whispered, my throat painfully dry. “I have to get her back.”
Ana’s hand squeezed down on my own.
“Of course we will,” she assured me, her voice steely with determination. “They’re not allowed to sneak onto our Star and take our girl.”
“My girl,” I corrected her.
Ana’s soft laugh did nothing to calm the riot in my chest.
“Yes, your girl,” she confirmed. “Do you know where they took her? Their tank didn’t have a logo or a number plate. Couldn’t track them on the peacekeeper’s network.”
“Not supposed to use the network anymore. You’re retired.” It was getting easier to speak, the pain receding just a touch. I let my eyes blink open, adjusting to the low light in my bedroom. I was still lying where I’d fallen, glass shards littering the floor.
Ana gave me a bemused look. “Do you want me to follow the rules or find Twyla?”
“Fine,” I grumbled. “Just don’t get in trouble.”
“Can you sit up?”
She placed an arm around my shoulder, pulling me up as best she could and setting my back against the wall. Broken glass crackled under me as I moved each limb experimentally, forcing my fists to unclench so I could take stock of my body.
“I can’t believe they took her.”
I ran a hand through my hair, only to come away with a smear of blood.
“Shit.” Ana’s cursed ended on a hiss. “I’ll get you a towel. Hang on.”
I grabbed her before she could move, leaving a little trail of blood on her forearm.
“No time,” I insisted, using her arm as leverage to get to my feet. “I know Twyla’s parents hired these hunters, so they must be taking her home.”
“Home?” Ana repeated. “On Royal One? I can look up their address.”
I nodded. “Yes, but they have a few homes, not just on Royal One.”
