Sons of Lyra: Fight For Love Read Free Page A

me. Quit moping or I’ll have
to have a word with that nurse of yours.”

    He cursed his brother for
saying that loud enough to draw the attention of everyone in the
room. His cheeks blazed and he added a curse aimed at himself for
reacting like a child would to such unwelcome attention. So what if
he liked Emmanuelle. He was a man. He was flesh and blood and had
needs and desires like any other man in the universe. If asked,
he’d be the first to admit that he wanted her for his own. It
wasn’t as though he was hiding his attraction. Everyone in his
squad knew he got hurt with the intention of getting himself into
her office again.

    He’d gone there today with
nothing more than a case of bruising.

    She never turned him away
though.

    He’d seen her turn others
away for such petty wounds.

    He chose a seat in the
corner and Acer sat beside him. He listened to his brother relaying
the tale of his last battle in space and it wasn’t long before they
had an audience. Acer was as charming towards the women and as
brash towards the men as usual. It was good to see him again. He
looked down at his left hand. Perhaps his brother and Emmanuelle
were right. His arm hadn’t changed who he was. In fact, he couldn’t
imagine life without it now. He’d grown strangely used to the
superior strength in it and had learned to differentiate between
his two hands so he didn’t crush things with his left hand when
using both.

    Acer laughed about
something and everyone laughed with him. Remi realised that he was
talking about him. It was the first time Remi had tried to fly
something coming up all over again. He went to stop him but Acer
held up a hand.

    “ Come, brother,
don’t be shy. In a few weeks they’ll send you to the pilot academy
and everyone will discover the dirty secret of your first flight
and crash landing into the palace ponds,” Acer said with another
laugh.

    He leaned back in his
chair, letting Acer have his way.

    Just as Acer was about to
tell them, the alarms sounded across the ship.

    He looked up at the
ceiling.

    “ All squadrons
are to report for duty. This is not a drill. We have been issued
orders and are en route to Varka Two.”

    His blood ran cold. Varka
Two? His gaze fell to his arm. Was he strong enough to go back
there? He’d learnt a lot in the past few years, but was it enough
to keep him alive? The Varkans were fierce fighters and had some of
the most advanced military equipment in the universe.

    Everyone scrambled to
their posts and the room was empty in a matter of seconds. He
looked at Acer.

    “ Maybe we’ll
get to spend more time together soon,” his brother said and stood,
placing a hand on his shoulder. “I’d better return to my ship.
We’ll have to detach before you make the shift to full
speed.”

    Remi stood and nodded,
trying to be strong. Acer pulled him into a hug and Remi closed his
eyes as he held him in return.

    “ Take care,
little brother,” Acer said and then released him, turning away and
walking out the door.

    He was alone.

    He looked at the empty
room and fought the fear inside himself. He was stronger now and
far more skilled. The Varkans wouldn’t get the better of
him.

    When the ship shifted to
full speed, he left the room and went to find his squadron. They
would leave the ship before it reached Varka Two, each squadron
entering the atmosphere in their own set of ships. There were three
for each squadron. He’d be in the one with Alessandro, Jericho,
Pietr and Ambra, as he always was.

    He reached the cargo deck
and crossed it towards the dock where his ship waited. The window
of the airlock where his brother’s ship had been docked showed
nothing but empty space now. He would see his brother again. He had
no doubt about that.

    Everyone was gathered at
the far end of the cargo bay, waiting for orders. He found Jericho
and Ambra in one corner.

    “ How’s it
looking?” he said with a nod towards the captains. The six men were
closely huddled