Born of the Night Read Free Page A

"I'm Rachol," he said quietly in the Universal language as if coaxing a skittish gimfry. "I'm not going to hurt you."

    Kiara believed him. She released her grip on the bed. Another wave of tears washed
    down her cheeks. She was safe!

    The soldier moved toward her cautiously. "Can you understand me?"

    She realized his accent was Ritadarion, an allied planet to her own. "Yes," Kiara said, trying to staunch her tears.

    He removed his jacket and gently wrapped her in it. "Everything's all right, we'll take you home." He straightened and held his hand out to her.

    Kiara placed her tiny, icy hand into his large, warm one. He pulled her to her feet. She
    took a single step, then crumpled.

    In a blurred flash, he knelt beside her. "Are you okay?" his voice was warm with concern.

    "I don't understand," she mumbled. "I can't walk!" Another wave of panic tore through her.

    "Shh," Rachol soothed. "You're in mild shock. Little wonder after having to be near those two. Don't worry, it'll pass." His hand gripped his ribs as he swept her with a measuring gaze. "I can't carry you," he said after a minute. "I've got a wound healing in my side and if I pick you up, I'll open it."

    He lifted her chin until she stared into his kind, dark brown eyes. "Do you trust me?"

    For some unknown reason, she did. "Yes."

    He nodded and smiled. "I'm going to ask a friend to carry you back to our ship. Promise
    me you won't faint when he gets here."

    Kiara frowned at his words, wondering why he felt it necessary to ask for such a promise.
    "I don't faint."

    Rachol gave her a skeptical look, then pulled out a hand-held communicator from his
    belt. "Nemesis, I need assistance."

    Kiara's blood fled her face. "Nemesis!" she shrieked, pushing herself away from Rachol.

    For a moment, she thought she might faint after all. Nemesis was the most feared assassin
    to ever live. Every known government, including her own, wanted him dead.

    "He won't hurt you," Rachol soothed.

    Kiara wasn't listening. Instead, she heard the various news reports that aired regularly
    about the coldblooded, brutal killings Nemesis performed. No one knew what he looked
    like, who he was. The only people to ever see his face, never lived long enough to tell the
    authorities. It was rumored he had even killed his own parents when he was a young boy, just for practice.

    A large shadow fell over them.

    Kiara gulped, her gaze traveling up the hulking form dressed identically to Rachol. At
    least Nemesis still had his helmet on. Maybe she would live through this . . . maybe. She
    shook in fear.

    To her dismay, Nemesis walked past Rachol and knelt before her. His huge, gloved hand
    reached out to touch the burning cheek Chenz had struck. She cringed, trying to press
    herself into the wall behind her and turned her face away.

    He dropped his hand before making contact with her cheek.

    "She can't walk," Rachol explained.

    Nemesis nodded. Without a word, he pulled her into his arms and lifted her as if she
    weighed nothing more than the communicator at his waist. Kiara trembled, wanting to be
    back home and not in the arms of the most dangerous being alive.

    Reaching the door, Nemesis paused and turned to face Rachol. "Kill them," he said in an electronically distorted voice.

    The nonchalant tone tore through her. What kind of being could order someone's death so
    callously? Not wanting to be near such a creature, she tried to squirm out of his arms. His
    hold tightened almost to the point of pain.

    He carried her out into the hallway to the linking station that joined the two crafts. Rachol
    continued down the corridor, disappearing from her sight, no doubt on his way to carry
    out Nemesis' brutal order.

    Kiara wanted to call Rachol back. The last thing she desired was to be left alone with this
    creature, but her mouth was suddenly so dry, she couldn't get even a whisper past her
    swollen lips.

    Once inside their shuttle, Nemesis took her into one of the back rooms which she