“Donovan—”
“Move, Airen.”
With little choice, she kept holding him and they shuffled closer to the cave.
They reached a row of stepping stones, and she carefully stepped out on one. They crossed over them, and by the time they reached the other side, Donovan’s face was covered in sweat.
They’d made it across the pools. Finally. She turned and formed a blaster with her helian. She fired several energy blasts.
Some criminals fell, while others crouched low to avoid the shots.
She fired again, this time, right into one of the pools. Boiling-hot water splashed up, and more criminals screamed.
Donovan slumped against the wall, his chest heaving. Blood streamed down his chest. She saw the rest of the arrow protruding out of his back. The pain had to be horrible.
“Let me—”
“We can’t stop yet,” he said.
She knew he was right, but she hated knowing that he was hurt and injured. That he was in so much pain.
Reaching behind him, she snapped the back of the arrow off. Even that made him groan. It was all she could do for now. She slid her arm around him and they started into the cave.
It was long and twisting, and Airen formed a light on her armor. The walls gleamed with a rainbow sheen of light. Some sort of luminescent organisms, she guessed.
“Come on.” She kept her tone upbeat. “We’ll find somewhere to hide and get you patched up.”
He grunted. In the low light, she saw that his dark skin had taken on an unhealthy sheen.
They shuffled through the tunnel. The glimmering walls might have been pretty, but she was too worried to really notice. A faint light glowed at the end of the tunnel, and her adrenaline spiked. “We’re almost out of the cave, Donovan.”
Behind them, she heard the criminals’ voices echo off the walls. Cren! They were inside the cave.
Airen and Donovan stumbled out into faint early-morning light. A wall of trees greeted them.
They needed to hide. Now.
Stumbling, they hurried into the trees. They were moving up a gentle slope. She heard Donovan try to stifle a groan of pain. Airen scanned ahead, searching for any place where they could hole up.
Then the trees ended. Her stomach plummeted.
She arched her head up, looking at the sheer walls of black rock rising up ahead of them. The cave had led them through one rocky mountain and led them straight to a second one. This one was even higher and more forbidding.
That was it. Despair hit her like a drowning wave. There was nowhere to go. No way to get through.
Nowhere to hide.
They’d reached a dead end.
* * *
Donovan fought hard to stay conscious. Blood flowed down his chest and back freely. He stared at the rock wall, grinding his teeth together.
“Climb,” he bit out.
Airen spun. “What?”
“Climb the cliff.” He had no doubt she could do it. “I’ll do whatever I can to hold them off you.”
Her eyes flashed a brilliant turquoise. “And leave you to face them, to be killed, so I can run like a coward?”
Stubborn woman. “The Kantos want you. Those criminals will hurt you and hand you over without a second thought. I won’t let that happen.”
“We won’t let it. I won’t leave you, Donovan.” Her voice lowered. “I can’t.”
Dammit to hell.
Voices echoed from the cave. Strange, the criminals seemed to be hanging back. Probably planning their attack.
And more Kantos wouldn’t be far behind.
“Please, Airen.” He needed her safe.
She slid a firm arm around him. “Not. Leaving.”
“Stubborn.” The word was ripe with frustration.
She formed her blaster again and she focused, going into full warrior mode.
Donovan wanted to fight the incoming criminals, but his strength was draining out of him. He drew in a shuddering breath. The best he could do now was stay out of her way.
Down the slope, he saw the first criminals appear at the cave mouth. They picked up speed, running into the trees.
One appeared, lifting his crossbow. He fired. The projectiles hit the rock wall just above Airen and Donovan’s heads.
Airen fired her blaster, a bolt of green energy forcing the criminals to duck. More bodies stepped out of the cave.
Damn. They’d charge before too long.
Donovan gritted his teeth. He had no way to keep Airen safe.
With wild cries, more criminals ran out of the cave. They were motivated by the promise of a chance to get off this prison planet. Airen fired again.
A stocky criminal broke from the trees, launching at them with a huge sword in his hands. Airen’s weapon morphed, changing into a sword. She spun, her blade slamming against the criminal’s. With a roar, the man swung, and got in a lucky hit. His blade cut across Airen’s stomach, opening up a long, thin line across her armor and skin.
She pressed her hand to the bleeding wound.
Donovan pushed away from the wall, and his knees threatened to go out from under him. He had to help her.
Suddenly, spears rained down from the sky.
The criminals cried out, several going down under the spears, slamming into the dirt.
Donovan looked up.
“Cren,” Airen breathed.
Bodies were running down the rock wall, attached to ropes behind them. Several held bows, while others clutched spears.
They were all women clad in leather.
Donovan blinked, his vision blurring.
The women hit the ground, and let out a warbling, wild, battle cry. They rushed at the criminals.
The men turned and ran back into the cave.
There were several wounded criminals trying to drag themselves away, but the female warriors dispatched them quickly and dispassionately.
As the women turned, Airen shifted closer to Donovan.
He had to lean on her to stay upright.
Two warriors stepped forward. One was shorter and curvier, with brown skin and black hair in a mass of curls. The other was tall, flat-chested, and toned. Her brown hair was clipped short around her skull. Both women’s cool gazes studied them.
The curvy one looked at Airen. “Are you all right?”
Airen nodded. “Thank you for your assistance.”
The woman flicked an unreadable glance at Donovan, then looked back at Airen.
“My name is Sanya.” The woman wore tight leather trousers and a sleeveless vest that displayed her impressive cleavage. “You are welcome into our sanctuary.”
“Thank you,” Airen replied.
“Your…friend is not.”
Airen stiffened. “I’m not going—”
“Go with them,” he said.
She glared at Sanya. “He’s with me.”
The woman gave a violent shake of her head. “No men.”
“What?” Airen demanded. “Why?”
“Most of our residents escaped from those animals.” She stabbed a finger at the cave. “Or others like them.”
Fuck. Donovan wavered. He wasn’t going to be able to stay on his feet much longer. Pain was a massive throb through his torso, the arrow still embedded in his skin. But as long as Airen was safe, he didn’t care.
“Take her,” he said.
“No.” Airen straightened. “Donovan is nothing like those men.” She pressed closer to him. “He’s mine.” She lifted her head, her gaze boring into his.
He felt warmth move through his chest, and tried to fight it down. He’d never, ever wanted a woman to be his, but this Eon warrior made him feel so damn much.
“Don’t be stubborn,” he said. “I want you to be safe.”
“Donovan—”
At that moment, his body gave up, and he collapsed.
Airen cried out, catching most of his weight, and lowering him to the ground. She laid him on his side. “Donovan.”
“Sorry…Airen.” Hi
s own labored breathing echoed in his ears.
“Don’t you do this, Terran.” Her hands on his chest. “I won’t let you die on me.”
He couldn’t talk anymore, couldn’t make his lips form any words. He lifted a shaky hand and she grabbed it.
He saw her perfectly shaped lips moving.
She’d be okay. These warriors would help her.
Then the blackness sucked him under.
Chapter Thirteen
Fear pounded through Airen, amplified by her helian.
She met Sanya’s gaze. The woman studied her with a hard edge. This was a woman used to making tough decisions.
“He’s earned my loyalty,” Airen said. “Like I guess you’ve earned the loyalty of your warriors.”
The leader paused for a second. “He was willing to risk himself for you to survive.”
“That’s the kind of man he is.” Airen couldn’t stop herself stroking Donovan’s face.
“Come,” Sanya said. “Bring him.”
“Sanya,” the tall warrior objected.
The leader held up her hand. “It is my word, Tira.”
The warrior stepped back, but she didn’t look happy.
“You’ll help us?” Airen asked, hope threading through her.
Sanya nodded.
Airen stayed close to Donovan. She was unsure how she’d get him up the steep cliff walls. His breathing was so labored, and her stomach clutched. He was badly injured.
“He likely won’t survive,” Tira said blandly. “The bacteria here is dangerous. Most injuries result in infections that are fatal.”
Airen stiffened. “He’s a fighter. And stubborn.”
“Wylo, Danice,” the leader called out.
A pair of female warriors knelt beside Donovan and unfolded a large bundle of leather. It was a makeshift stretcher. They loaded Donovan onto it and Airen rose.
Suddenly, there was a rumbling in the rock wall and she swung around. She watched as a square of the rock moved inward.
Amazing. Some sort of doorway.
Inside was a tunnel, and she spotted more leather-clad women waiting for them.
The leader waved everybody inside. Ahead, Airen found hewn steps leading upward. They climbed for what felt like a very long time. Finally, they reached the top, and there was a large, open area filled with women. Windows were cut into the rock, and she caught glimpses of ocean and island.
It looked like the inside of a castle.
Women sat around watching them. These residents weren’t warriors. Most wore long skirts and dresses. Several children laughed, running past them.
They walked through the open area and down a long, internal hall. It was lit by torches spaced along the wall. The warriors carried Donovan into a room with one narrow window.
There was a bed on the ground. No frame, just some sort of leather mattress stuffed with something and covered in furs.
The warriors set Donovan down on it. He rested on his side, his horrible wound making Airen’s belly clench to a hard point.
“I will send the healer,” Sanya said.
“Thank you,” Airen said. “I truly appreciate your help.”
The woman nodded. “We will always aid a woman in need.” Her gaze drifted down Airen’s armor. “And a fellow warrior.”
“My name is Airen Kann-Felis. I am an Eon warrior.”
Sanya cocked her head, her curls sliding over her shoulders. “I’ve heard of your species. And your man?”
Her man. Airen liked the sound of that. “He’s Terran, from the planet Earth.”
“I’ve not heard of it.”
“They’re recent allies of the Eon. We share an enemy. The Kantos.”
Sanya’s dark eyes flared.
“You know the Kantos?” Airen asked carefully.
“Yes.” The warrior leader turned her head and pulled in a ragged breath. “The insects destroyed my planet.”
Airen froze.
“They killed billions. Just thousands of us were left, refugees, mostly females. We had nothing, so we turned to raiding.” She gave a humorless smile. “That’s how I ended up here.”
“I’m so sorry. Donovan’s planet is also under attack by the Kantos. He and my people are trying to defeat them.” Airen paused. “There are Kantos here on Oblivion. They’re after me.”
Sanya gave a curt nod. “You are safe here. Our fortress is impregnable and we know how to defend it. I’ll send the healer, and I hope your man recovers. Any enemy of the Kantos is a friend of mine.”
After Sanya had left, Airen studied the sparse room for a moment, then sat down beside Donovan. She eyed the ugly arrow head still embedded in his skin. She needed to get it out, and she wished she had havv. The healing bio-organisms would guarantee his recovery.
There was a soft knock at the door.
“Come in,” Airen called out.
A woman entered. Long, tangled, blonde hair fell over her face, and ragged skirts fell around her thin body. She looked nervously at Airen, clutching a basket to her chest.
Airen noticed horrible scars on one side of the woman’s face. Someone had hurt this woman terribly.
The healer glanced at Donovan, and she looked scared. She swallowed rapidly.
Airen felt a surge of anger, suspecting she knew how the woman had gotten the scars, and who had hurt her.
The woman detected Airen’s emotions and bobbled the basket.
“You’re the healer?” Airen asked, keeping her voice low and calm.
The woman nodded.
“I’m Airen. This is Donovan. He’s badly hurt.”
The woman steeled herself and came forward. She knelt beside the bed and set the basket down. It was filled with cloths, bottles, and jars.
She gestured to the arrow stuck in Donovan’s torso.
“You want me to remove it?”
The woman nodded.
Up close, Airen saw more scarring around the woman’s throat, and figured she either couldn’t talk due to her injury, or the trauma that had accompanied it.
Airen looked at Donovan, reached down and wrapped her hand around the small amount of the arrow protruding from his back. “I’m sorry, Donovan.”
With one quick movement, she pulled it out, and even unconscious, he jerked.
I’m so sorry. She touched his shoulder. “Shh.”
Blood gushed from the wound. The healer hesitated, then she got to work. She grabbed some wadded fabric and pressed it to the injury. Next, she pulled out some pungent pastes and poultices.
Airen shoved the top of Donovan’s suit down to his waist. The woman got to work, and soon seemed to forget that she was working on a man.
Finally, the woman sat back.
“Will he be okay?” Airen asked.
The healer shrugged. Then she rose, set a jar of poultice down beside the bed. With a bow of her head, she left.
Airen held Donovan’s hand. She felt so helpless. If they were on the Rengard, Thane would heal him in an instant. If he was an Eon warrior, his helian would save him.
She lay down beside him on his uninjured side and pressed her face to his chest. “Fight, Donovan. Please.”
Minutes later, another knock sounded. The door cracked open, and the healer reappeared. Several female warriors entered behind her.
Airen sat up and watched, as they carried a small wooden tub in, followed by several jugs of steaming water. The warriors set the tub down and filled it.
The healer moved toward Airen and set down a parcel. It contained clothes, soap, and food.
Gently, Airen touched the woman’s arm. “Thank you. For everything.”
That earned her a tiny smile from the healer, and then the woman left, the warriors following her out.
Once she was alone, Airen dipped a cloth into the warm water. She moved back and wiped down Donovan’s chest and back, cleaning the blood away. She dipped the cloth again and wiped his face, careful of the swelling around his eye. Her poor Terran was more than a little battered. He
r own body had a few aches and pains, but her helian was already hard at work healing her. Grabbing a small bladder of water, she dribbled some into his mouth.
She stood, commanding her helian armor to retract. It flickered away, and then she moved to the tub. The thin cut on her stomach was already healing.
It would be nice to be clean.
She sat in the tub, using the soap the healer had left to clean herself. It smelled of wildflowers and herbs.
When she got out, she dried herself with a cloth, and then pulled on the leather trousers and vest-like top that the healer left. The vest pushed her breasts up and showed a lot more cleavage than she was used to. Her nose wrinkled. Definitely not Eon warrior regulation.
“You need to heal, Donovan, and check out my new outfit.” She knew he’d have something to say about it.
But instead, his chest rose and fell too fast, his eyes closed. His wound was an ugly gash against his dark skin, and Airen bit her lip.
She forced herself to eat a few bites of the food—crackers, bread, berries, and some sort of dried meat—but her appetite was next to nothing.
Finally, she moved back to the bed and settled down beside him. By Eschar’s embrace, she hated feeling so completely useless. She stroked Donovan’s short hair. This man who’d come to mean so much to her in such a short time.
“Get better, Donovan.” Please.
* * *
Airen stirred. She heard a deep groan and felt movement.
Donovan.
She shook off sleep, and realized it was pitch black in the room. Night had fallen, and they’d dozed most of the day away.
She found the lamp she’d spotted earlier and lit it.
When she turned, she saw Donovan twisting restlessly on the furs. Sweat covered his skin, and his wound was red and inflamed.
Her heart squeezed. No. It was infected.
She reached for the poultice the healer had left. She quickly applied more, then dipped the cloth in the now-cool water. She squeezed it out and then wiped down his face.
“I’m here. You’re not alone.” She kept wiping him down to cool him.
He seemed calmer when she spoke and touched him.
“No one’s ever cared for me like this when I’ve been sick or injured.” She swallowed a lump. “I wish that I’d had someone who cared.”
Claim of Eon: Eon Warriors #6 Page 10