In the Devil's Nebula (Phoenix Adventures #2) (16 page)

She’d showered, her damp hair shades darker
than its usual gold. He felt a twinge of regret that he hadn’t been
able to shower with her. Press her up against the plas walls of the
tiny shower stall in his cabin. He huffed out a breath. Between
getting Lala settled on the ship, racing back to Khan to pick up
Dathan, Nik and Eos, and setting course for the Devil’s Nebula,
there hadn’t been time for anything else.

Now all their attention had to be on the
mission. On gaining Ria’s freedom.

Zayn caught Ria’s gaze. “Four hours until we
hit the Nebula.”

She nodded.

“It’s been sitting out near the lava world
of Igna for the last two months. If the wormhole it’s attached to
follows its usual pattern, it’ll shift soon, taking the nebula with
it.” A
beep
sounded from the console. Zayn adjusted a
setting, almost without thinking.

Ria crossed her arms. “The smugglers and the
slavers love when the Nebula moves. They’re always prepared to
ambush any unsuspecting ships, stations or planets.”

“We want to get in and preferably get out
before the Nebula moves again,” Dathan said.

“So—” Lala sauntered up and sat on one of
the cockpit chairs, backward. She folded her arms on the back of
the seat. “Apart from dangling me under the nose of the Assassin’s
Guild, what’s the plan?”

Niklas moved closer. “Girl’s got a point.
Let’s get our plan pinned down.”

All of them moved toward the holo-table in
the neighboring room. Zayn set the ship on autopilot and gripped
Ria’s arm. “You healed that head wound?” He tucked her hair behind
her ear and only saw smooth skin.

Her green eyes softened. “Yes. You?”

“Like new.” He fingered the damp strands of
her hair. “I’m sorry I couldn’t wash your back.”

She gave him a small smile. “That would have
been nice. Maybe we can find some time to ourselves later?”

He already felt the heavy, curious weight of
his brothers’ gazes. “We’ll try. Mission is the first priority
though.” Zayn felt a desperate need to hold Ria one more time
before they launched themselves into the heart of the Devil’s
Nebula and a mission that could get them all killed. But her safety
and her freedom came first.

They joined the others at the holo-table.
Lala had boosted herself onto a corner and was swinging one leg.
Her now repaired insect robot skittered up her leg. She picked it
up and stroked it like a cat.

Dathan leaned forward and tapped the screen.
The image of a rocky planet appeared. “We’ll take the shuttle down
to Lucifa. First order of business is reconnaissance.”

Lala yawned. “Boring.”

Dathan’s lips twitched. “Maybe, but we need
to get the lay of the land before we go storming the castle, or in
this case, the Assassin’s Guild.”

Zayn slapped Lala’s shoulder. “After that,
the next step is to create a distraction.”

The girl grinned. “That sounds more
exciting.”

“We want to empty the Guild of as many
assassins as we can so Zayn and I can go in, locate the derringer
and get it out,” Ria said.

“And that’s where I come in.” Lala tapped a
finger against her lips.

“You got it,” Zayn said.

“However we reveal Lala’s presence—” Ria
pressed her palms against the table “—we have to keep her safe. I
promised her the Guild won’t get her.”

Zayn watched Lala and Ria share a glance. He
shouldn’t be surprised they’d formed some sort of bond. Two lost
girls. “We’ll keep her safe.” Zayn looked at his brothers, who both
nodded. There was no way he’d let a girl fall into the hands of the
Guild. Memories of Vik and the dark cells of the Guild rose up,
closing his throat. It made him realize he’d been free of them the
last few days.

A hand slid along his arm and he looked down
at Ria. She squeezed his forearm before her hand dropped away.
Going on this mission was going to be his last gift to Vik and her
memory. It was time he let the past go, and if he helped secure Ria
her freedom, maybe she’d like to spend some of it with him.

“I know how we can create the ultimate
distraction,” Lala said. “A dirty big explosion.”

Zayn looked to the ceiling. “Why am I not
surprised?”

“Good way to get caught or killed,” Dathan
suggested.

“Listen.” Lala leaped off the table and
tapped the screen. Nothing happened. “Hey, computer girl, help me
out here.”

BEll sniffed. “My name is BEll. What would
you like to see?”

“Map of Lucifa, area surrounding the
Guild.”

The screen flashed and the map appeared in
amazing detail.

“We cause a massive explosion, maybe pick a
good juicy target the Guild wouldn’t like to see destroyed. We make
sure the event has my signature style—” she waggled her eyebrows
“—and I make a brief appearance. We’re sure to empty the Guild.
Every assassin will be gunning for me.”

“It’s a good idea,” Ria said.

Lala beamed.

Zayn considered the map. “How to we make
sure we can get Lala out of there quickly?”

Niklas stared at holo-table. “Disguise might
work. After she makes her appearance, we can alter her looks.”

Dathan was frowning. “I think we have some
spectrum camouflage in the cargo hold. We can literally make her
disappear.”

Lala let out a gusty sigh. “You guys are
soooo serious.” She waved a hand. “We can sort all that out later.
Let’s have some fun. What can we blow up that’s important to the
Guild?”

Zayn’s gaze had strayed to Ria. She was lost
in thought, but he saw the moment her face lit up.

“You thought of something,” he said.

Ria nodded. “Yes. Something the Guild holds
dear. Something they’d be very upset to see destroyed.”

***

Ria tapped the holo-table screen and the
image zoomed in. A formidable statue stood in the center of a
bustling square. “The statue of a master assassin and founder of
the Guild, Balthazar.”

Lala clapped her hands. “Ooh, good one.
Assassins live for honor and tradition, they’d hate their precious
ancestor being defaced.”

Ria felt embarrassed that a part of her felt
just a little sick suggesting it. All children of the Guild were
taught from birth to revere Balthazar. She wanted to escape, but
some training would take time for her to reject and forget.

“I have some explosives that’ll work a
treat,” Lala said. “Small enough to smuggle in and set, strong
enough to destroy the statue.” She peered at the image. “It’s
metal, right?”

“Yes,” BEll answered. “Meteoric iron.”

“Great. What I have in mind will also cause
some spectacular fireworks. Far too many explosives makers try and
create explosives that don’t make a scene.” A wide grin. “Me, I
like explosives that go boom with style.”

Dathan shook his head and leaned against the
table. “Okay, so Nik and I will help Lala set the explosives,
detonate them and then escape.” He speared the girl with a direct
look. “You’ll head straight back to the shuttle, take off, and meet
Eos back here at the ship.”

Lala fluttered her lashes. “You have such
incredible blue eyes.”

“Wait.” Eos turned to face her husband.
“What do you mean on the ship? I’m coming to Lucifa.”

“No, you’re not.”

Ria watched in interest as the couple
squared off.

Eos shoved her hands on her hips. “I can
help. I’m not some damsel that needs protection.”

“I know. But it’s too dangerous for you down
there. Your looks, your mendhi, are too unique. They might remember
you.”

Ria frowned. “Remember?”

Zayn shifted. “On a previous mission,
slavers from the Nebula kidnapped Eos.”

Ria watched the other woman shiver. Dathan
slipped an arm around her and pulled her close. He rested his chin
on the top of her head. Their argument seemed forgotten as Eos
leaned into him.

Dathan looked up. “I had to go in and rescue
her from an auction. Needless to say, there’s a slaver down there
missing a few million e-creds.” He looked down at his wife. “And
the most beautiful woman in the galaxy.”

“What if
you’re
recognized, Dathan?”
Ria asked.

Dathan shrugged. “I was dressed as a wealthy
gambler when I went in last time. I’ll use some basic disguise this
time. Besides, I’m not as unique as Eos.”

Ria wasn’t so sure about that. Even in the
Devil’s Nebula, the legend of the treasure hunter who found Star’s
End was well-known.

“So, Eos will stay on the ship—” Zayn looked
up. When his sister-in-law gave him a reluctant nod, he continued
“—meanwhile, Ria and I will find a hiding place near the Guild.
Once enough assassins have left, we’ll go in.”

“Cool, we have a plan.” Lala rubbed her
hands together. “I have some explosives to make. Come on, Fuzzy.”
She grabbed her robot and set it on her shoulder.

Ria couldn’t quite control her grimace. She
saw the same looks on the others’ faces.

Niklas cleared his throat. “I think I’ll
come and help you.”

“Sure, old man.”

Nik managed to keep a blank face as he
followed Lala to her cabin.

“Ria, I have some Guild robes in the cargo
hold. Thought we could dust them off and wear them to infiltrate
the Guild,” Zayn said.

“Great.” She followed him down the hall to
the hold. “How’d you come across Guild robes?”

“Ah, you probably don’t want to know.” Zayn
keyed a code into a panel and the large double doors of the hold
slid open.

The hold was large enough to fit salvaged
ship parts in. It was mostly empty, with stacked crates on one side
and cabinets along the other wall.

Zayn made his way to one cabinet and yanked
open the doors. Numerous outfits spilled out. The plain, rough garb
of colonists, jeweled robes that had to belong to royalty,
spacesuits, flight suits. Ria pulled out one black garment and
gasped.

“How on Earth did you get a genuine
Centaxian Security uniform?”

“Probably something else you don’t want to
know.”

Shaking her head, she set the uniform back.
CenSecs were cyborgs, enhanced with implants that made them some of
the deadliest beings in the galaxy. And they were notoriously hard
to take down. Thankfully they stuck to their star system.

Zayn pulled out two long black robes. The
home garb of the Assassin’s Guild.

Ria fingered the fabric, surprised at the
feelings inside her. Once, this had meant honor and duty. Now it
was a symbol of her prison.

“Ria?”

She shook her head. “Sorry. These will be
fine. They’re an older style, but with a few amendments, no one
will give them a second glance.”

“So, what do assassins wear under these
things?”

She looked up at him and saw his eyes
gleaming. “You’re trying to distract me?”

“Is it working?”

She couldn’t help the smile that touched her
own lips. “Most wear a fighting suit.”

“Hmm, I can imagine one of those slicking
over your curves.” His gaze wandered down her body.

“Give that to me, you lech.” She snatched
the robe. “I want to check this fits.” She skirted the crates.

“Aww, come on. I’ve seen you in all your
mind-blowing glory,” he wheedled.

“You stay there, Zayn Phoenix. I don’t trust
you or your fast hands.” She shucked out of her trousers and shirt.
“We need to make sure we’re one-hundred-percent prepared for this
mission.”

“We still have plenty of time until we hit
the Nebula.”

She adjusted the folds of the robe, their
weight a familiar sensation. She stepped out from behind the
crates. “This works fine. Not too long for me. Perfect if I need to
run or fight.”

He nodded. “I’ve used the other one once
before, so it fits me fine.”

“We’ll probably have to run and fight in
these.” She knew the risk they were taking. That one or both of
them might not survive.

“Yeah.” His eyes darkened, his face looking
stark in the dim lights of the hold. When he started walking toward
her with very deliberate steps, Ria took an automatic step back.
“Zayn?”

“I need you, Ria.”

Then he was on her, backing her up against
the metal wall. His hands went to her hips, his body crowding
hers.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“No more talking. Not now.”

His hands shifted inside the fabric of the
robe and found the invisible bindings just below her breasts. He
gripped it and yanked it open. The robe sagged on her shoulders,
baring her bra to the cooler air of the cargo hold.

Ria swallowed. She’d never seen him like
this. So driven. His hands were on her bra and with a hard yank, he
tore it open. Her gasp was loud. Seconds later, his hands gripped
her hips and boosted her up. Then he buried his face between her
breasts.

God
. His mouth was a hot caress. He
moved over one peak, sucking it in. She made a husky cry, her head
thumping back against the wall. She watched his tawny head against
her paler skin. He moved to the other breast, his teeth scraping
gently over her flesh, making her shiver.

“Zayn—”

“I said, don’t talk.” He lifted his head,
his hands bunching lower in the robe. He yanked again and the robe
split open all the way. Then his hand was sliding between her
thighs, cupping her mound.

She was already damp and as his fingers
scraped over the tiny scrap of silk, she moaned. His fingers dipped
beneath the fabric, brushing against where she wanted his touch.
Her hips bucked. Another wild yank and her torn underwear fluttered
to the floor.

His body pressed against her, his breath hot
against her cheek. His fingers brushed over her clit, then he
plunged one thick finger inside her.

Ria heard the echo of her cries around them,
rebounding off the walls.

“That’s what I want to hear. Nothing else.”
He eased another finger inside her, stretching her. “I’m going to
fuck you, right here, right now. In this damn robe. They can’t have
you. I won’t let them.”