Free Hawk's Slave by Jordan Summers Page B

straightened in the chair and pulled at the chains binding him. They clanged loudly but held.
    “A sword from Atten can turn even the hottest thing into a block of ice.” Hawk moved closer to the shifter.
    The man hissed.
    “I’ve only used this weapon one time,” Hawk said. “It’s truly remarkable.” He held the sword up to the man’s face. “What do you think will happen if I drive it into your chest?”
    The man’s red eyes swirled with banked heat and undisguised hatred.
    Hawk leaned down until they were eye to eye. “There’s not enough fire inside of you to counteract this sword’s effect. Now tell me what I want to know.”
    The drac-shifter snarled. “I’ll never talk.”
    Hawk touched the sword to the fire-breather’s thigh. It hissed on contact, then ice began to form.
    The shifter screamed in agony.
    “Now imagine what it will do, when I drive it into your lungs,” Hawk said. “Where are they?”
    The shifter struggled to break free.
    “You’re not going anywhere,” Hawk said.
    “Captain,” Fallon said. “Your wound.”
    Hawk pinned his First in place with his sharp gaze.
    Fallon stared in distress at Hawk’s shoulder.
    “Not now.” Hawk ignored the blood dripping from his wound. He’d get it treated eventually, but not until he had the answers he wanted. Besides, the pain kept him focused. “Who ordered the raid?” he asked.
    The man clenched his jaw.
    Hawk touched the shifter’s arm with the tip of the sword. The blade sizzled against the man’s scaly skin and frost spread down his arm.
    He gasped in pain and cried out. “Captain Zeth,” he spat. “But that’s all I’m going to tell you.”
    Rage engulfed him. Hawk should’ve known that the alien would never take no for an answer. “What does he plan to do with the cargo?” he asked.
    The shifter looked at him and laughed. “He’s going to cut your woman into little pieces and sell her meat for soup. That’s if he hasn’t already eaten her.”
    Hawk raised the sword over his head and drove it straight into the man’s thigh. It sliced through the scales like they were Zaronian petals. A second later, the leg froze solid like a block of ice.
    The shifter screamed until his throat was raw and his red eyes lost focus. Before he could pass out, Hawk removed the blade. The shifter trembled as he sucked air into his lungs.
    “Now I’m going to ask you one more time. Where did Zeth take my cargo?” Hawk raised his arms once more and aimed for the man’s other thigh.
    “No!” he shouted. “Please.”
    Hawk stopped an inch above his leg and waited.
    The drac-shifter took a deep breath. “I can’t say for sure.”
    Hawk raised the blade.
    “Wait!” the man cried out. “He’s probably taking them to Gar. It’s the closest trading moon for fresh flesh.”
    Hawk’s jaw clenched as fear and rage threatened to consume him. Was Opal even alive? He couldn’t imagine Zeth offering so many credits, then turning around and killing her, but it was possible. He kicked the shifter’s frozen leg. The ice cracked and the leg fell to the ground. Hawk brought the sword up and swirled it around in the air.
    “That’s all I know. I swear!” the man shouted.
    “I believe you,” Hawk said, then sliced the man’s head off his shoulders. He looked at his crew. “Clean up this mess.”
    Hawk strode out of the chamber, his body fighting for air. His chest ached at the thought of losing Opal, which only added fuel to his anger.
    She was a slave. She meant nothing to him.
    He massaged the center of his chest with his palm. It was one thing to lie to his men, it was quite another to lie to himself. Opal was his. He’d claimed her in both forms. He’d even marked her, for Goddess’ sake.
    Hawk may not remember much about his world, but he knew enough to recognize a mating when he saw one. He threw his head back and roared. The sound echoed throughout the cargo hold.
    Fallon hurried to catch up. “Captain, I’ve set the