Van Laven Chronicles Read Online Free PDF Page B

will not warn you again.”
    Prince Comron stared smugly at her as if to say, and now Bastionli, you show your true colors.
    Vaush flipped him a cavalier smile. It was dazzling.
    “It pleases me that you should owe the rest of your pathetic, inconsequential life to a Ti-Larosian, Bastionli no less. Deal with it.” She turned on her heel and walked away, hips swaying as she did.
    He let the matter go without another word. Only a fool would continue trading insults in his present condition. He brushed his thumb over the bandage once more. His brow creased with the question of why. Did Larrs Bastionli intend to hold him as hostage and demand the world of Nethic? He knew without a doubt that Crausin would go to war to rescue him, surely that wasn’t Larrs’ objective. As much as Comron despised the man, he knew Larrs wasn’t foolish enough to risk interplanetary warfare.
    Vaush dropped into one of the chairs near the opening and gazed outward.
    Comron drew his left leg up, feeling for the sidearm harnessed at his calf. If Larrs were behind this scheme, he would discover that it was Comron who held his daughter as hostage.
    Vaush shifted around in her chair and met his gaze. “Now that we’ve clearly established our mutual disdain and loathing toward one another, might I suggest we call a truce? Because all I really care about is signaling for a rescue off this rock. I’ll stop with the insults if you agree to do the same.”
    A truce between Van Laven and Bastionli? What sort of foul game was she playing?
    “Well?”
    “Fine.” He hated the idea of it, but until he learned her true motives, he’d go along.
    “Good.” Vaush relaxed into her chair and closed her eyes as the rain drummed down upon the roof.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 6
     
    Two more hours crawled by, but the rain continued intermittingly. Comron remained in a deep, restful sleep as Vaush paced the cabin. This time Ti-Laros had arrived in time to save Nethic, she thought. Three hundred years ago, Ti-Laros was devastated to discover that upon reaching Nethic, there was nothing left of their comrade’s world to defend. Without their staunch ally fighting at their side, Ti-Laros had no other choice but to accept the Emperor’s terms of surrender. What Nethic deemed as abject cowardice and betrayal, Ti-Laros called pragmatism and survival.
    Growing restless, Vaush approached the ragged entrance and peered out. A dark figure moved between the trees. Her heart jumped and her hazel eyes widened as she tried to make out the shape in pouring rain. Was there another survivor out there in need of shelter? Could it be Laney? Why did they choose to remain outdoors?
    “Hello,” Vaush called out. “Is anyone there?”
    She could hear nothing over the driving rain and there was no further movement. After a moment, she began to wonder if she had seen anything at all.
    She groaned. “Will this infernal rain ever stop?” She had to put as much distance between her and Comron as possible to conceal the truth about what she’d done.
    Follow the water flow, the Van Laven had said. That was perfect, now she’d have to place her trust in a Nethicaen for her survival. If only she’d been quicker to help Laney with her harness. Dear fiercely devoted Laney…you were far more than the captain of my guard, you were my closest friend and confidante.
    Before her grief could overtake her, Vaush retreated back into the dryer parts of the vessel. She nearly jumped out of her skin upon finding Comron standing on his feet, leaning against the bulkhead.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 7
     
    “Ach, you're still here,” Comron said with a wary look.
    The Prince’s bloody shirt hung open, the clean bandage indicating that his wound was healing well.
    She gestured at the rain. “Perhaps you'd like to brave the monsoon now that you’re recovered.”
    Just as the words left her mouth, a lightning bolt flashed and crackled loudly, sending