Claim of Eon: Eon Warriors #6

by Hackett, Anna

  “Inappropriate,” she murmured.

  “Totally.” He bit her bottom lip. “Let’s go see our host.”

  When they entered the large great room, most of the residents were eating at low tables while sitting on pillows. Most conversation stopped and people stared. Airen hated the wary, distrusting, and sometimes scared looks cast Donovan’s way. She wasn’t worried about him, just hated knowing that these women had suffered.

  Sanya was seated alone at a table at the front of the room. Through the windows behind her, Airen saw the darkening night sky.

  The leader rose, her gaze meeting Donovan’s. “It’s good to see you on your feet, warrior.”

  “Happy to be back on my feet. And it’s Donovan.”

  Sanya nodded, then with a small smile, looked at Airen. “You both look…refreshed.”

  Airen felt her cheeks heat. “Thank you again. For everything.”

  Sanya waved a hand at the table. “Please sit. Eat.”

  The plates on the table were loaded with simple, but interesting-looking foods. Airen and Donovan settled on the pillows.

  “Crux and his monsters are still lurking near the hot pools.” Sanya said. “We also saw a Kantos swarm ship flying nearby.”

  Airen sucked in a breath. “We need to leave, Sanya. I won’t bring the Kantos down on you.”

  “We can deal with a few little bugs.”

  “They have a lot of dangerous creatures.” Airen looked around the room, at the children. “You can’t risk it.”

  “And we need to get off this planet and find our people,” Donovan added.

  “No one gets off Oblivion,” Sanya said.

  He crossed his arms over his chest. “We will.”

  “We need to get to the prison command,” Airen said.

  Sanya’s gaze was steady. “You’re going to try and get through the planetary net.”

  Airen nodded.

  The leader’s lips pressed together. “The prison command is two islands away from here, but for tonight, you can’t go anywhere. And I don’t think either of you are at full strength.” She picked up a bread roll. “Please, enjoy our hospitality. My scouts are watching for the Kantos. For now, you can relax.”

  Trying to traverse Oblivion’s terrain in the dark would be a foolish risk. Airen lifted a fork and speared some flaky, cooked fish.

  Sanya lifted a glass of ruby-red drink. “Airen tells me we share another enemy, Donovan.” Her face hardened as she sipped her drink. “The Kantos.”

  “Fuckers,” Donovan bit out.

  “They destroyed my planet. I hope you can save yours, Donovan.” She set her glass down and picked up a fork. “Now, enough talk of bugs.”

  The meal was good, and the wine was light, delicious, and fizzed pleasantly in Airen’s belly.

  “You make this wine?” she asked.

  Sanya’s smile was full of pride. “We do. Our sanctuary is completely self-sufficient. We fish, farm, have an orchard, mill, brew, make our wine.” She lifted her glass. “Everyone here shares their unique skills and talents.”

  “Your healers are amazing,” Donovan said. “My wound is almost healed. On Earth, even with our tech, we can’t match that.”

  Sanya’s gaze met Airen’s. Airen shook her head, hoping the leader would help keep her secret.

  Thankfully, Sanya changed the subject, talking about her warriors and their training sessions. Donovan leaned forward, joining the discussion.

  Airen watched him, feeling relaxed and happy. He drank some wine and she watched the strong column of his throat as he swallowed. A flash of heat bloomed in her belly. Cren, watching the man drink aroused her. Somehow this Terran man had turned her into a sex-obsessed woman.

  He shifted, his thigh pressing against hers under the table. At first, she thought it was accidental, as his focus was still on Sanya. But then his hand moved onto her thigh, his clever fingers stroking up her leg. As hunger ignited, she quickly sipped her drink.

  “We plan to leave tomorrow,” Donovan said.

  Airen fought to focus. “We can’t risk bringing the Kantos down on you, and we need to get off this planet.”

  Sanya sat back. “It’s a dangerous journey to the prison command, but I understand.”

  “We have to get back to our ship and people,” Airen said, covering Donovan’s hand with hers.

  “We should get some sleep,” he said. “Thanks again, Sanya, the meal was delicious.”

  The leader bowed her head. “Sleep well.”

  Rising, Donovan tugged Airen to her feet. They headed out of the great room and into the corridor leading to their room.

  He jerked her to a halt and spun her into him. His mouth took hers, hungry and demanding. “I need you.”

  “Yes,” she moaned.

  They hurried to their room, and once inside, she noted someone had cleaned and left an oil lamp lit. Donovan slammed her back against the wall, his mouth claiming hers. She felt a desperate need and was so hungry for him that she was shocked by the torrent of emotion inside her.

  She tore at his vest and he helped her get it off. Then she spun them so he was pressed against the wall. Her hands attacked his trousers.

  “Airen—”

  “I want to taste you.” She shoved the fabric down, freeing his thick cock. With a humming sound, she dropped to her knees.

  He made a deep growl and she pressed her hands to his muscular thighs. She grasped his cock with one hand, then lowered her mouth to the swollen head.

  He groaned, and she licked, savoring the salty taste of him. Taking her time, she worked his thickness into her mouth. He sank one hand into her hair, thrusting into her mouth.

  “Jesus…” Suddenly, he pulled her off him and yanked her up. His hands jerked off her trousers. “No more. I need to fuck you. Now.”

  He lifted her up and pinned her to the wall, his big hands palming her ass. She hooked her legs around his waist, undulating against him. He moved one hand between them, taking his cock in hand, then he pushed inside her.

  “Donovan.” She gasped and arched into him. She’d been so empty, but now, she was so wonderfully full.

  He thrust deep. “Hold tight, sexy girl. It’s going to be a hard, rough ride.”

  His mouth was on hers again, the kiss scorching hot. She rocked against him.

  “Don’t let go,” she panted.

  He ground against her. “Never.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Airen sat at the small window, on a small, carved-stone bench, watching Oblivion’s sun rise. She had a gorgeous view of the island and ocean below, and it looked beautiful. It was easy to forget that this was a prison planet with dangers lurking.

  After the day and night she’d spent with Donovan, she’d completely forgotten where she was. There had only been Donovan and pleasure. So much pleasure.

  Her mate.

  He slept behind her on the bed, but she didn’t let herself look at him. Her nails bit into her palms.

  She could never tell him that they were mated. Her helian became agitated. It wanted to link with him, bathe in the joy.

  She didn’t hear him move—for a big man, he moved very quietly—but she felt him press in behind her. His heat engulfed her, his now familiar masculine scent filled her.

  “Good morning.” He pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder. She was only wrapped loosely in a fur.

  “Good morning.” She tilted her head to give him better access. His lips felt so good.

  “What’s wrong, baby? I sense you’re lost in your thoughts.”

  She looked blindly out the window. “We have to go.” She needed to focus on the most pressing problem first. “The longer we stay, the greater the risk the Kantos will find us. We’re putting these people at risk.”

  Donovan rubbed his jaw on her shoulder. “Reality is intruding.”

  In so many kinds of ways. She felt a desperate clutch in her belly.

  Then she turned and kissed him. She needed him. Just one more time—she wanted t
he weight of him on her, the smell of him on her skin.

  He groaned against her lips, his hands sliding and clenching in her hair. He liked burying his hands in her hair.

  “I need you,” she whispered.

  “Anything, baby.”

  The kiss deepened, taking on a hungry edge.

  Then Donovan dropped to his knees in front of her, pushed the fur away and her legs apart.

  “So damn beautiful, especially here.” He stroked between her folds.

  Sensations rocketed through her. It was so easy to lose herself in this man.

  He lowered his head, and then his mouth was on her.

  “Donovan.” Oh, by the warriors.

  She pressed her hands to his head, feeling his short hair, and she let her own head drop back. He kept licking and sucking. Airen could no more hold back her orgasm, than she could a tidal wave.

  She came, her body shaking, his name on her lips.

  Before she’d recovered, he turned her and she found her hips pressed to the bench. His big body pressed against her from behind, and anticipation was like a sharp blade against her skin.

  She felt the nudge of his cock, then he slid inside her.

  “There it is.” He started thrusting, his mouth at her ear. “Feels so damn good to be inside you. Like sliding home.”

  Soon, there was no talking. She thrust back against him, and his hands moved beneath her body. His clever fingers found her clit.

  Airen exploded again, the pleasure so acute. She cried out his name. After another deep thrust, Donovan followed her. He groaned as his big body shuddered.

  After they caught their breath, they rose, and he pulled her into his arms. “Whatever happens outside this room, we’re together. We’ve got this.”

  She nodded, wanting to believe that was true. She was a warrior, and she was well aware of the risks they’d face as soon as they stepped out of this room.

  They cleaned up and Airen once again commanded her helian to form her armor. Donovan pulled on his spacesuit trousers and vest.

  He caught her gaze and nodded. They headed out of the room, making their way to the great room. Women and children sat around eating, but today she did note a few old men and a couple of teenaged boys.

  Sanya and Tira met them.

  “Thank you again, Sanya,” Airen said. “We wouldn’t have survived without your help.”

  The warrior leader nodded. “We wish you both the best of luck getting to the prison command.”

  Tira eyed them. “The prison command island is to the west, two islands from here.”

  “Great.” Donovan nodded. “So we’ll need a boat.”

  “It’s not that easy,” the warrior added. “The ocean here is deadly.”

  “We know the risks,” Airen said.

  Sanya shook her head. “The wardens generate wild, rogue waves. They take out anything stupid enough to be on the water.”

  Airen’s stomach tightened.

  “And the water is filled with genetically engineered bots and animals designed to stop prisoners from moving around. They tear people to shreds.”

  Cren. Airen met Donovan’s gaze.

  He lifted his chin. “We have to try.”

  * * *

  Standing on the beach, Donovan surveyed the water.

  A few children played on the sand behind him, under the watchful eye of some women. Sanya’s warriors had brought out a wooden raft.

  Shit. It wasn’t much.

  The leader shrugged. “We don’t go out on the water. Ever. This washed up one day, no doubt from someone foolish enough to try and cross between islands.”

  Donovan glanced at the water again. It looked calm today, like glass.

  “The prison command is on the island beyond that one.” Sanya pointed.

  Beside them, Airen stood staring, her hands on her hips.

  Damn, he loved her in her armor. He needed to get his unruly cock under control. Usually, after he’d spent a long, sweaty night or two with a woman, it took the edge off his desire. Apparently with Airen, it just made it worse.

  He forced himself to look at the islands. The one ahead of them was a long line of sharp mountains.

  “Here.” A woman with dark-blonde hair and ragged skirts appeared. She didn’t look at him, but she nodded at Airen and handed over a small leather pack. “Food. Water. Some medicines.”

  “Thank you,” Airen said quietly. She looked back at Sanya. “I will let the Eon High Command know that you helped us. We could get you off this planet.”

  The leader gave her a small smile. “For better or worse, this is our home. Most of us have no homeworld to go to, or if we do, we aren’t welcome there, anyway.”

  With a nod, Airen clasped hands with the woman in a warrior’s grasp.

  Donovan nodded at the leader. Then he and Airen grabbed the raft and pushed it down the sand toward the water.

  Just then, shouts and screams broke out behind them.

  They swiveled, and Donovan saw several Kantos race out onto the sand.

  “Cren!” Airen dropped the raft and took off running. Tira was one step behind her, drawing a sword.

  Sanya yelled at her people. “Get everyone inside!”

  Women ran, snatching up children.

  Even while running, Airen managed to create a blaster. She shot a bolt of green energy at the Kantos.

  “Weapon,” Donovan barked.

  Sanya waved to one of her warriors. A muscular woman stepped forward and handed him a sword.

  His hand closed on the hilt. It was much better crafted than Crux’s crappy, makeshift weapons.

  Donovan ran. Warriors assembled around him, pulling out staffs, crossbows, and swords.

  Ahead, Tira was fighting a Kantos soldier. Airen had her sword formed now, and was a deadly blur as she broke through a group of the aliens.

  With a roar, Donovan attacked the closest Kantos.

  The alien soldier spun, its beady eyes glowing. Two female warriors threw a net and it tangled around the Kantos’ body. As it tripped onto the sand, Donovan leaped on top of it and drove his sword down.

  All around him, the female warriors fought viciously to protect their people and their home.

  Soon, the sand was covered in green blood and dead Kantos.

  Donovan moved over to Airen. He gave her body a long look and didn’t see any injuries. She nodded.

  Then suddenly, a long, lean woman ran out of the trees at a sprint. She wore a tiny leather skirt and sleeveless top.

  “One of our scouts,” Sanya said.

  “More aliens are coming,” the scout yelled.

  Airen’s jaw went tight.

  “Go,” Sanya said to them. “We can fight the Kantos off.”

  Damn, Donovan didn’t want to leave them with this. Airen looked conflicted too.

  He pressed a hand to her shoulder. “If we go, there’s a chance the Kantos will lose interest in our friends here.”

  Airen nodded slowly. “Thank you again, Sanya.”

  “Be well, Airen Kann-Felis. Good luck to you and your man.”

  Donovan held out the sword to the warrior who’d given it to him.

  The woman shook her head. “Keep it. I suspect you’ll need it.”

  He took the scabbard another warrior offered him, and strapped it onto his back. He reached over his shoulder and slid the sword into place.

  He and Airen moved back to the raft, and pushed it out into the water. It was no longer like glass, but the waves were fairly gentle. He grabbed the oars and handed her one.

  They pushed the raft up past the breaking waves, and then climbed onto the raft and started paddling.

  Soon, they were working together, and picking up speed.

  He glanced back at the beach and saw Sanya’s warriors fighting the Kantos.

  “We need to skirt that first island and get into the open water,” Airen said.

  He nodded, and when he looked down to where his paddle was cutting into the water, a large shadow mo
ved beneath the raft.

  A big one.

  Primal fear spilled down his spine. There was a reason he preferred space to water. Fuck. Just keep paddling, Lennox.

  The wind picked up, and soon they were moving around the first island. Airen was tense, but focused.

  The swells grew larger, taking them up and then dropping them down in between each wave. They got closer to the island, and he stared at the black rock hills. They were dotted with some black, leafless trees. Lava dripped down in places to sizzle as it met the ocean.

  “Almost clear of the first island.” She shot him a smile.

  He smiled back.

  They rounded the tip of the island, and ahead lay open ocean.

  The shadow of a second island lay in the distance, and there was the silhouette of a large tower in the center.

  The prison command base.

  “There it is,” Airen said.

  “We’ve got this, Second Commander.”

  That earned him a small smile.

  They kept paddling.

  “I keep waiting for something to happen.” He felt like he was walking on damn eggshells.

  “I feel the same.” She frowned. “Wait. Where did the island go?”

  His head whipped up. He could no longer see the prison command tower. He frowned. It had just been there, now he could only see water.

  They kept paddling, dread building.

  Then he blinked. “Oh, fuck.”

  “What?” She peered at the horizon, then stiffened.

  A huge wall of water was building in front of them, blocking the view of the island.

  An enormous, rogue wave, kilometers wide.

  They both stopped paddling and watched as the wave started to loom high above them. It was the largest wave Donovan had ever seen.

  “Donovan—”

  “We have to ride it out. Hold on!”

  Their raft started climbing the wave, getting steeper and steeper.

  They both pressed flat against the wood, and suddenly, he saw a black rope snake out from Airen’s armor, tying them both onto the raft.

  He grabbed her hand, entwined their fingers. Then his stomach dropped. They were near the crest of the wave, the steepness threatening to drop them back down into the water.