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

forward to go first.
    “I promise to always look after you and love you for
as long as I shall live. I will always be there for you. I will always be kind
and patient, and give you strength and support when you need it the most. You
can always count on me, through thick and thin. I love you with all my heart
and soul. I pledge myself to you for the rest of our lives.”
    Simple, yet beautiful , she thought. It was
exactly what she would expect him to say.
    As
his long, thin fingers slid the ring gently up her finger, she fought the urge
to forget the crowd and just kiss him. The cool metal made her feel safe,
somehow. Wanted.
    It was her turn now. She looked at him with a smile
so broad that her face hurt, and, before she could stop it, a single tear ran
down her cheek. With a deep breath, she began to speak.
    “You are my everything. My best friend, my teacher,
my role model, and my true north. I love you now, and vow to love you forever.
In sickness and in health, through sorrow and success, through times of
darkness and light, I shall forever enjoy your sight. I love you more than
anything in this world, and today you make me whole.”
    She slipped the ring onto his finger as well, and
when she looked up his eyes were swimming with tears.
    The minister stepped forward again with a smile. “If
anyone here sees a reason why these two should not be joined in matrimony,
speak now or forever hold your peace.”
    There was perfect silence in the cathedral.
    “You may now kiss the bride.”
    Sarah gave a silent gasp as another wave of pain
threatened to rip her from her body. It was greater than anything she’d felt
before. Like a sand storm beating against her raw nerves. She stared into
Chase’s peaceful eyes and held on with every ounce of strength she had.
    She would not let go of this moment. Not this moment. She would hold on with everything she had.
    Chase leaned towards her and she leapt into his arms,
pressing herself into him as their lips finally met in a kiss. It was as if
everything around them had melted away. It was just the two of them in their
own little perfect world. Alive and in love.
    The crowd jumped to their feet in applause, but she
barely heard any of it. Even when she and Chase finally pulled away and started
marching down the aisle, the noise was nothing but a warm hum in the back of
her head.
    She was with Chase now. She was with Chase.
Nothing could ever pull her away.
    A huge smile spread across her face as she tossed
the bouquet over her shoulder to no one in particular. The happy faces of the
crowd swam before her eyes, and she and Chase walked hand in hand back through
the cathedral. They didn’t have time to stay and mingle. They had a fairytale
life to get to, after all.
    But one face suddenly stood out above the rest. One
face… that shouldn’t be there at all.
    She squinted and leaned forward for a better look,
but the next thing she knew, she was flying towards the ceiling with a scream.
It was as if someone had lassoed her around the stomach. One second she was
standing next to Chase, the next her hand was ripped from his as she flew
backwards up into the air.
    “There you are.” A cruel voice made her open her
eyes. “Did you really expect to keep me out forever?”
     

C H A P T E R III
     
     
    Ryonna stood in front
of the guard in Hellstar prison. She hadn’t slept more than four hours in the
last five days, there had been several close calls and near misses, and she
couldn’t even begin to describe the intense aching behind her eyes, but she had
made it. She was where she needed to be.
    The Ferogot guard looked at her with the utmost
detestation. She wasn’t surprised. His species had made the terrible mistake of
going to open war with her people five decades ago, and the foolish attempt had
cost them dearly. The Droxians were not conquerors of worlds. All they asked
was to be left in peace. But the abundance of quadrinium within their territory
had the unfortunate side