Free Saint (Gateway Series Book 2) by Brian Dorsey Page A

Shirt-Wearers?” Stone’s fingers were going numb under the pressure of her grip.
    “They are chosen to maintain order among my people. I am a Ka-itsenko and a woman. If it was determined you were not suitable, we wouldn’t be allowed to stay together, so I would have to give up my title.”
    “You would—”
    “Don’t be stupid, Tyler,” she interrupted. “You did the same for me. You know I’d give up my title for you. I’d hate it and I’d be betraying my own vision, but I would do it.”
    Stone looked into those green eyes once again. He could actually feel them pulling him toward her. “I’d never ask that, Mori. But I’m a danger to you and the others as long as I live between these two worlds. And if this ceremony will help…”
    She looked down toward the bed. Neither one of them wanted to endanger their relationship, but neither wanted to endanger the other even more. After a few seconds of silence, Mori again raised her head and Stone’s gaze immediately went to her eyes.
    “Of course you’re right,” she said.
    Stone felt the pressure on his hands lessen as she released her grip.
    “Are you sure?” he asked. He wasn’t.
    “I know who you are, but you don’t. In your head you know you’re Terillian, and Akota, but in your heart, you’re still lost, like all Hanmani. The only way to find yourself is through the Dance. And I must trust that the Great Spirit has the same vision for both of us.”
    Stone felt a clarity he had not experienced in years. Would this be the answer to what he was looking for, even before the incident at the Gateway Station rekindled the war?
    “It’s settled then,” she continued. “I’ll do what must be done tomorrow.”
    Despite the ominous sound of Mori’s statement, Stone felt more at ease than he had in months.
    With Mori curled up against him, he soon fell into a deep sleep.
    ***
    Stone hurriedly made his way through the passageways of Winter Moon . The news of yesterday still had him frustrated and anxious and to make things worse, Winter Moon was still a maze of compartments and passageways to him. He had been able to reserve range time but now he had to find the damn range. He looked back and forth between his digital reservation and the bulkhead locators as he fast-walked through the ship. Terillian compartment identification was a confusing mixture of symbols and numbers unlike the alpha-numeric system of the Humani, and he was having a hell of a time.
    “Seven, One-Four-Eight…is that a bird? And Charlie,” he said out loud as he searched for the range.
    Stone turned a corner, his head still buried in the digital reader. Before he could react, he collided with another crewmember.
    “I’m sorry,” offered Stone, “I—”
    Stone went silent when he saw the man looking back at him. It was Navarus Nero, the man who had led the assault that destroyed his regiment and ended in the deaths of both Emily Martin and Hugh Jackson. He could feel his body grow hot with anger. Without realizing his actions, Stone drew his sword and pinned it against the bulkhead.
    “Stone, wait!” gulped Nero, Stone’s blade pressed against his throat.
    “Wait?” replied Stone with a grunt. “You traitorous son of a bitch. You killed them.”
    “I’m not a traitor, Stone,” Nero pleaded, struggling to talk against the pressure of Stone’s sword against his neck. “I’m no different from you. I only want to free our people from Xennite rule.”
    Stone pressed his forearm further into Nero’s chest and his jaw clenched tightly. All he could see was Jackson and Martin and then the explosion that enveloped them.
    “Stone. We’re on the same side,” begged Nero.
    Stone finally had a flash of reason through his rage. He slowly released the pressure of the sword from Nero’s throat but kept him pinned to the wall with his forearm.
    “Talk,” he ordered.
    Nero took in a deep breath and began to speak.
    “I assume that you know most First Family leaders know