Page 33 of The Edge of Dawn

He wasn’t surprised when the Sylth instantaneously narrowed down the coordinates based on his description. There was a slight rush, and then the ship rose into the air.

“It isn’t far from here at all,” Ashrael said mildly. “Interesting. In fact, it appears we’ve arrived.”

“Already?” Dragek’s impatience morphed into dark, seething tension. He craved violence.

And the promise of seeing her in the flesh was fuelling that feeling because he couldn’t stand the thought of some pathetic human minions trying to steal her away.

Why? What is she to you?

He sensed the departure of kinetic energy from the ship; the sudden stillness as it came to a stop, landing seamlessly on the planet’s arid crust.

Ashrael gave him a knowing look. “Go.”

Something appeared in his hand. A metal canister. He tossed it to Dragek.

He snatched it out of the air. “What’s this?”

“Nano-coating. For your skin. You aren’t properly dressed, and the ultraviolet here is harsh. It’ll burn you to a crisp if you don’t protect yourself.”

“I didn’t realize you could be so thoughtful, katach.”

The Silent One bared his fangs. “I choose when to be. The Universe has changed. So have I. You’d better do the same if you want to survive in this new order.”

Dragek said nothing. He wasn’t an idiot. The time he’d spent locked inside his own body under the control of the Mistress had taught him many things.

The first was that nothing was ever as it seemed.

The second was that he was constantly surprising himself. He might be a killer, but he was capable of much more than they could ever have understood.

And his new masters were the only ones that seemed to get that.

He rose to his feet and rolled his neck, teasing out his minor aches and pains.

“Do you know how to use it?” Ashrael nodded at the small metal tube in his hand.

“No.”

“Press it against your bare skin—anywhere will do—and push the release button.”

Dragek placed the tip against his chest. “As long as this thing isn’t going to kill me.”

“Idiot. If I wanted you dead, you would be already.”

“You don’t need to remind me.” The subtle fact of Ashrael’s supremacy grated on his nerves. He would do everything in his power to surpass him.

He pressed the release button.

A faint tingle danced across his skin, spreading to every exposed inch of his body.

“An invisible layer of nanoscopic ultraviolet blockers,” Ashrael said dryly. “Courtesy of Darkstar’s original medic.”

“This would have been useful on Bartharra,” Dragek muttered under his breath, knowing Ashrael could hear. “Or any other infernal desert planet. Why didn’t they think of it sooner?”

A soft laugh escaped the Silent One. “Our old masters weren’t so considerate. Now, go. Before your little human gets truly hurt.”

“She isn’t my human.”

“Hm.” For some reason, Ashrael’s mild response irritated him all the more.

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