Free Demon Untamed by Kiersten Fay

worse…killed.
    “We could lose all five of you…” She hated how her voice quivered.
    “Not five,” Cale replied woefully. “Marik’s still on Undewla. The natives captured him.”
    A breath heaved from her chest as she sank into her chair. Marik and Anya had been seized by two completely different factions. Sebastian, Cale, and Ethan were riding to their deaths. And Marada was incapacitated.
    “And has the pirate accepted that he’s being flown to his doom?” she asked Cale. Maybe Ethan could talk some sense into her brothers.
    “The pirate is up for the challenge,” Ethan responded, probably seated next to Cale.
    Sonya didn’t have time to evaluate the odd sense of relief she felt at hearing his voice.
    “My princess is in danger,” he continued. “If I die trying to save her, then I die with honor.”
    The pirate was just as daft as the rest of them!
    Sonya sat forward. “I want to save her too, guys, but don’t you think we should regroup? Form a plan?”
    “No time!” Sebastian snarled. He sounded distant and out of breath, clearly fighting the Edge. “He’ll take her where I cannot find her.”
    “But—”
    “Enough, Sonya!” Sebastian snapped. “Fix the ship and then follow us, but keep your distance from Extarga . Your priority is to the people on Marada now. If we cannot… You have to be prepared to leave us.”
    Sonya shook her head, biting back a wave of emotion that burned her eyes. “I can’t leave you.”
    “Hopefully you won’t have to, but… promise me you’ll make the choice if it comes to that.”
    Images flashed through her mind. A body, broken and bleeding, lying motionless in a pool of his own blood…except this time, instead of her father, it was Sebastian, Cale, and even the pirate in his place. “No.” Her voice came out small.
    “Dammit, Sonya!” Sebastian had never addressed her so harshly.
    She quelled her quivering lip. “Promise me you’ll come back.”
    “I…I can’t.”
    Cale jumped in. “You know us better than that, Sunny. We’ll be back in no time.”
    She did know them. Her brothers were two of the fiercest males she’d ever known. She could almost feel sorry for Extarga and the bastards on board. Almost.
    “Pirate.” She forced a sturdy voice. “I expect you to come back as well. You’ve work to do here.”
    “Aye, Captain.” It sounded as though Ethan was actually smiling.
    The transmission cut off. Sonya took a minute to gather herself before barking over the loud speaker, “All mechanics report for duty!”

Chapter 8

     
     
    It took three full days to repair the thrusters. Another four days were spent tracking Extarga .
    Space was massive—actually, massive times infinity…squared. Endless. Extarga could be anywhere. Could have gone in any direction. For all she knew, Marada could be heading away from it.
    Sonya drove the crew on, never letting it known that she was starting to have doubts whether they would find the monstrous ship at all. She was running on a mix of instinct, determination, and a heavy dose of delusion.
    She wasn’t the only one losing hope. She could see it in many of the crew’s eyes, but no one wanted to be the first to admit it. The atmosphere on the ship was solemn and quiet. The crew tended their stations without the usual mirth and liveliness.
    Aside from the group that had gone after Anya, Sonya worried for Marik. He was alone on Undewla, captured by foreigners who probably didn’t even know what they were dealing with when it came to demons—especially one that abhorred captivity as much as Marik. She hadn’t wanted to abandon him, but at least she knew where he was.
    Once again, her mind drifted back to her family.
    Please be okay .
    She couldn’t lose them. They were all she had left. After her father’s gruesome demise, she had been determined to keep the last of her family safe. And her reckless brothers took her to task every chance they got, this being the last in a very long line of rash