3013: SALVATION (3013: The Series Book 5) Read Online Free Page A

through the crowd. She kept silent as a large group of tourists
passed by them, laughing riotously about some show they had just attended at
one of the strip joints on board. When they were alone, she looked up at Tavius,
eyeing him suspiciously. “Okay, out with it. I know you have better things to
do then play messenger, so something else has brought you down here. Spill it.”
    Tavius sighed as he took her arm,
tucking it through his as he guided her through the crowd. She stiffened
slightly at the contact, but forced herself not to pull away. Like the crowd
had parted for Reva, people hurried to get out of Tavius’ way. It was as if he
exuded some sort of centrifugal force that warned people not to get in his path.
Skylar would have been impressed if she wasn’t so nervous about what he had to
say. She could feel there was something...some reason he had sought her out and
she knew it wasn’t going to be good.
    She could feel it in her gut.
    “Sky, I like you. Perhaps it’s
because of your snarly, suspicious nature. You wouldn’t have any Krytos blood
in you, would you?”
    “Nope. Not a drop.” No, she has
something much darker running through her veins. It was something she didn’t
like thinking about, so she ruthlessly pushed the thought out of her mind.
“What do you want, Tav?”
    “It’s not about what I want. I’m
simply here to let you know that even though the meeting has been canceled,
your commander would still like a word with you now that you are back safely on
New Vega.” That wicked gleam was back in his eyes as he added, “I should probably
mention that your director was looking for you earlier and he...wasn’t pleased with
you when he discovered you had taken a day trip off this vessel.”
    “He’s never pleased with me.”
    Tavius let out a dark chuckle.
“Oh, but he could be. But you, my friend, are determined to keep that particular
man on edge. I find human mating rituals amusing. You are obviously attracted
to Dominic Stryker. I can smell it all over you every time you are near one
another, and yet you fight it.”
    Skylar began to protest, but let
the lie die before it could be uttered. Damn these insufferable races with
their enhanced senses of smell. She was going to have to learn how to control
her body’s responses better...or better yet, just stay the hell away from Dom
from now on.
    Yeah, like that could happen.
    Her wrist unit pinged with a text
message from High Commander Spartan, telling her to report to his suite as soon
as she landed. Apparently, Tavius had been right.
    “Your winged friend was also
irritated by your absence. He is far better at controlling his reactions, but I
could see it.”
    “My time off is my own,” Skylar
all but snarled as she jerked her arm away from him. “I don’t answer to them.
Or you.”
    Tavius stopped and turned so he
was facing her. All the casual ease he had been emanating was gone as his face
took on an intensity that had her body bracing as if for a blow. She didn’t
like how he cornered her against the wall without seeming to move, reminding
her of the dangerous predator that lurked beneath the surface.
    Her own defenses kicked into
gear, and she had to force back the energy surge that began to build in her
hands. He was annoying, but Tavius would never hurt her. It really wouldn’t be
wise to shock one of the owners of New Vega while she was on board.
    Not if she wanted to leave there
in one piece.
    Tavius took another step closer,
then leaned down to whisper, “No, you don’t answer to me. But if you belonged
to males such as me and my brothers, you could be damned sure we would not
allow you to go off on your own without letting anyone know. I say this as a
friend, Sky. Know what you risk by forcing your independence.”
    Skylar bristled at his gall. How
dare he fucking lecture her!
    “You don’t know me, Tavius. Not
really. Who the hell do you answer to? Just because I have tits doesn’t make me
any less capable of