Page 52 of Stars in Mist

‘I know, beautiful. I wish you were here too, but you’ve got our sweet girl to raise. How’s Malia?’

‘She’s being cheeky this morning. I’ve lost some jewelry in a hide-and-seek game. She’s also given me a headache playing drums on the pots and pans. Eden, save me.’

Zane chuckled as his wife gave a frustrated mini-scream.

Illanna and his daughter were now ensconced in their expansive penthouse suite perched on the highest level of the Sable HQ’s 517 building.

These days, its once neat and ordered veneer was in the past. Malia had stamped her presence on the place, adding toys, chaos, and mess to its hallowed corridors, quality furnishings, and fixtures.

Just this morning, Zane tripped over an abandoned doll and train set left on the polished marble floors.

He’d had to use a psionic burst to stop himself from careening into the far wall to his daughter’s thorough amusement and burst of giggles.

‘Coming home soon,khali?’

Ilanna’s seductive voice broke through his thoughts.

‘I don’t see why not,’ he growled as he sent a sensual psionic tap her way. ‘Sounds like you need some tender, loving care.’

She moaned with need, and he grinned in self-satisfaction. ‘I’ll let you know when I leave so you can put Malia down, and we can -.’

His sultry suggestion was interrupted by a signal beeping through his node network.

‘One second, my love, I have a message coming in. I’ll call you back.’

He switched to his neural sensors.Mirage?

We have a problem,the Sable AI informed him.

He honed in on the concern lacing Mirage’s tone.Of which variety?

It’s Riv. We’ve lost all contact with him and his ship. I also can’t access my node on Glimmer.

Zane’s heart kicked. The Riders had never lost their neural connection in all their years together.

He put out a psionic feeler, and a tendril of icy terror snaked over him as he confirmed Mirage’s words.Fokk. When?

A few hours ago. When his signal and my node on his ship were transmitting loud and clear, then came a message you’ll need to hear along with the other Riders. After that, radio silence.

You’ve comm’d Kainan?he asked, swiveling on his feet.

Naam. He’s with Kage, and they’re headed to HQ.

I’ll meet you there.

He strode across the silver regolith towards a sleek pinnace parked on the lunar clifftop.

He used his mag boots to glide into the cockpit, where he slid his hands over the controls. His soul churned as dread rolled over him.

‘Riv, brother, you’d better befokkin’ alive,’ he whispered.

He shot a quick message to his woman, giving Illanna a quick update.

Moments later, he streaked skyward in his pinnace, his way lit by starlight, thundering towards Eden II in an adrenaline-fueled tear.

‘What the hell happened?’

The growl tore from the furious lips of the long-haired, broad-shouldered colossus seated at the head of the Sable HQ boardroom table.

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