Chapter 6 The Real Adventure Begins
“I thought the return trip was meant to be easier.” Scarlett’s entire body vibrated, and her teeth clacked with each jolt and strike of a meteor.
The vista through the viewport didn’t reassure her either.
Huge chunks of rock colliding and pinging in all directions.
The sole distraction was the multiple colors glinting off the surface of the red rocks.
Some meteor chunks were studded with what resembled precious stones.
A sizeable mass struck the ship, knocking them off their travel path.
Scarlett gripped the armrests of her chair.
“This is not my idea of fun.” She shot a glare at Ransom. His eyes were closed. Closed. “Who is driving the ship?” Her voice came close to a shriek. He didn’t react but let out a baby snore instead.
“Ransom!”
“Do not fear, Miss Scarlett.” Daenys’s voice came from the instrument panel. “We control the ship. Let Ransom grab more rest before he faces the prince.”
Daenys’s order did not clear Scarlett’s panic. “If I die, I will find you and make your life difficult. I hate secrets.”
A sharp intake of breath sounded before Daenys’s amusement rippled through the speakers.
“You talk a big game,” Daenys said.
“I mean it. You and Ransom haven’t told me everything.”
“Noted. Prince Kalim saw you in Ransom’s thoughts and decided he wanted you.”
“Me?”
“He forced Ransom to find you. Make no mistake, if Prince Kalim gets control of you, you’ll have a living death.
Although I haven’t met him in person, I had personal experience with his father before we escaped.
” Daenys’s voice hardened. “The man tortured his lovers as foreplay. Male and female. No one was safe.”
“And you’re saying Prince Kalim takes after his father.”
“Reputation suggests he does,” Daenys said. “Look after Ransom, Scarlett. You and he together is our best chance of changing the future for the better.”
“No pressure,” Scarlett snapped.
Anger at Ransom for dragging her into this predicament blasted her as the truth of what Daenys was telling her sank in.
The prince wanted her. Ransom had stolen her from her family.
Resentment. Aggrievement. A touch of fear.
She ground her teeth together. They couldn’t have consulted with her?
Asked for her help instead of abducting her?
“Dammit, I’m not anyone’s gift. You have no right. All I wanted was a few unusual stones to make unique jewelry pieces.”
“You think the prince offered Ransom an alternative?” Daenys scoffed. “Think again. We’re all puppets in this mess. Even if you hate Ransom for embroiling you, do it for your people. If the prince succeeds, Tiraq is close enough to be next in his sights.”
The harsh facts from Daenys pierced some of Scarlett’s wrath, but she still wished they’d given her the truth.
A chunk of rock struck the hull of their ship and pushed them into a spin.
Scarlett’s fingers tightened on her armrests, and a harsh laugh escaped her.
Death presented a way of avoiding the prince.
It might happen because she couldn’t see how remote pilots could get them through this field.
Just as she was about to pray, another rock rotated them in a different direction.
“You’re almost through the field. The jump through time might make you nauseous,” Daenys warned.
Scarlett gritted her teeth. “You rub my skin the wrong way,” she grumbled. “I might kick your arse on principle.”
“I like you, Scarlett Mitchell. If your quest is successful, search me out. You and yours will be welcome in my court.”
“Pardon? What c—?” Scarlett broke off as they catapulted free of the meteor shower. Her stomach swirled and bubbled, and for an instant, she thought she might vomit. She swallowed hard, the taste of bile strong in her mouth.
“This is a recording. Scarlett Mitchell, you must take the controls and land; otherwise, you will crash. You can kick my arse later. I look forward to it. Good luck. We depend on you. Signing off. Daenys.”
The ship lurched, dropping fast before instinct kicked in, and Scarlett grasped the dual control. Heart pounding, she slapped the button transferring the captaincy to her. Her hands raced over the instruments, checking systems and navigation before their vessel slammed into Narenda’s atmosphere.
“Come on!” She gripped the toggle and fought to level out the nose of their ship. “Come on.”
Gradually, the fall slowed, and she flattened their trajectory. Scarlett heaved out a breath. Phew! She glanced at Ransom. The dragon-man was still asleep, still doing his cute baby snores.
“Maybe I’ll kick your butt once we’re on solid ground since yours is the only one available.
” Then, she sighed. If that man—the prince—was as evil as Daenys and her people indicated, and he was able to get into Ransom’s head, the last thing Ransom needed was for her to cause difficulties.
He couldn’t fight this prince and her at the same time. Perhaps she could take the ship…
No, she couldn’t leave him alone.
Ransom looked so peaceful. He was a striking man, even with the scar.
Not a traditional handsome but harsh. Stern.
A little arrogant. Ransom reminded Scarlett of her brother before he’d met Eva.
Like Saber, Ransom was weighed down with responsibility, the burden of his people, and now he was fighting for their existence.
She and Ransom had talked about where they’d land, and he’d mapped out a course.
Confident she’d manage until the dragon-man woke, she followed the plan.
Narenda was a strange planet in that its position meant half was tropical while the other side experienced lower temperatures.
Her research suggested that, along with its place in the solar system, the most recent volcanic eruption had affected weather patterns.
As they approached, the barrenness struck her.
It was difficult to equate it with the tropical lushness of the past, where she and Ransom had spent the night.
Her brothers would never believe her when she told them of her time-traveling adventures.
Heck, she’d have to make it through this adventure in one piece first.
She landed their ship on a rocky plateau, much farther inland than she’d ever traveled on her fossicking trips.
Below, a river of glacial water flowed into a turquoise-blue lake.
Scarlett studied the high mountains where they were heading.
A light frosting of snow and ice covered the highest peaks.
The valleys held ribbons of pastel colors, the one below carrying pale blue and lilac streaks amongst the reddish rocks.
It was stunningly beautiful, but now she’d learned of the hidden dangers, her appreciation diminished.
It was lucky she hadn’t encountered the Maphra during her previous trips. Perhaps it was because she was a shifter. No, that couldn’t be right since Ransom was also a shifter. It was strange he hadn’t recognized this aspect of her when she’d sensed his otherness.
She hit her harness release and rose. Mindful of Daenys’s words, she left Ransom sleeping and walked to the rear of the ship to check their packs.
Everything was ready for them to begin their trek.
She took a moment to study the map again, memorizing the landmarks Ransom had drawn and the route to where he thought the prince and his people lay in suspended animation.
“Scarlett.”
Scarlett returned to the bridge. “Ah, you’re awake. How are you?”
“Rested for a change. We’ve arrived.” He didn’t sound happy about the fact.
“Yes, I guess we’d better get moving. I’ve rechecked our packs and supplies.
Everything is intact and ready for us to begin.
I’ve decided you shouldn’t go alone. I’m pissed with you for not telling me the truth, but I’ll try to help fight this prince.
” She didn’t mention that Daenys had told her everything.
She knew the full truth about why she was here on Narenda.
“Thank you!” Ransom rose and stretched. “Thank you for agreeing to come with me. I’m sorry I lied to you.”
Scarlett shrugged, admitting to herself if she’d known the truth, she might’ve still agreed to accompany Ransom.
If the prince presented a danger to Tiraq and her family, she’d do anything to help keep them safe.
Besides, the tedium of resort life was sending her crazy, although her mother would tsk-tsk at Scarlett’s lapse in following an impulse.
The thought stole some of her excitement. “Jewels, remember. I don’t suppose you’ve ever found jewels of that shade of blue. It’s a stunning color and not something I’ve ever seen in jewelry.”
“The pale blue?”
“Yes.”
He shook his head. “Most of the raw materials we use are bright, clear colors. I’ve never seen that milky blue before.”
“We should leave.”
Ransom nodded. “We’ll travel as far as we can until blacklight. I doubt my slumber will be restful this eve.”
“You believe the prince will contact you.”
He answered with a sigh. “Daenys says Prince Kalim has to limit his feeding on me because he needs my help. She suspects they’ve depleted their other food resources, so his power is not as great as it might be.”
“That’s scary.”
“Yes, if we’re not successful, he’ll turn to my people to meet his needs.”
Scarlett lifted her chin. “We won’t let it get that far.”
Ransom smiled, but it resembled a grimace. He didn’t believe he’d make it out of this situation alive, and her conclusion was sobering.
What happened if they failed? What happened if she didn’t make it back to Tiraq and her brothers came looking for her?
“Will anyone come looking for you?” she asked.
Ransom met her gaze. “Eventually. You?”
“My brothers.” She imagined them suffering in the same way as Ransom. “They know where I am.”
“How?”
The sharpness of his tone had Scarlett bristling. “Remember the restaurant in the marketplace where we ate?”
“Yes.”