by Anna Hackett
This invader was forcing him to rethink his beliefs.
As he strode down the street of Tholla’s main town, he breathed deep, trying to pick up the woman’s scent. She had a unique smell, richer and sweeter than he would have guessed. A picture of her formed in his mind—a long, athletic body that possessed curves as well. He’d definitely noticed the rounded hips and full breasts. Eon women were not curvy, so he found the difference intriguing.
Annoyed at himself for thinking of her body, he thought of her face. She looked like her sister, with a straight nose, stubborn jaw, and pointed chin. Eve Traynor was now mated to Caze’s war commander, Davion. Like Eve, Lara Traynor had blue eyes, although hers were shades lighter than Eve’s, with a dark ring around the outside.
Caze reached the front of the Temple of Eschar and strode up the steps. He nodded at the guards that he’d assigned there earlier. They opened the doors to let him in.
Right now, he needed to focus on protecting the gem. She’d come for it. Then he needed to capture her and retrieve the other two gems she’d already stolen.
And try not to kill her. He’d promised Eve that he wouldn’t hurt her sister.
By Ston’s sword, Caze could not believe that Davion—the fiercest war commander in the Eon fleet—had mated with a Terran.
Stepping into the temple courtyard, the lush scent of flowering blooms hit him. He scowled. The scent clogged his senses. As he strode across the inner courtyard, chimes danced in the wind somewhere nearby, making a pretty noise.
He strode through a huge, arched doorway and into the inner sanctum. Here, large, blood-red banners draped the stone walls, depicting images of Eschar in battle. Oval-shaped lights on the walls emitted a low, golden glow.
In the center of the space was a statue of the warrior herself, and the red gem that carried her name.
Eschar’s Heart rested on the statue’s chest.
Lara already had the gems of Ston and Alqin. She couldn’t have this one.
As Caze stared at the red jewel, something dark moved within it. A symbiont. A helian, like the one that lived, attached to his wrist.
He took a step closer, then froze.
A scent reached him. A crisp, floral fragrance that wasn’t lush and overpowering like the flowers. This one was sharper and sweeter.
She was here.
Caze turned his head, spotting no sign of her in the shadows. “Come out, Terran,” he murmured.
There was only the sound of the distant wind chimes in response.
He moved closer to the statue. He’d find her and—
She hit him from behind.
Caze bent his legs, reaching back to grab her. But she shoved him and spun out of his reach.
She wore a long Eon cloak of deep gray over her sleek black-and-white space suit. He saw her pull something out of one of her many pouches and pockets. She shook it, and it extended into a sturdy-looking staff. A weapon.
With merely a thought, he called on his symbiont. Black scales spilled from his wrist, flowing up his arm. The armor rolled down his chest, covering his body. Then a glowing, silver staff formed on his arm. He closed his fingers around the smooth surface and lifted it.
He launched himself at his prey, and she sprinted to meet him.
Their staffs hit with a sharp crack. He shifted back and she came at him hard, staff whirling.
Cren, she was good. Caze had thought Terrans were incapable of discipline and strategy, let alone being able to meet an Eon warrior blow for blow.
Thwack. The staff hit his chest and he spun, dancing with her across the stones.
She raced toward a wall, put a foot to it, and flipped over his head. She landed close to the statue of Eschar.
He cursed. She reached out and plucked the gem off the statue.
“You aren’t leaving with that,” he growled.
She glanced over her shoulder. “Watch me.”
Suddenly, she threw a small, metallic device at him. It sailed through the air and he recognized it instantly.
It hit his chest, prongs digging into him. Electricity skated over his body.
The Terran grinned at him. Caze stared back.
This time, he didn’t drop, nor was he in pain and frozen by the electric shock.
Her grin faded and Caze felt the corner of his mouth quirk up.
“How?” she demanded.
“I came prepared. I have a device that nullifies the electric field of yours. I learn from my mistakes, Terran.”
“My name is Lara.”
“I know.”
She tilted her head, considering him. “So, you aren’t just a big, unintelligent beefcake.”
“Beefcake?”
“Stud muffin. Muscleman. Hot stuff.”
Caze growled. He didn’t understand the Terran words, but he knew she was insulting him. “My name is Caze Vann-Jad.”
She tilted her head. “I kinda like stud muffin.”
Anger swept through him. She ignited his temper faster than anyone he knew. He wasn’t used to feeling all his emotions storming out of his control. He was known for being ice-cold at work and on a mission. He’d been one of the best stealth operatives in the Eon fleet.
This rude, bold woman infuriated him.
She smiled at him.
And she was beautiful.
What? No. Where the cren did that come from? Fighting off the strange thoughts, Caze launched at her again.
They fought their way across the room, and when his staff hit across her stomach, he heard the air rush out of her. She bent over and he reached out and snatched the jewel from her hand.
She straightened, lifting her staff, and scowled at him.
Then she moved fast, that deadly staff swinging. He swung his to meet it, the sounds of the two weapons smacking together filling the space.
She kicked out, and her boot slammed into Caze’s knee. He grunted, his leg going out from under him. He felt the brush of her body and she snatched the jewel back.
“How do you like that?” She laughed.
The sound should have been grating, but her laugh was deep and melodious, and it hit him low in his gut.
Again, the reaction annoyed him. With a growl, Caze threw himself upward, charging at her.
She stumbled back, her boot catching on an uneven paver. When he knocked the staff from her hands, her eyes widened. The weapon clattered onto the stones.
Caze advanced on her. When her back hit the wall, he saw her face harden. She reached out and gripped one of the wall banners in her hand.
Before he knew what she had planned, she leaped into the air. Right at Caze.
By Alqin’s axe. She spun her body, slamming into his chest, and whipped the banner around his neck. She pulled it tight, and as they both crashed to the ground, the fabric cut off his air.
She scrambled behind him, pulling hard.
Cren. Caze coughed, fighting to rip the banner away and breathe.
He tugged hard, finding a little slack. But she grunted, yanking back on it harder.
“Don’t worry, warrior.” Her voice was strained. She was putting all her effort into holding the banner in place. “I won’t kill you. But once you’re out cold, I’m out of here.”
“Eve…Desteron,” Caze forced out.
He sensed the woman choking him thinking. Then she snorted. “Right. If my sister is on your warship, she’s probably in a cell, being tortured.”
“No. Ambassa…dor.”
Lara snorted again. “No way. Now I know you’re lying. My sister is not diplomatic material. She’s more likely to punch someone in the face.”
“Mated… War commander.” Caze coughed. His lungs were hurting and his vision was blurring.
Lara let out a wild laugh. “No way. An Eon warrior and a Terran? Yeah, right. Besides, just like me, Eve doesn’t believe in love.”
“Me…either.”
He felt her lips brush his ear. “Then we do have something in common after all, Caze Vann-Jad.”
The lack of oxygen was making him punchy and, instead of yanking on her, he stroked her leg.
“Pretty. Strong.” His voice was a husky whisper.
She stilled. He stroked her again.
“You aren’t too shabby yourself, hot stuff.”
But then she gave another tug on the banner around his throat and his vision blurred. Caze felt fingers brush his jaw, like a caress. No. That couldn’t be right.
Boots stepped in front of him, and under the gray cloak, he saw the form-fitting black-and-white spacesuit slicked over her body. He looked up and their gazes met.
They stared at each other for a humming second.
Then she swiveled and, with a flap of her cloak, she was gone.
With the gem of Eschar.
By Ston’s sword. Caze fought to draw in air. She might have won this fight, but he was not letting her get away.
Chapter Two
Lara walked swiftly through the crowd. Lights had been strung up across the square, all glowing red, and somewhere, someone had started playing music. The haunting strings and trumpets filled the air.
On any other day, Lara would have liked to take her time—taste the food, smell the flowers, enjoy the music.
Most of her life consisted of missions and training. When she did have time off, she liked to indulge in all the sensual things she missed out on. She watched a group of Eon standing nearby, laughing. She’d always figured the Eon were stuffy and militaristic, but here, they seemed like regular people—laughing, dancing, and celebrating their festival. These Eon also didn’t have a symbiont—only the warriors who were part of the Eon fleet had them.
The gem of Eschar was heavy in her pocket. She wondered if the warrior had recovered.
Nope, not thinking of him, or his silver-and-black eyes, or his big, hard body. Excitement winged through her. She had all three gems now. She could ensure Eve’s freedom, and give Space Corps the leverage they needed to negotiate with the Eon.
She picked up speed. She needed to get back to her ship and off this planet before her angry hunter tracked her down again. Of course, she was taking a long, circuitous route back to where she’d hidden her ship. She couldn’t risk him tracking her to it.
One of the revelers bumped into her. “By Eschar’s grace, forgive me.”
Lara lowered her head and waved a hand. She felt the man’s curious gaze on her. Hurrying on, she pulled the cloak tighter around herself.
Suddenly, fireworks exploded overhead. The crowd erupted with gasps and exclamations.
Lara glanced up, watching the colors burst across the night sky. Oh, wow. Unlike fireworks back home, these danced through the sky, changing colors and creating fascinating shapes—people, mountains, animals.
Then she felt that damn prickle again.
She looked over her shoulder and her body locked. Oh, shit. Caze was running toward her at full speed, his big body moving fast but silently.
Lara spun and broke into a run. She sprinted through the crowd, shoving several people aside, ignoring their startled cries. She shot down a side street.
She couldn’t hear him, but she knew he was coming.
The street ended at another square. This one held a crowd as well, but no music. It was dotted with stone-carved benches that invited people to sit and relax.
She dodged around the first one, then the second. People were starting to pay attention to her. She risked a glance back and watched Caze leap over a bench.
Hell. At the next bench—this one thankfully empty—she pressed one hand to the stone, and leaped over it.
Faster, Lara. Her chest burned as she ran.
She reached a set of steps leading out of the square. She took them three at a time, then jumped over the handrail. She hit the ground, rolled, and came back onto her feet. She pumped her arms. Faster. Faster.
Another glance back. He was still chasing her. He leaped from the top of the stairs, powered through the air, and landed at the bottom with a bend of his muscular legs.
Her pulse hammered. He was a damn machine.
She hit another crowd of festival-goers, ducking and weaving through them. More fireworks exploded overhead.
Suddenly, Caze fell from the sky, landing in front of her. Shit. Lara pivoted to the side. His fingers caught the edge of her cloak and he yanked.
The cloak tore off her.
Shit. Sharp gasps came from all around and people stared at her. In her fitted spacesuit, it was clear she wasn’t Eon.
Ignoring the attention, she put on a burst of speed, shoving through a line of people.
Nearby, a large, vine-covered tower speared into the sky. She ran straight toward it and jumped. Her gloved hands closed on the vines and she started pulling herself up.
A big hand wrapped around her ankle.
Dammit. Lara kicked and heard the warrior grunt.
His grip loosened and she pulled herself free. She scrambled upward, and reached the top of a solid-stone wall that snaked away from the tower. She climbed onto the wall and stood, getting her balance. Then she started walking across it.
“Nowhere to go, Terran. I want the gem.”
He was up on the wall, following behind her.
“Not today, warrior.”
“And you’re coming with me.”
She laughed. “My mission isn’t over.”
“I’ll take you to Eve.”
Lara was tempted. She wanted to believe more than anything that Eve was safe aboard an Eon warship. But she couldn’t trust this man she didn’t know. It could all be an elaborate ruse to lure her in.
She judged the distance to the end of the wall. Too far. He’d catch her. She pulled her backup staff off her belt. She was still pissed at him that she’d had to abandon her first one. It had been her favorite.
She turned to face him, shaking her staff out to its full length.
The big warrior smiled. “I was hoping you’d fight.” His silver, glowing staff formed on his arm.
Damn, she really wished she had a symbiont that could make weapons for her.
Both of them gripping their weapons, they walked toward each other on the wall.
Lara swung. Thwack.
She drove him back a step, then he came at her. Thwack. Thwack. Thwack.
Shit, he was strong. She fought to keep her balance on the wall, moving back several steps. Screw this. She bent her legs, and using her speed, drove her staff upward into his.
This time, she managed to get him to move back a few steps. Then he ducked down, swiping out with his staff. She jumped it.
Lara brought her staff down.
He cursed and leaped backward. She charged at him. Hit. Swing. Hit.
She gritted her teeth, absorbing the power of his hits as she got in her own. Her blood was singing. She loved a challenge, and there was nothing she liked better than a good fight.
More fireworks burst overhead. She swung hard, with all her strength. Her staff slammed into his chest. He wobbled and Lara grinned.
He regained his footing and glared at her. She waggled her fingers at him in reply.
Caze came at her in a rush of strength and fury.
Shit. She barely avoided the end of his staff, and when she was off balance, he kicked one long leg at her.
She jumped and landed. “Sneaky.”
“When I need to be. Give me the jewels.”
Lara pretended to consider. “Nope.”
Thwack. Their staffs hit and she pulled back, twirled it, and swung again. Thwack. He shoved forward, swinging his staff in a blur. Thwack.
Lara smiled as they fought. “Come on, hot stuff. That all you got?”
Caze wondered how he could be infuriated and admire the woman’s grit at the same time.
Lara came at him again. By Ston’s sword, she had incredible balance. His helian throbbed. It was enjoying this.
He put more power into his blows and pushed her back. He swiped at her with his staff again and she jumped up with a laugh.
She was enjoying herself as well.
Her boots landed on the wall and she was already committed to her next hit. Her staff hit his arm, knocking him off balance. Cren.
He went down on one knee, balanced precariously on top of the wall. When he looked up, she winked at him, and then somersaulted over his head. He swiveled to look over his shoulder, watching her land with perfect precision.
He’d underestimated this Terran too many times.
“It’s been fun, warrior, but I need to go.” She yanked what looked like a blaster out of a holster. She aimed it at a building across the street.
Caze was already rising as a line whizzed out of the weapon, anchoring to the far wall, high above their heads.
Cren. He lunged for her.
She jumped. He watched her swing off the wall, sailing through the air. She whizzed downward, and landed on the ground below with a slight skid of her boots.
She retracted her grappling device, then looked up at him and tossed him a jaunty wave. Impudent woman. He watched her run down a side street.
“Oh no, you don’t.” Caze turned and stepped off the wall.
He dropped straight down, then his boots hit the street. He crouched, one palm touching the ground, his helian absorbing the brunt of the impact.
Then he rose and ran after her, pumping his arms.
He wasn’t letting her get away.
What about the gem? He scowled at his inner thoughts. That too, of course.
Caze darted through the twisting streets. He lost sight of her a few times, but her scent was strong, and he followed it.
He burst out of a street, and realized he’d reached the end of town. She’d run into the surrounding forest.
He smiled. “Keep running, my wily Terran.”
His helian picked up her trail—that rich, feminine scent—and he followed. He pushed through the trees, trying to stay as silent as he could.
Soon, he heard her ahead of him. He smiled.
Then, she cried out, the sound sharp in the darkness. Frowning, he picked up speed. There were no dangerous predators on Tholla, but the small planet did have some poisonous plant life.
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