Frost Station Alpha 1-6: The Complete Series by Ruby Lionsdrake Read Free Book Online Page B

other around her neck.
    She tensed, and he thought she might fight him again.
    He tightened the grip on her throat. “I can cut off your air until you pass out, then simply carry you to the comm station.” Indeed, that might be the safer bet, but his wounded leg did not want to support his own body at the moment, much less a second one. He’d carry her if he had to, but he would prefer she walk.
    “Asshole,” she said.
    He snorted, more amused than angered by her defiance. She had looked young the times he’d glimpsed her in the light, but she acted like an experienced veteran, more fearless than some of the men he’d faced up above.
    She let him maneuver her through the pigs and over the fence, though she checked him a few times, probably trying to see if she could slip away while he was climbing over things. Given his wound, that wasn’t an unreasonable thought, but he kept her close, his grip sure. A little pain would not make him lose a prisoner.
    The comm in his bracer beeped as they left the lab and returned to lit corridors. He risked letting go of her arm—he still had his grip on her neck—to answer it.
    “Makkon.”
    “Sir, we’ve got the civilians out of those vault rooms,” Zar said. “We’re tying them up and putting them in a lounge we found on Deck Three. Does that work?”
    “That’s fine.” A lift came into view down one of the corridors, and Makkon directed his prisoner toward it.
    “Brax said we should question them to make sure we’ve found everyone and to see if there’s anything else here that might be useful in your talks with GalMil.”
    “Question them or interrogate them?” Makkon stepped into the lift with the woman. He was going to have to ask for her name. It seemed he should know the name of the person who had shot him twice.
    “He wasn’t specific on the particulars, sir.”
    “I bet. Just tie them up for now. They’re our bargaining chips. Don’t hurt them if you don’t have to.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Same doesn’t go for soldiers, I guess,” the woman said.
    “Sorry,” Makkon said. He truly was, but wasn’t surprised when she snorted with disbelief. “We’ve got the station. You cooperate, and there’s no reason we need to kill you.”
    “Cooperate, turn traitor, funny how the definitions of words change, depending on which side you’re on.”
    He said nothing. He couldn’t blame her for being bitter. In her situation, he would be too. And he would resent that he had lived when all of his comrades had died. The fact that he didn’t particularly want her as an enemy didn’t matter. That was the fate he had chosen when he and his men had agreed to come on this mission. Killing and most likely their own deaths, as well. A pity, but sacrifices had to be made.
    The lift stopped on Level One, engineering. He’d pressed the button for Ten, the level with the communications station on it. Makkon lowered his rifle and pulled the woman back into the corner with him, prepared in case the door opened to an enemy.
    Dornic stood there, his rifle equally at the ready, though only held with one hand. He had a toolbox in the other hand. They grunted at each other and lowered their weapons.
    Dornic stepped into the lift, his thin blond braids dancing around his shoulders, a contrast with his brown skin. He lifted an eyebrow at the woman. “Keeping one for yourself?”
    “Don’t be crude,” Makkon said. “She’s the communications officer.”
    Dornic raised his bushy eyebrows, looking at her neck, or perhaps his hand wrapped around it.
    “She didn’t want to be captured,” Makkon added.
    “No? Odd.”
    The woman only glowered as the lift started rising again. Her jaw was clenched, her eyes determined. Hoping for a chance to escape? Makkon suspected she would be trouble if they let her live, but he couldn’t imagine shooting her. Funny, since she’d had no problem shooting him , but he’d always respected people who put up a good fight, men or women. Of