Star Raiders (31 page)
Authors: Elysa Hendricks
Tags: #Science Fiction, #Fiction, #Romance, #Fantasy, #Adventure, #Life on Other Planets, #General
Oblivious of the tension in the air, Arianna lifted her arms. “Piggy ride!” she insisted. Rian forced a grin, swung the girl up onto his shoulders and gal oped off.
Greyson watched the two with a smile. His concern for Shyanne dampened for a moment by the sight; Rian would keep his sister occupied until everything was over.
As he rushed through town toward home, Greyson reminded himself Shyanne had been through this twice before. She’d be fine. Though Rian’s birth had been difficult, Arianna slipped easily into the world, into his arms and into his heart.
Though he didn’t slow his pace, he turned his thoughts away from possible complications. Because there wouldn’t be any. There couldn’t. Because of Shyanne, Greyson’s life was far different than he’d ever imagined it would be—far different and far better than he’d ever hoped.
He ignored friends’ greetings and didn’t stop to check out newcomers. His duties as Uta’s planetary director included approving or denying emigrant status, but that was the smal est portion of his responsibility. The largest part of his time was taken up handling negotiations with the Consortium for admittance into C.O.I.L.
Though Shyanne stil had her reservations about the move, even she had final y admitted to the wisdom of joining the Consortium. Greyson was thankful for her support. Her position as head of Uta’s governing council gave her a lot of sway with the people.
So much had happened since he’d returned to Uta, not the least of which was the birth of his adorable daughter who so resembled Shyanne at the same age.
With the reward money they received for stopping Dempster, Uta had become a thriving, self-sufficient colony. Their population had doubled each year until he no longer recognized every face.
Chalmer relocating a portion of his business to the planet helped solidify ELF’s commitment to providing protection to Uta, too. Not that they needed it with three Kedar-designed, Dane-built battle cruisers now orbiting the planet under Able’s command.
Greyson’s route home took him past the new hospital, run by Eldin. He didn’t stop. Shyanne had chosen to give birth at home. He rushed past the even newer school building where Brina now served as teacher and principal.
Greyson’s gaze swung toward the busy spaceport. To Shyanne’s dismay, Damon, Bear, Terle and Silky had chosen not to settle planet-side. Using their reward, they’d purchased a larger version of
Lady Hawk
and continued gal ivanting across the galaxy. Fortunately they limited their activities to legal trading—mostly. If they sometimes straddled a fine line combating the stil prevalent slave trade, they were careful not to get caught. It helped that ASP director Carter Kincaid turned a blind eye to their quasi-legal rescues. To Shyanne, Rian and Arianna’s delight, the quartet visited often.
Breathing hard, not from exertion but from adrenaline, Greyson paused on the porch. He was about to become a father again.
A high-pitched wail pierced the air. Greyson dashed inside. He didn’t pause to acknowledge Chalmer or Kedar as he headed to the bedroom. In the last few years the two men had settled their differences and become fast friends as wel as business partners.
Shyanne lay propped on the bed. Sweat matted her hair to her head and her skin looked drawn and pale, but her smile was radiant. One blanket-wrapped bundle rested in her arms, while Matha helped Eldin clean another squirming, wailing infant. Though he’d known they were having twins, the sight of the two babies fil ed him with wonder.
Greyson knelt next to the bed. “In a hurry, were you?” he asked.
Shyanne’s smile widened. “There’s a lot to be said for
some
C.O.I.L.
technology. It was quick and I barely felt a thing.”
“Here’s your son.” Matha handed him the crying, blanket-clad bundle. She and Eldin then left the room. Greyson barely noticed.
“Son?” He and Shyanne had decided to be surprised by the babies’ genders.
“Sons
,” Shyanne answered. “Meet Stewart and Chalmer.”
“Which is which?” He studied the identical infants, one suckling contentedly on his fist. The other’s face scrunched as he wailed his displeasure.
“This is Chalmer.” Shyanne nodded toward the baby cuddled peaceful y in her arms. “The squal ing one in your arms is Stewart, of course.” At that moment Stewart’s cries stopped. With wide, unfocused baby eyes he looked up at Greyson and began to coo.
Greyson eased himself onto the bed next to Shyanne. In a little while Matha would bring in Arianna and Rian. Later they’d introduce their sons to their grandfathers and the rest of the world. But this moment was just for Shyanne and him: a reward for the long, hard journey they’d traveled to get here…and a promise of what was yet to come.
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RAVES FOR ELYSA HENDRICKS!
THE SWORD AND THE PEN
“Hook[s] the reader from page one, line one, word one.”
—Night Owl Romance
“[F]ans wil enjoy this super romantic fantasy.”
—
Midwest Book Review
STAR CRASH
“This space adventure in the
Planet of the Apes
vein has al the required ingredients: crashed spaceships, captive humans in an alien zoo and legends of space travel.”
—
RT Book Reviews
“…
Star Crash
is an interesting romantic science fiction that is at its best when readers obtain insight into the aliens and how they see humans as being beneath them.”
—Harriet Klausner, The Best Reviews
“…this tale has a lot more going on…
Star Crash
is marketed as a romance title but is real y a first class science fiction novel.”
—Gary Roen,
Midwest Book Review
Other Love Spell books by Elysa Hendricks:
THE SWORD AND THE PEN
STAR CRASH
Copyright
LOVE SPELL®
April 2010
Published by
Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.
200 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Copyright © 2010 by Elysa Hendricks
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E-ISBN: 978-1-4285-0847-7
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