CHAPTER EIGHT

KYRION

I tightened my grip on my stormsword and studied one Hammer after another, trying to find any weaknesses among them.

The men and women all clutched their weapons with easy familiarity, and many of them also had blasters and shock batons holstered to their belts. The lunarium heads on their war hammers all glowed with pale, colorful lights, indicating that each warrior had some sort of psion power. I was willing to bet many of them also had speed, strength, and other enhancements that would make them even more deadly.

In addition to the woman who had first approached us, I recognized several of the warriors' faces from Holloway's files. The Hammers eyed me in return, their hard, calculating gazes flicking from my face to my sword. I hadn't drawn the weapon—yet. I didn't want to kill these people, but I would do it to protect Vesper.

"Bond of two," Vesper called out. "Tried and true."

Asterin had told us to say the code phrase to any Hammers we met on Sygnustern. Supposedly, the phrase would guarantee us safety on any Erzton-controlled planet, but the Hammers didn't bat an eye at Vesper's words, and none of them lowered their weapons.

"Bond of two, tried and true," Vesper repeated, her voice louder and sharper. Her hand crept over to her stormsword, and worry rippled along the velvety ribbon of her in my mind.

Several more seconds ticked by in cold, contemplative silence, and I used the tense lull to strategize. I would attack the man to my left. His war hammer wasn't glowing nearly as brightly as those of the other warriors, which meant he was weaker in his psion power. If I could cut him down, Vesper could sprint down an empty aisle while I kept the rest of the warriors from chasing after her.

The woman who had first confronted us stepped forward. "I am Siya, head of the House Collier Hammers." She stabbed her weapon at us. "And you are trespassing."

Vesper lifted her chin and gave the other woman a cool look. "We were invited here by Lady Asterin Armas. She's part of House Collier too, is she not?"

Siya's lips puckered into a sour expression, and red-hot anger surged off her and tweaked my telempathy. She was not fond of Asterin, which was a problem for us.

"Not only are you trespassing," Siya continued, "but you also gave false names and a phony ship registration to the guards at the spaceport. No one is allowed to land in House Collier territory with fake credentials."

A low, mocking laugh tumbled out of Siya's mouth. "As if our scanners wouldn't recognize Lady Vesper Quill and Lord Kyrion Caldaren, the two most wanted people in the Archipelago Galaxy. We might not be obsessed with the Regal gossipcasts, but how stupid do you think we are?"

Siya's gaze flicked over to me, and even more anger sparked in her hazel eyes. She liked me even less than she liked Asterin. Fantastic.

I searched my memory, wondering if I had ever come across Siya before, but I would have remembered meeting her. Unlike the Arrows, many of whom loved to share their exploits on the gossipcasts, the Hammers kept a much lower profile. Even Holloway's spies didn't know much about the Hammers, their members, or their inner workings. But then again, the only thing anyone really needed to know was not to fuck with them.

Siya stabbed her war hammer at us again. "Surrender your weapons, so you can be taken into custody and returned to the Imperium where you belong."

Vesper and I both tensed. We couldn't afford to let the Hammers take us into custody, much less ship us back to the Imperium.

"You didn't finish your threat," I said in a cold voice. "Surrender your weapons or . . ."

Siya shrugged. "Or die where you stand."

The other Hammers shifted on their feet. Their weapons remained up and steady, but some of them looked a little less certain and confident. I might despise the gossipcasts, but sometimes it was good to have a reputation as a ruthless killer.

You have that look on your face , Vesper's voice sounded in my mind.

What look? I asked, although I never took my eyes off Siya.

The look that says you are about to kill everyone who gets in your way. It's terrifying. She paused. And kind of hot.

The velvety ribbon of her vibrated with a mixture of amusement, worry, and a thread of desire that made my inner monster preen like a Tropics tiger having its back scratched. Vesper's emotions also hardened my own determination. We had come here seeking shelter, but, if necessary, I would paint the entire dome with the Hammers' blood.

I slid my duffel bag off my shoulder and set it on the floor. Then I drew my stormsword out of its slot and twirled the weapon around in my hand. The lunarium shimmered with a dark blue light, and bits of ice spewed out of the blade in an eerie match to the snow still falling outside the dome.

Siya's knuckles went white against the gold hilt of her hammer. "Last chance. Surrender peacefully, or suffer the consequences."

"Surrender?" Vesper hissed. "And let you ship us back to the Imperium? Hard pass."

Vesper dropped her duffel bag and drew her own stormsword. Flashes of fire smoked up into the air instead of the ice my blade was spitting out, but her sword glowed with the same dark blue light as my weapon.

"Damn," one of the Hammers muttered. "They really do have a truebond."

"That's right," Vesper hissed again. "So maybe you want to rethink your hostility before Kyrion and I cut you all to pieces."

"Big talk for someone who's only been training with that sword for a few months," Siya taunted.

Surprise flickered across Vesper's face.

"Oh, yes," Siya drawled. "I've seen your gossipcast interviews, so I know all about you, Lady Vesper, including the fact that you aren't nearly the warrior you pretend to be."

More fire smoked up out of the lunarium blade, but an odd, uneasy emotion pulsed off Vesper. Was that . . . doubt? Why would Vesper be doubting her abilities as a warrior? She'd made amazing progress in the months she'd been training.

"You're right," Vesper replied, a bitter note creeping into her voice. "I haven't been training with my stormsword long, so I guess it's a good thing I've had some excellent teachers." She gestured at me. "Like him. Unless you are doubting Kyrion Caldaren? Because that would be an extremely stupid thing to do."

Once again, some of the Hammers shifted on their feet. Vesper's unwavering confidence and trust made my inner monster purr in satisfaction.

Vesper kept glaring at Siya. "So maybe you should think about surrendering."

"Not a bloody chance," Siya snarled back.

"Your loss." Vesper's face hardened. "And your death."

My inner monster purred again, this time with delight, and I couldn't stop myself from grinning. You have a look on your face too.

What look? Vesper growled.

The look that says you are about to come up with some invention, solution, or clever trick to kill everyone who gets in your way. It's terrifying. I paused. And kind of hot.

Vesper's laugh sounded in my mind. We really are a matched pair, aren't we?

My grin widened. Absolutely. Cold, cruel, and murderous to the core—and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Vesper grinned back at me, and the silver flecks in her dark blue eyes sparked with heat and desire. Me neither.

I faced our enemies again. "This is your last warning. Let us leave, and no one has to get hurt."

Siya shook her head. "I can't do that, Arrow."

She lifted her hammer into an attack position. I lifted my sword in response and stepped forward, putting myself between Vesper and Siya.

Once again, that cold, contemplative silence dropped over the dome, and the only sounds were the crackles of fire spewing out of Vesper's stormsword and the bits of ice spitting out of mine.

"Attack!" Siya yelled.

I was already moving before the word left her lips. I charged straight at the Hammer and swung my sword at her as hard as I could.

P erhaps it was a quirk of my imagination or a surge of Vesper's seer power, but for an instant, time slowed down, even as everything around me came into super-sharp focus. Siya narrowing her eyes. The green glow of her psion power intensifying on her war hammer. Her weapon rising to meet mine . . .

Without warning, time snapped back to its normal flow. Siya blocked my attack, and my sword glanced off the side of her hammer.

I whirled around for another strike, but Siya was already moving to attack. I dodged her vicious blow, and then, before she could recover, I snapped up my hand and used my telekinesis to throw her back into two other Hammers. All three of them tumbled to the floor.

A bright glow flickered at the corner of my vision, and I spun in that direction. Vesper stabbed out with her sword, making one Hammer scramble back to avoid getting his guts sliced open, but she didn't see another warrior coming up on her blind side.

Vesper! Behind you!

I called out a warning with my telepathy, but she didn't respond.

Vesper! Vesper, behind you!

She kept attacking the man in front of her instead of turning to deal with the other warrior. I called out for a third time, but all I heard was my own frantic voice, and the velvety ribbon of Vesper went cold and dark, like a candle flame abruptly snuffed out by a winter wind.

Frustration and dread shot through me. Why couldn't I feel her anymore? Was something wrong with our bond?

Siya scrambled to her feet, darted forward, and raised her hammer for another strike. I could block her blow, or I could protect Vesper.

I chose Vesper.

I lowered my sword, leaving myself open to an attack, and rushed toward Vesper. Siya growled, leaped toward me, and slammed her war hammer into my right shoulder.

Pain exploded in my joint. Shards of ice spewed out of the lunarium weapon and pelted my body, and my entire arm went cold and numb. My stormsword slipped from my nerveless fingers and skittered across the floor, but I staggered forward, gritted my teeth, and kept going.

The man on Vesper's blind side lifted his hammer to hit her. I put on another burst of speed and slammed into the man, knocking him away from Vesper before he could strike her.

The two of us crashed into a booth at the end of one of the aisles. Wood broke, glass shattered, and bits of metal pinged across the floor as our combined weight destroyed the booth and the goods inside.

The Hammer cursed and tried to extricate himself from all the antiques we had just smashed. I jabbed my left elbow into his throat, making him wheeze.

Vesper whirled around, her eyes going wide. "Kyr! Look out!"

Siya was once again storming in my direction. Her lunarium hammer was glowing an even brighter green, and more ice was spewing out of the weapon, along with sharp crackles of wind.

I scrambled to my feet, but the wheezing warrior grabbed my ankle, throwing me off-balance. Siya snarled and raised her weapon high.

But Vesper darted forward, put her shoulder down, and rammed into Siya, and both women toppled to the floor, sliding across the slick stone.

My right arm was still numb and useless, so I snapped my left hand out and reached for my telekinesis. My stormsword zipped up off the floor and flew past two more Hammers, making the warriors yelp and lurch out of the way.

My sword settled in my palm. I wasn't as skilled with my left hand, but I slashed the weapon down. The still-wheezing Hammer released my ankle and rolled out of the way of the whistling blade.

Vesper and Siya both surged to their feet and snapped up their weapons, circling each other. I hobbled forward and once again put myself between Vesper and the other warrior—

"Enough!" a voice yelled. "That is enough !"

A woman darted into the open space between me and Siya. I pulled up short to keep from hitting her, as did Siya.

Unlike the Hammers in their green uniforms, this woman was wearing dark gray coveralls and black work boots. A silver blaster dangled from her belt, along with a matching hammer, but it was a small, delicate instrument, like a jeweler's tool. Her long black hair was piled into a messy bun, and dirt streaked across her pale face.

Lady Asterin Armas slapped her hands on her hips, making dust puff off her coveralls. She glared at Siya, her silver eyes bright with anger.

The leader of the Hammers scowled at Asterin, but she made no further move to attack Vesper or me. The other Hammers also held their positions, and the warriors who had been knocked down quickly got to their feet.

Another round of silence descended over the dome. Asterin glanced at Siya, then Vesper, and finally me. Once she realized we weren't going to start fighting again, Asterin swung her angry gaze back to Siya.

"Lady Vesper and Lord Kyrion are here by my invitation," she snapped. "You had no right to try to detain them, much less attack them!"

Siya matched Asterin's hot glower with one of her own. "I serve House Collier, not you, Asterin. And you do not speak for House Collier."

Asterin's hands dropped to her sides and clenched into fists, and she looked like she wanted to punch the other woman.

I didn't know much about Erzton Houses and politics, but Asterin's mother, Verona, was married to Aldrich Collier, the head of House Collier. That relationship alone should have afforded Asterin a place of honor and respect, but Siya clearly didn't see it that way.

Asterin hissed out a breath, making a visible effort to get her emotions under control. "It doesn't matter whether I speak for House Collier. Vesper and Kyrion have a truebond. Did they say the phrase?"

A faint grimace crossed Siya's face.

"So they did say the phrase, and you chose to ignore their plea." Asterin slapped her hands on her hips again, making more dust puff off her coveralls. "Despite the fact that it is a House Collier edict to offer sanctuary to any couple who has a truebond. Looks like you don't speak for House Collier either. At least not when it comes to the rules."

A muscle twitched in Siya's jaw, and an angry flush stained her cheeks a vivid pink. "You want to talk about House Collier edicts? Then perhaps you and I should settle our differences the old-fashioned way, according to House rules. Unless you've forgotten your combat training while you've been off gallivanting through the Imperium."

"Maybe we should," Asterin replied in a cold voice. "I'd be more than happy to knock some of that self-righteousness out of you."

Someone deliberately cleared their throat, more footsteps sounded, and a man stepped up next to Asterin. He was in his fifties, with light brown hair, ruddy skin, and a short, stocky body that was all muscle. He was dressed in an emerald-green tactical jacket, shirt, and cargo pants, just like Siya was, but his clothes were covered with grime, just like Asterin's were. His right hand rested on the war hammer dangling from his belt, and all the other Hammers nodded in deference to him.

I recognized the man. Rigel, an Erztonian who'd attended some Regal balls on Corios with Asterin.

Rigel's dark brown gaze flicked back and forth between Siya and Asterin. "Siya is right," he said in a calm voice. "Asterin does not speak for House Collier."

He shot Asterin an apologetic look. Asterin's face remained blank, but a sharp spike of hurt shot off her and tweaked my telempathy.

Rigel focused on Siya again. "But Asterin is also right. Anyone with a truebond is to be offered sanctuary, according to House Collier rules. As soon as they said the phrase, you should have stood down immediately."

Siya wilted a little under Rigel's cool, steady gaze, and she lowered her weapon. "Fine," she muttered. "We'll continue our patrol."

She jerked her head, and the other Hammers also lowered their weapons. Siya shot me and Vesper one more angry look, along with Asterin, then stepped into one of the aisles. The other Hammers followed her, and they all vanished.

Asterin massaged her temples, as though she had a raging headache, then dropped her hands. "Sorry about that. Siya takes her position as the head of security for House Collier very seriously."

I snorted. That was an understatement.

Rigel cleared his throat again. "Siya is probably informing Lord and Lady Collier about the . . . situation right now. You should escort Lady Vesper and Lord Kyrion to the estate without further delay."

Asterin grimaced, clearly not liking his suggestion, but she nodded. "Rigel is right. I know you've had a long journey and would like to rest." She paused and glanced at my arm. "And get some medical attention."

"I'm fine," I growled.

The numb sensation had finally faded from my fingers, although I probably already had a wicked bruise from where Siya had hit me with her hammer. A skinbond injector from my bandolier would take care of that—later. Right now, I didn't want to show any sign of weakness.

Vesper speared me with a hard look. You are most definitely not fine . I can feel how much your arm is throbbing through the bond.

I quickly walled off the pain behind a psionic shield so it wouldn't keep rippling through the bond to her. I've had worse. Besides, we need to be careful. Asterin might be a friend, but Siya is not.

I nodded at Asterin. "I appreciate your concern, but truly, I'm fine. I'm just glad you and Rigel intervened."

"Part of my job is to keep Lady Asterin out of trouble," Rigel said in a dry, sardonic tone. "Along with her friends."

On Corios, I had dismissed Rigel as Asterin's social handler, a glorified bodyguard, but he was clearly much more than that.

"Yes, thank you, Rigel. I appreciate you talking some sense into Siya. You're the only one who can." Asterin muttered the last few words.

A wry smile curved Rigel's lips. "As I said before, it's my job to keep you out of trouble." His smile vanished. "Although someday, you and Siya are going to have to resolve your differences."

Asterin huffed. "There's about as much chance of that happening as there is of the moon dropping out of the sky."

Rigel shrugged, as if he agreed with her sentiment, then strode away.

Asterin watched him go with a pensive expression, then jerked her head to the side. "Come. Let's get you two to the estate."

She headed toward the front of the dome, in the opposite direction from Rigel, Siya, and the other Hammers. Vesper slid her stormsword onto her belt, grabbed her duffel bag, and followed our friend.

I did the same thing, but my gaze moved from one aisle to the next. I didn't see any of the Hammers, but a presence tickled my telempathy. Siya was still here somewhere, watching us.

Once we'd reached Sygnustern, I'd thought—hoped—we might be able to take a breath, rest, and recuperate while we plotted our next course of action. But once again, I had the uneasy feeling we were surrounded by far more enemies than allies.