Sky Hunter

by Fae Sutherland

Overview

Book three of Skybound

Jeret hasn't looked back since running away from life as a crown prince and joining the Crux Ansata's crew, but when the Ansata returns to his home system, he finds his father ill and a traitor maneuvering for control. Now that he's a full-grown man, he can't just walk away again.

Letting Jeret escape was the biggest black mark on bounty hunter Dagan Nu'aim's otherwise distinguished years as a royal guard. When he catches Jeret back in-system, Dagan seizes the chance to regain his lost honor and bring the wayward prince home.

Jeret's not so sure he wants to go, but the reignition of his old crush on Dagan complicates the issue. As the two unravel a tangled plot against the crown, their old friendship lights up with a fiery new desire. And when the traitor strikes and the two men must choose between duty and freedom, neither is certain which to pick.

Take flight with the Crux Ansata in Sky Riders and Sky Runners, available now!

53,000 words

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781426895852
Publisher:	Carina Press
Publication date:	07/22/2013
Series:	Skybound , #3
Sold by:	HARLEQUIN
Format:	eBook
Pages:	206
File size:	267 KB

Read an Excerpt

It was impossible for a king to sneak up on anyone, let alone a bounty hunter. That his former liege tried would have amused Dagan, except His Majesty King Jahan Adar's presence spelled trouble, and Dagan was sick to death of trouble coming to look for him. He met the king's gaze in the mirror over the bar.

"There are a limited number of reasons for a king to set foot in a pit like this, Your Majesty. None of them bode well for me." Dagan didn't turn around, instead tipping back the last of his drink. It seared its way to his belly as a ripple of revulsion joined the apprehension slithering down his spine—the former from the alcohol, the latter from the king's unannounced visit.

"Dagan Nu'aim, you will greet your king with the proper respect."

Dagan's jaw clenched and he did turn then, glancing over his shoulder. "You're not my king anymore." He met the older man's faded blue eyes and then looked away, shoving his glass across the bar. "Or don't you remember?"

The bartender sloshed more liquor into the glass and Dagan tossed another credit down.

"Leave us!"

Dagan sighed as, thanks to the small group of heavily armed, incredibly intimidating security standing behind the king, the bartender and the handful of other patrons scrambled to abandon the little hole-in-the-wall. "Great. Now who's gonna pour my drinks?" He shrugged and reached for the bottle the bartender had left behind, then turned on his stool to face the man who'd ruined his life. "What do you want?"

"I want my son back."

The words were like a fist to the gut and Dagan's jaw clenched even tighter as a flood of memories hit him in a rush. "Yeah, well, I can't help you with that. Find someone else."

He made to turn around again, but King Adar reached out and closed his hand on Dagan's shoulder. There was no threat to it, but it stopped Dagan cold. "On the contrary, it is only you who can help me."

Dagan's blood ran cold. Those words too closely resembled the ones he'd heard from this same man almost eight years prior, when King Adar had placed Dagan in charge of protecting his most prized treasure. Dagan's jaw clenched. Two years later, he'd failed at that job and he had no intention of accepting another of similar importance only to fail a second time.

He didn't think his pride and honor could take the blow.

So he feigned indifference. "Whether or not the prince returns is no longer my concern. Find someone else."

"There is no time. Jadikira must be found and must be restored to his rightful place as heir. There is no time to waste."

"It's been five years, almost six. Why the sudden rush?" Dagan did his best to ignore the memories flashing through his mind like a vid display—Jadi as a youth, always tagging along, dark eyes full of hero worship. Dagan had loved the boy, despite his annoying tendencies. That affection was yet another remnant of the past he tried to forget. For a very long time he'd been able to think of nothing but how that pampered, spoiled imp was surviving in the In-Between. Jadi was smart and resourceful, but what did he know of the underbelly of the universe? Dagan shoved the thoughts aside—now was not the time to start rehashing mistakes of the past and their possible consequences. "What makes you even think he's still alive?"