Fury to the Stars (Universe in Flames Book 2) Read Free

Earth-Alliance hybrid fighter to leave orbit and make a
hyperspace jump had definitely helped. That alone had counted for at least
twenty dates in her book. It had been the most exhilarating experience of her
life, so when he came to see her that night, she already felt as though every
single nerve was firing, aching for another adrenaline fix.
    She remembered how gently his hands coursed her
naked body, how sweet and attentive he had been, how his tongue and lips softly
caressed every inch of her burning skin, making her tremble and vibrate with
pleasure.
    A piercing scream ripped the fantasy apart.
    Sarah felt like her skin was being ripped apart from
the inside out. Tears streamed uncontrollably down her contorted face. She was
still floating in the air, but her back was arched at an impossible angle, as
though some invisible hook was pulling her spine to the ceiling, leaving her
limbs to dangle towards the ground. As she was rotated to face the fiend, she
could see that his mouth was moving. He was clearly exasperated, demanding that
she give him some kind of information. She quickly closed her eyes again,
willing herself back to her beautiful memory of the wedding that might have
been. That could still be.
    That will be , she thought as her
lips curled into a wistful smile.
    All at once, she was back in the dream. The wedding
would be magnificent, though she was slightly disappointed to miss an
opportunity to be the first Earthling to actually marry on an alien world. She
had thought about it, but the circumstances made it more logical to marry on
Earth at the time. Chase was such a sweet man, she couldn’t really know for
sure if he had been disappointed or not. He had suggested that they use some
flowers from his native planet to add a breathtaking alien touch to the hall,
and she had loved the idea. The aisle and altar were both magnificently lit
with star lilies, each pulsating a luminous white light into the cathedral,
adding what looked like a living, breathing energy.
    “I have to say, I’m impressed by your tolerance,”
her torturer taunted. “Most people would have given up by now, or at least lost
consciousness. But you? You continue to surprise.”
    A sudden burning pain in the side of her body showed
her how impressed he was with this little revelation. She gritted her teeth and
forcibly tuned him out, returning to the dream.
    When she rounded the corner and proceeded down the
aisle, the entire church stood up with a gasp. She and Chase met eyes
immediately. He looked as happy as she had ever seen him, a radiant smile
erasing every trace of his usually shy demeanor. The lace of her gown whispered
across the smooth marble, and, a second later, she was by his side. They locked
eyes for another moment before Chase suddenly winked. Then the ceremony began.
    A sharp pain in her belly made her open her eyes for
a split second, just long enough to catch a glimpse of her imaginary groom’s
brother smirking at her, his hands dripping with her blood. Even though she
closed her eyes as fast as she could, she could still hear him laughing in the
distance as she returned to the cathedral.
    “Are you alright, my love?” Chase whispered
questioningly.
    “Yes, I’m good,” she panted. “Don’t worry, just
some… cramps.”
    The minister began to talk about the beauty of marriage,
the value of commitment. It all felt so perfect, so magical. She had to admit
that she had never imagined a big wedding. Most days, she never thought she’d
be getting married at all. While other girls spent their childhoods planning
out the big day, Sarah had dreamed about going to the stars instead. Flying
through the celestial heavens and exploring brand new worlds. But she realized,
as she held Chase’s hand tightly in her own, that in this moment, she was truly
happy. The longer she stood up by the altar, the happier she felt.
    The minister took a step back as it was time for the
vows and rings. With a little smile, Chase stepped