Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 135784 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 679(@200wpm)___ 543(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135784 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 679(@200wpm)___ 543(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Mathiras lets out a breath. “Well, that answers that—”
The carinoux suddenly snarls at the sound of his voice, leaping up and throwing itself at the bars. We all jump, and Kaspar and Mathiras stumble backward a few feet.
“He’s all yours, Sophie,” Adiron says with a chuckle.
“Lucky me.” I take another brave step forward, and I can’t help but notice that each of the eight paws are tipped with huge, nasty claws that look razor sharp, because of course. When I step forward again, though, the rage disappears and it begins to rub its head against the bars, as if begging to be petted. I move to the edge of the cage and quietly offer my hand, just close enough.
The carinoux promptly gives my fingers a sloppy lick, mewing again.
I look over at the va Sithai brothers, and they’re watching me with a pleased expression on their faces. They need me for this, I realize with a sense of wonder.
For the first time, I’m necessary.
It’s a good feeling.
3
SOPHIE
I name the carinoux “Sleipnir.” Not that he looks much like the mythological horse, but the eight legs makes the name pop into my mind and it sticks.
The carinoux is surprisingly complacent as I harness him and lead him back to the Little Sister. If anything, he’s actually affectionate and kittenish, rubbing his head against my hand and making this rumbling sound that’s not quite a purr. He nuzzles at me at every chance he gets, and looks at me with adoring, liquid eyes. He’s sweet and clever and follows commands really well, and I have no trouble getting him on board the ship and into my quarters. Sleipnir immediately hops onto my bed, taking up the entire thing, and then rolls on his back, as if he’s wallowing in my smell. I sit on the edge and pet his head, marveling at how a scaly-looking hide can feel so supple and smooth, and how something so incredibly deadly can be so affectionate to me.
Sleipnir still doesn’t like the guys. He makes low, growling noises in his throat whenever he runs across their scents, and steps in front of me like he wants to protect me. The brothers remain on the other ship, stripping it and searching through their records, looking for the carinoux’s home. I stroke Sleipnir’s small ears and wonder why that makes me feel so…weird and uncomfortable.
“Maybe because you were stolen from your home, like me,” I murmur as I pet the animal. “Maybe because you’re nothing but a product, just like I was. No one’s interested in taking you back home, just the credits you can give them.”
Sleipnir just mews and rubs against my hand, blissed out.
The comms have gone quiet and as a few more hours tick past, I worry. The longer we spend in one place, the more of a chance of getting caught. Has something happened to them? Is that why they’ve been gone for so long? Eventually, I can’t stand the waiting and get to my feet. Sleipnir tries to come with me, but I guide him back to the bed and pat the mattress until he lies back down again.
I emerge from my quarters and head for the docking tunnel, intending to go after the brothers, but to my surprise, it’s gone. The hatch is sealed shut again and we’re no longer linked to the enemy vessel. I’m hurt by this revelation—no one bothered to tell me?—and head for the bridge. Sure enough, the brothers are there, all crowded around the same station. They’re filthy, streaked with grease and blood, and they look tired.
Well, no, Mathiras looks tired. Kaspar looks elated. Adiron…looks like Adiron.
“Looks like you’re done with the other ship? Thanks for letting me know.” There’s a snap to my voice as I cross my arms over my chest and stride over to them. “Guess I’m only important when you need a cat-wrangler or a maid.”
At least they have the decency to look guilty at my arrival. “Sorry, Sophie,” Adiron says.
“The carinoux is fine, by the way. He’s on my bed and I have no idea what we’re going to do for a litter box, FYI.” When they just exchange looks and say nothing else, my skin prickles with worry. “What is it?”
Mathiras just rubs his face. “We’re just trying to figure out how to proceed with what we just learned.”
“Which is…”
Adiron turns in his chair, his broad face lighting up with enthusiasm. “We found a map of the Slatra system, but it doesn’t show a planet. It’s something else entirely.”
So much for their vision of finding more like Sleipnir. “Like what?”
“Like the Buoyant Star.”
The what? It takes me a moment to realize they’re referring to a thing. “It’s a ship? Or a station?”
Kaspar speaks. “Three years ago, it was rumored to be carrying a massive amount of wealth to an infamous Slatra cartel, the Voo Rees.” When no recognition shows on my face, Kaspar continues. “They were going to use the money to pay back a lot of the debts they’d acquired, but the ship never showed. Some say it was hijacked, and others say it got caught up in a random solar flare. No one’s heard of it since.”