Sweet Starfire by Jayne Ann Krentz Read Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jayne Ann Krentz
you. It's called self-defense, Cidra, and I know enough about Harmonics to know that they're not philosophically opposed to self-defense. They're just lousy at being able to act on that belief. Be damned grateful that your only problem right now is that you've got the jitters instead of a full-scale anxiety attack. I've seen what happens to a Harmonic who runs into real violence and it's not very pleasant."
She eyed him curiously. "When did you see a Harmonic deal with genuine violence?"
Severance ran a hand through his thick black hair, his face drawn, gray eyes suddenly bleak. "My brother was one of those random occurrences you mentioned earlier. A Harmonic bom among Wolves."
"Why wasn't he sent to Clementia?" she asked, frowning.
"It's a long story, and I'm not in the mood to tell it right now. Take a nap, Cidra."
"I don't think I can sleep yet."
"Suit yourself. I'm going to sack out for a few minutes. It's been a long night."
Severance got to his feet and brushed past her, heading for the sleeping area at the rear of the cabin.
He unlatched the upper sleeping berth so that she could climb into it if she changed her mind, and then he threw himself down onto the lower bunk. He was already half asleep when he felt Fred undulating up onto the bed to drape himself over his master's feet.
Severance awoke once during the flight and realized that Cidra hadn't tried to nap. He peered through the gloom of the dimly lit cabin and saw her seated cross-legged on the metal deck. Her eyes were closed in silent meditation.
Probably still worrying about Scates and how she'd handled the situation, Severance reasoned in sleepy irritation. She looked very soft and gentle sitting there with her black-and-silver gown flowing around her. A little lost. But it would have taken a fair measure of strength and coordination to throw Scates. She couldn't be all sweetness and light, even if she wanted to believe she was.
Beneath the fine crystal-moss fabric of the robe she wore, he could see the rounded upsweep of her breasts. It seemed to him that the womanly curves would fit his hands perfectly. Then he recalled what she'd said about Wolves being very interested in sex. Severance turned over to face the wall and ordered himself to go back to sleep.
Chapter Three
Cidra felt the shift in altitude and speed as Severance Pay automatically began its approach. The subtle changes jerked her out of the meditative trance she had been using to calm her mind and body. Opening her eyes, she saw new console lights wink on, while others changed color. For the first time she noticed there was a second computer on board. It didn't appear to be involved with the landing operation, either.
A glance over her shoulder told her that the ship's master was still sound asleep.
She got to her feet, feeling delightfully rested, and went to the nearest viewing port. A few scattered lights in the distance heralded the presence of Lovelorn, a manufacturing town that had been located near the ore-rich deposits of the continent's western mountains. Beyond the mountains lay an ocean that extended most of the way around Lovelady. It was almost totally unexplored, although research indicated it would ultimately prove even richer in raw materials than the continents.
There was a lot of Lovelady waiting to be thoroughly explored and even more of Renaissance and QED. Beyond the three close-in planets lay one other, Liquid Assets, a frozen ocean of a world that lacked a breathable atmosphere. It hadn't experienced more man a few exploratory landings so far. The Stanza Nine system was still a frontier, its population centers small, even on Lovelady, which was its most heavily populated planet.
Cidra felt a glimmer of excitement rush through her. She was on her way, off in search of a legend. For the first time she acknowledged that the search, itself, was going to prove fascinating.
The ship altered course again, and this time Cidra turned around a little anxiously to
She eyed him curiously. "When did you see a Harmonic deal with genuine violence?"
Severance ran a hand through his thick black hair, his face drawn, gray eyes suddenly bleak. "My brother was one of those random occurrences you mentioned earlier. A Harmonic bom among Wolves."
"Why wasn't he sent to Clementia?" she asked, frowning.
"It's a long story, and I'm not in the mood to tell it right now. Take a nap, Cidra."
"I don't think I can sleep yet."
"Suit yourself. I'm going to sack out for a few minutes. It's been a long night."
Severance got to his feet and brushed past her, heading for the sleeping area at the rear of the cabin.
He unlatched the upper sleeping berth so that she could climb into it if she changed her mind, and then he threw himself down onto the lower bunk. He was already half asleep when he felt Fred undulating up onto the bed to drape himself over his master's feet.
Severance awoke once during the flight and realized that Cidra hadn't tried to nap. He peered through the gloom of the dimly lit cabin and saw her seated cross-legged on the metal deck. Her eyes were closed in silent meditation.
Probably still worrying about Scates and how she'd handled the situation, Severance reasoned in sleepy irritation. She looked very soft and gentle sitting there with her black-and-silver gown flowing around her. A little lost. But it would have taken a fair measure of strength and coordination to throw Scates. She couldn't be all sweetness and light, even if she wanted to believe she was.
Beneath the fine crystal-moss fabric of the robe she wore, he could see the rounded upsweep of her breasts. It seemed to him that the womanly curves would fit his hands perfectly. Then he recalled what she'd said about Wolves being very interested in sex. Severance turned over to face the wall and ordered himself to go back to sleep.
Chapter Three
Cidra felt the shift in altitude and speed as Severance Pay automatically began its approach. The subtle changes jerked her out of the meditative trance she had been using to calm her mind and body. Opening her eyes, she saw new console lights wink on, while others changed color. For the first time she noticed there was a second computer on board. It didn't appear to be involved with the landing operation, either.
A glance over her shoulder told her that the ship's master was still sound asleep.
She got to her feet, feeling delightfully rested, and went to the nearest viewing port. A few scattered lights in the distance heralded the presence of Lovelorn, a manufacturing town that had been located near the ore-rich deposits of the continent's western mountains. Beyond the mountains lay an ocean that extended most of the way around Lovelady. It was almost totally unexplored, although research indicated it would ultimately prove even richer in raw materials than the continents.
There was a lot of Lovelady waiting to be thoroughly explored and even more of Renaissance and QED. Beyond the three close-in planets lay one other, Liquid Assets, a frozen ocean of a world that lacked a breathable atmosphere. It hadn't experienced more man a few exploratory landings so far. The Stanza Nine system was still a frontier, its population centers small, even on Lovelady, which was its most heavily populated planet.
Cidra felt a glimmer of excitement rush through her. She was on her way, off in search of a legend. For the first time she acknowledged that the search, itself, was going to prove fascinating.
The ship altered course again, and this time Cidra turned around a little anxiously to
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