His Fire Maiden Read Online Free PDF Page A

you take her and go.”
    “Thank you,” Evan said, looking as if he would say more.
    “Get out of here.” Violette’s voice caught. She didn’t want their thanks.
    Evan didn’t need to be told again. He carried Josselyn from the room.
    Violette’s anger slipped into misery. Now alone, she stumbled to her father’s body. She willed him to move, to speak, to open his eyes. The alarm stopped as she kneeled on the floor. Her forehead pressed into his knee as it had done when she was a little girl. The silence was more unnerving than the blaring noise. The scorched mark of a laser stained his white cotton uniform, next to the blood-ringed pierce of a knife wound. Either would have been deadly.
    Death had come for her father and Violette had delivered her to his doorstep. How could he have made her do that? How could he expect her to live with herself knowing she had?
    She opened her mouth to speak as she reached to touch his face. No words came out, as she thought, I have kept my promise. I gave you my word that I would not lift a finger to stop what she chose to do. Today, my word to you is fulfilled. She made her choice and so now I make mine. Josselyn will pay for what she’s done to you, as will any who try to stop me. Whatever happened to make you think this was a fair ending? You were wrong in thinking this just. I make a new promise to you. Josselyn will face justice. I promise you, father, she will pay for her sins.
    Violette lifted the knife and drew the tip along the old scar. Blood beaded up on her flesh. “I swear it by my blood, and nothing can break a blood oath.” She collapsed on the floor and began to cry. “Why did you make me bring her? Why…?”
     

     
Chapter 4
     
     
    D ev stood tense , ready for battle within the underground military base. Being trapped in a metal compound wasn’t his idea of a strategic plan, but they hadn’t been given a choice. Josselyn was on Rifflen seeking revenge and they had come to aid her escape. When Evan asked for help rescuing the woman he loved, Dev didn’t hesitate. Once upon a time, he had been the one who needed to be saved from impossible odds. Evan’s vision was the reason he was alive. Dev would do anything for his friend.
    As they waited for Evan and Josselyn, Dev was well aware of the stares he received from the humanoids living beneath the sands of Rifflen. Their looks of fascination warred with terror. It was nothing new. The terror would win. When it came to him, the terror almost always won.
    “Where are they, Dev? That alarm can’t be a good sign.” Jackson whispered under his breath. The man took a small step down the metal docking plank as if he was debating going after Evan in a premature rescue. The ship vibrated as the engines warmed. “I don’t like this place. Who buries a city under the sand?”
    Dev didn’t answer. Jackson wouldn’t expect one. The fact that they were on a Federation base didn’t help. Pirates and military didn’t socialize well.
    Evan would contact them if he needed assistance. Besides, with Evan’s psychic ability to sense the ever-changing future, he should have been able to tell them if they expected big trouble.
    Dev heard a child gasp and glanced to where a hairy beast of a half-humanoid kid pointed up at him. It never made sense why people feared the red demon alien, but not the hairy ones, or the blue ones, or the slimy ones. Though, the way the Bevlon’s acted, it wasn’t surprising. His father’s people loved their evil reputation. Without giving away that he saw the kid’s rude gestures, Dev turned his attention back to the metal entrance where Evan should emerge.
    “Where is he?” Jackson repeated, his hands twitching.
    “Hold,” Dev ordered calmly. He watched as the soldiers mingled amongst the civilians to see if they acted suspiciously. Only a few guards had responded to the alarm. The others held their place. Dev crossed his arms, silently daring them to attempt to breach the ship. None