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I stood to face Tauren. He wouldn’t shoot me. A plan formed in my mind. Distract him and keep him busy while the others found a way to get that laser out of his hands. “What are you doing here?”
He aimed the gun at Asteran. “Making sure you don’t get into trouble.”
I resisted the urge to puke at his absurdity, like he was some knight in shining armor come to sweep me off my feet. “It’s a little too late for that.”
His voice fell to a whisper. “You don’t know what you’re doing. You’re going to ruin both our reputations.”
So this was really about him.
He inched toward me, still holding the gun. “If you come with me now, maybe we can work something out and convince my father these...delinquents made you do it.”
I stared into his eyes and he stared right back. His pupils weren’t dilated. He was totally serious. He didn’t know Asteran had flown the ship thousands of miles away from Paradise 21 in deep space.
Like I’d go with him? The jungle would have to freeze over first.
I crossed my arms, refusing to let him intimidate me. “They didn’t make me do anything, Tauren. This was my idea.”
“Your idea?” A pained expression contorted his face. “By the Guide, Lyra! You’re aiding a prisoner, stealing Guide property, and breaking curfew. What’s gotten into you?” His eyes strayed to where Leo stood behind me. “Stay where you are. I’m taking you all in.”
Leo stepped beside me. “That’s gonna be hard to do, man.”
“Stay back!” Tauren shifted and pointed the laser at my brother. “I’m not afraid to use the stun.”
Leo froze, but I sensed a blur of motion from the corner of my eye. Asteran was on the move. I forced myself not to draw attention to him. Instead, I watched Leo like he was the most interesting person alive.
Leo threw up his arms. “Stun me all you want, but it’s a long way down to Paradise 21. You may want to wait awhile.”
For the first time, fear tinged Tauren’s eyes. Sweat beaded on his large forehead. “What do you mean ‘a long way down’?”
“We’re flying in deep space, Tauren.” Nova spoke in a calm, controlled voice. “Now, put down the gun, and we’ll work something out.”
Tauren shook the laser at her. “I’m not putting down anything. If you think you can scare me with some kind of crazy bluff, then you’re wrong.”
Movement from the right caught my attention. Asteran dove from his position behind one of the orbs, ramming straight into Tauren’s legs. The two men tumbled to the floor. Tauren shot, and the laser ricocheted off of the crystal and into the shadows. I swung my backpack around and dug for one of the weapons.
Asteran moved swiftly and smoothly, but Tauren had sheer bulk and weight on his side. Asteran slammed my lifemate’s wrist into the metal floor, loosening his grip on the laser. With his free hand, Tauren punched him in the jaw, sending a strike to my heart. Asteran fell back, and Tauren scrambled to get hold of the trigger. Before Asteran could regain his senses, Tauren aimed and fired.
“No!” I screamed, my throat raw as my fingers closed over the handle to the metal spray gun Alcor and I had devised just a few hours ago.
Leo kicked Tauren’s hand as the laser fired, sending the shot over Asteran’s head. Tauren swiped at Leo, but my brother jumped back out of reach, buying enough time for Asteran to climb on top of Tauren. Leo pinned one arm, and Asteran pinned the other. Tauren kicked like a bull, trying to knock them off him.
I ran forward and held the gun to Tauren’s face. “Freeze.” Guilt shot up my neck, but I couldn’t let him ruin our mission.
Nova pried Tauren’s fingers from the laser. She pointed his laser at him. “I’m not afraid to use stun, either.”
Tauren’s face turned as red as a tomato as he fought against them. The muscles in his neck protruded, and his arms bulged under Leo’s and Asteran’s grips. “You’re not going to get away with this.”
“What? Crophaven’s going to reconstruct the New Dawn just to come get us?” Leo smirked.
Tauren spit in his face as he spoke. “You’ll have to fly back to Paradise 21 at some point, and then you’ll all have your titles taken away.”
Nova cringed and the laser wavered in her hand.
I took over. His warnings didn’t bother me. “Not if we save the colony first.”
Tauren spit as he hissed his words at Nova and the rest of us. “So, that’s what this is about? Saving the colony?”
Nova ripped a strip of fabric from her shirt and tied his hands behind his back. “That’s right. If you’ll listen to reason, maybe you can help us.”
Tauren’s eyes blazed. “I’ll never go against my father’s orders.”
“Then you’ll have to sit by and watch us succeed, because we sure as hell ain’t going back to Paradise 21 to drop you off.” Leo nodded to Asteran. “Right?”
Asteran helped Nova secure the ties. “That is correct. Not only do we not have enough time, but surely your leaders would capture us upon arrival.”
As they spoke, my mind turned the events of the night over and over. If Tauren had known about our plan or even caught on while it was in motion, he would have alerted his father right away, and that meant he would have come with reinforcements. But no, it was just him against the three of us and he’d never risk such a tactical disadvantage. He must have already been on the ship before we arrived. If that wasn’t suspicious, then I didn’t know what was.
I leaned over Tauren’s face, which had swelled with all the extra exertion. “What are you doing here?”
He strained against his bindings. Nova had tied the knots well. “I’m on a mission. Direct orders from my father.”
I leaned in even closer so I could feel his breath on my lips. “A mission for what?”
Tauren’s face hardened and he looked away. “I’m not at liberty to say.”
“Of course.” Nova stood and walked away. “He’s not gonna tell us anything.”
“It doesn’t matter. We’ll just get the job done and then bring him back. He can skewer us with all his accusations later.” Leo started to pace, making me more anxious. “We’ll just have to keep him tied up the whole time.”
“That seems against your code of ethics.” Asteran stood, observing Tauren with his beautiful eyes.
Leo spread his hand over Tauren’s broad chest. “He’s a liability. We can’t let him roam around, shooting whoever he wants.”
“Then we convince him of our cause.” Asteran bent down and helped Tauren straighten against the wall. “Starting with civilized introductions.” He held his hand up so that his palm faced Tauren. “My name is Asteran Dulith Val Kilaminju, waverunner of the Tulisian people of Priavenus.”
Tauren narrowed his eyes as if he still had a smarty-pants move up his sleeve. “I’m Tauren Crophaven, son of Commander Crophaven...”
I rolled my eyes. Like his status on Paradise 21 would have any effect on Asteran. Boy, was he wrong.
Tauren wasn’t finished. He sneered, licking his lips as if he relished the moment more than pumpkin pie. “I’m also Lyra Bryan’s lifemate.”