The Stars For Valentine’s Day (The Journeyman's Way) Read Online Free PDF

the skizze then shut it off. Why?” As always, he’d been monitoring their activities from home base.
    “We have a problem. Seems the tribops have gotten smarter. They have a live hostage who happens to be our mate’s friend.”
    “You know you can’t save her. Destroy this threat and join with your woman,” his leader said. Knight heard the gasp behind him and turned to see her standing there with Saber.
    “You will not!” Tears rolled down her cheeks, but anger swirled in her gaze. “Please try anything,” she insisted. “Zandra was my only true friend. She was there for me when my mom died. Hell, she’s the only one who has been there.” She swiped away the tears. “I was considered a freak on my world. Only Zandra understood me.”
    “I can try to extract her. It could kill her, but there is a small chance it could work.” Knight tried to convey the level of risk. Would their woman ever forgive them if her friend died in their efforts?
    “What hope does she have on that ship?”
    He shrugged. “They have already started...and, Shantel, if this does not work, it’s going to be a mess. Her death will be instant.” Instant death was better than being tortured and eaten. “I’m surprised she is still alive.”
    “If it works, can you save her?” Shantel moved closer to the screen, and her friend lifted her head and stared, her lips moving, probably in silent prayer.
    “Try it, she can’t die like that,” their woman said. Her voice shook as she reached over and squeezed his shoulder. “Thank you for telling me.” Saber joined them in front of the monitor, wrapping his arms around Shantel and pulling her tight against him.
    “We wouldn’t make this kind of decision without you.” Raven entered and twined his fingers with hers, completing their family group. “Do it.”
    Without another word, Knight went to work, watching the tribop’s every move. “Saber, if I can get her over here, I’ll have her transferred to land right in the med room. You better get ready. Shantel, go with Saber. If she appears, she’ll need a friendly face.”
    “It will work and thank you, Knight. Tell your boss to suck an egg for me.” She leaned close to the console where Bane would no doubt be on his end listening to everything they said.
    Saber laughed and escorted her out of the control room.
    “You heard her, Bane. Go suck on an egg, whatever that is supposed to mean.” Knight began working on the coordinates, hoping he had damaged the enemy ship enough. “If this works there, we will know how to work around this shield.”
    “It will work,” Raven said behind him. “I’ll finish the room.”
    “Your mate is a strong woman. I look forward to meeting her when you return. The alerassa will be in Earth’s solar system within hours. There is no sense in you waiting. Finish this and get back to base. Oh, I’ve sent a gift for your human. A present from me after you are joined.” He laughed and disconnected the line just as the transfer locked onto her friend.
    At first there was nothing. The monster behind her started to reach for a knife and she screamed. But, within seconds, her friend disappeared, on her way to their ship. Hopefully in one piece. But it was done and they could wait no longer to take action.
    Knight turned on the skizze once more and allowed it to do its job. He watched the ship disintegrate. Nothing left to travel to other planets. It was totally destroyed. One of the reasons every ship carried this weapon was watched carefully. Only the fates and their leaders could stop the tool if need be.
    ***
    Shantel paced back and forth, watching Saber prepare the room for her friend’s arrival. Only a few minutes ago her spa haven, now a full-blown medical facility. “Do you really believe we can save her?” She looked down at the scars on her arm, for the first time really seeing them. “She’ll be more scared than I am, won’t she?” she asked.
    Saber nodded and placed an instrument