Page 30 of Only Cold Depths
Vesper and I both tensed. We couldn’t afford to let the Hammers take us into custody, much less ship us back to the Imperium.
“You didn’t finish your threat,” I said in a cold voice. “Surrender your weapons or . . .”
Siya shrugged. “Or die where you stand.”
The other Hammers shifted on their feet. Their weapons remained up and steady, but some of them looked a little less certain and confident. I might despise the gossipcasts, but sometimes it was good to have a reputation as a ruthless killer.
You have that look on your face, Vesper’s voice sounded in my mind.
What look?I asked, although I never took my eyes off Siya.
The look that says you are about to kill everyone who gets in your way.It’s terrifying.She paused.And kind of hot.
The velvety ribbon of her vibrated with a mixture of amusement, worry, and a thread of desire that made my inner monster preen like a Tropics tiger having its back scratched. Vesper’s emotions also hardened my own determination. We had come here seeking shelter, but, if necessary, I would paint the entire dome with the Hammers’ blood.
I slid my duffel bag off my shoulder and set it on the floor. Then I drew my stormsword out of its slot and twirled the weapon around in my hand. The lunarium shimmered with a dark blue light, and bits of ice spewed out of the blade in an eerie match to the snow still falling outside the dome.
Siya’s knuckles went white against the gold hilt of her hammer. “Last chance. Surrender peacefully, or suffer the consequences.”
“Surrender?” Vesper hissed. “And let you ship us back to the Imperium? Hard pass.”
Vesper dropped her duffel bag and drew her own stormsword. Flashes of fire smoked up into the air instead of the ice my blade was spitting out, but her sword glowed with the same dark blue light as my weapon.
“Damn,” one of the Hammers muttered. “They reallydohave a truebond.”
“That’s right,” Vesper hissed again. “So maybe you want to rethink your hostility before Kyrion and I cut you all to pieces.”
“Big talk for someone who’s only been training with that sword for a few months,” Siya taunted.
Surprise flickered across Vesper’s face.
“Oh, yes,” Siya drawled. “I’ve seen your gossipcast interviews, so I know all about you, Lady Vesper, including the fact that you aren’tnearlythe warrior you pretend to be.”
More fire smoked up out of the lunarium blade, but an odd, uneasy emotion pulsed off Vesper. Was that . . . doubt? Why would Vesper be doubting her abilities as a warrior? She’d made amazing progress in the months she’d been training.
“You’re right,” Vesper replied, a bitter note creeping into her voice. “I haven’t been training with my stormsword long, so I guess it’s a good thing I’ve had some excellent teachers.” She gestured at me. “Like him. Unless you are doubting Kyrion Caldaren? Because that would be an extremely stupid thing to do.”
Once again, some of the Hammers shifted on their feet. Vesper’s unwavering confidence and trust made my inner monster purr in satisfaction.
Vesper kept glaring at Siya. “So maybeyoushould think about surrendering.”
“Not a bloody chance,” Siya snarled back.
“Your loss.” Vesper’s face hardened. “And your death.”
My inner monster purred again, this time with delight, and I couldn’t stop myself from grinning.You have a look on your face too.
What look?Vesper growled.
The look that says you are about to come up with some invention, solution, or clever trick to kill everyone who gets in your way. It’s terrifying.I paused.And kind of hot.
Vesper’s laugh sounded in my mind.We really are a matched pair, aren’t we?
My grin widened.Absolutely. Cold, cruel, and murderous to the core—and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Vesper grinned back at me, and the silver flecks in her dark blue eyes sparked with heat and desire.Me neither.
I faced our enemies again. “This is your last warning. Let us leave, and no one has to get hurt.”
