Claim of Eon: Eon Warriors #6

by Hackett, Anna

  The pain started to ease. She drew in a harsh breath.

  Their tentacled friend stabbed at several bugs until the Kantos hung back, not daring to attack.

  Donovan touched the helian band around her wrist. It was free of the ooze now.

  “The pain has…lessened.” The tearing feeling had gone, replaced with the regular aches and pains of her injuries. She dragged in a deep breath.

  Donovan had saved her.

  He smiled, and her helian pulsed.

  Full awareness clicked back into place, and she heard the turrets firing, the wardens attacking, the ear-piercing screech of some of the Kantos bugs.

  Their aquatic friend was still guarding them, attacking any bugs that dared get too close.

  Suddenly, a Kantos soldier broke through with a huge jump. It landed on its four legs, beady eyes locked on them.

  Donovan leaped up. He swung his sword at the alien, connecting with its sharp arm. They traded several hard blows, and then she heard a snapping sound.

  Donovan’s sword had broken in half.

  Sensing weakness, the Kantos swiveled and skewered Donovan through his thigh with its arm. Donovan roared, going down on one knee.

  His blood washed into the water around them.

  The red made Airen’s heart pound. She drew on what strength she had left. She was so weak, but she wouldn’t let this Kantos hurt Donovan.

  Her black scales flowed over her and then flowed across the air, hitting Donovan. They spread over his body.

  He jolted, his eyes widening. Then she felt his emotions inside her—his shock, disbelief, relief. She also felt her helian working to heal his wounds, as her black-scale armor covered him.

  A second later, Donovan rose, an Eon sword forming on his arm. He glared at the Kantos, which skittered backward several steps.

  With a roar, Donovan attacked.

  * * *

  Fear and fury were a potent mix.

  Add in a rush of power from Airen’s helian, and Donovan felt fucking ready to kill every risk to Airen on the beach. He felt the wound on his thigh closing up and healing.

  He lifted his new, amazing sword, then glanced down at himself. He was covered in black-scale armor that matched Airen’s. He knew what this meant, but now wasn’t the time to think about it.

  He charged at the Kantos. The enemy.

  His sword hit the Kantos’ arm. They traded blows, kicking up sand across the beach.

  Donovan swiveled, shifting his weight, and sliced one of the Kantos’ arms off. Green blood sprayed, and the Kantos jerked. Donovan leaped into the air, sword swinging.

  They’d hurt Airen. They’d pay.

  He spun and sliced the Kantos’ head off.

  Then he turned.

  Airen was still on her knees, the waves lapping at her. She had a hand pressed to the horrible wound on her stomach, and blood rocked gently in the water around her.

  His stomach felt like a rock. She was badly hurt, and while her helian would be helping her, he knew that helians couldn’t fix every wound. They couldn’t bring people back from death.

  A bunch of bugs and wardens fought nearby. Donovan ducked past them, running to Airen. He dropped down beside her.

  “Hey.” He touched her face.

  “Hey.” Her voice was so soft and weak.

  “Hanging in there?”

  Her face was bone white, lines around her eyes. She managed a nod.

  “So, we’re mated, huh?”

  She licked her lips, her face unreadable.

  He cocked his head. “You knew?”

  A small nod.

  And she hadn’t been planning to tell him. Anger burned through his gut. Not at his mate, but at everything and everyone in her life that had made the armored walls around her so thick.

  He kissed her. Hard. Demanding.

  Then he let loose what had been growing inside him for days, scaring the hell out of him so much. “I love you, Airen.”

  Her eyes widened in fear, wonder, and shock. “You said you didn’t believe in love. That it was toxic and not real and—”

  “I was an idiot who didn’t know what he was talking about. A frightened idiot who just needed a brave, beautiful warrior to show him the way.”

  She lifted a hand, but at that moment he heard engines. They both turned their heads and saw the spaceship on the prison command tower firing up its engines.

  Shit.

  “How about we get off this rock?” he said.

  He helped her up, heard her groan. He hated seeing her in pain.

  The female is mine.

  The elite’s voice cut through Donovan’s head. Gritting his teeth, he lifted Airen into his arms.

  “No, fucker, she’s mine.”

  Resolute, he headed toward the prison command building. He sliced into an attacking bug, but kept striding forward.

  Then he spotted the elite with two soldiers flanking him.

  “Put me down,” she said.

  His hands tightened on her.

  “I want to fight,” she said. “I’m a warrior.”

  She was too hurt. “Airen—”

  Her gaze met his, firm and unyielding. “I’m going to fight.” She drew in a breath. “I don’t know anything about love, Donovan, but what I feel for you…I don’t have words to describe it.”

  He smiled. He’d take it. He and his warrior could learn all about love together. Every day for the rest of their lives.

  If they got out of here alive.

  She was shaky on her feet, but she formed her sword.

  They attacked together.

  Donovan sliced and diced into the bugs. The elite was hiding behind the soldiers. Donovan tackled one soldier, knocking the Kantos over.

  Airen was there, slashing with her sword. She was in pain, but she was still a formidable fighter. She left her soldier dead and advanced on the elite.

  You can’t stop us. You might win some battles, but you won’t win this war.

  “Fuck you,” Donovan said. “You’ll never understand how to work with others. You consume, destroy, risk all your bugs like they’re nothing.” He looked at Airen. “The Eon and Earth are forming unbreakable bonds. You can never destroy those. We’ll find other allies, we’ll work together, and we’ll stop your invasions and destruction.”

  Another rush of sound. More Kantos ships appeared in the sky, disgorging more bugs.

  Fuck. Donovan glared at the elite.

  Pretty words, but they mean nothing against the never-ending might of the Kantos.

  The elite attacked. Donovan dodged, his blade striking the Kantos’ chest, and leaving a deep groove in the hard shell.

  Airen rushed in from the other side. She slammed her sword into the alien’s leg, but with its arm, the elite shoved her back.

  With a growl, Donovan charged, swinging wildly.

  The Kantos whirled and slammed into Donovan, knocking him to his knees.

  The elite lifted its arm, ready for an executioner’s swing at Donovan’s head.

  “No!” Airen was struggling to get to her feet, holding her injured abdomen.

  Suddenly, wild, undulating war cries filled the air.

  The elite froze. An arrow slammed into the elite’s head, right through its eye.

  All over the beach, bugs swiveled. Donovan spun and saw Sanya, Tira, and dozens of female warriors sailing in on the waves, riding flat pieces of wood.

  Their makeshift boats appeared to be propelled by tentacles.

  Donovan grinned, and raced over to Airen. He slid an arm around her.

  “Looks like our luck has turned, Second Commander.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Airen leaned heavily on Donovan. She’d torn her injury open again, and the pain made it hard to breathe.

  She watched the female warriors run up the beach and into the fight.

  Several took on the Kantos. She watched two warriors jump on a turret, hacking it to pieces with their swords.

  Across the beach, she me
t Sanya’s gaze. The leader pointed to the prison command building, then inclined her head. Airen nodded back.

  “Let’s get inside,” she said.

  Donovan took her hand and together, they dodged the worst of the fighting. The doors to the base were open and a rhythmic clanking noise made them pause.

  Several wardens in large mech suits marched out of the base. The ground shuddered under their steps, and the large weapons attached to the shoulders of the suits swiveled to lock on the Kantos. They picked up speed, heading out to join the fight.

  Donovan pulled her close to the wall and they pressed against it. She dragged in a breath, fighting back the driving pain. They waited until more wardens in mech suits lumbered out before they both slipped into the base.

  Inside was a large courtyard, with smooth, metallic walls and floors. Weapons rested on racks, and there were several vehicles parked in front of what had to be the main entrance to the base.

  It was orderly, clean, almost clinical after the rough, wild nature of Oblivion outside the walls.

  In the center stood the tower, spearing into the sky, with the landing pad and ship on top.

  “We’ve got to get up that tower,” Donovan said.

  Airen nodded. They jogged across the courtyard. A second later, she heard the sound of running boots. Wardens were coming.

  Donovan tugged her arm, and they ducked in behind a bulky speeder. Rows of wardens ran past them.

  Once they were gone, Airen and Donovan jumped up and continued on.

  “Hey, you shouldn’t be in here,” a voice shouted.

  They spun and spotted a helmeted warden staring at them.

  Cren.

  Donovan held his hands up. “We just wanted to stay safe.” He walked slowly toward the warden.

  The prison guard held up a rifle. “No planet inmates are allowed in this facility.”

  “We aren’t inmates,” Donovan said.

  “They all say that.”

  Donovan sprang. He hit the warden hard, slamming the man into the speeder. Two more hard punches, and the warden was out cold on the ground.

  “There’s an elevator at the base of the tower,” Airen yelled.

  They ran toward it. Alarms started screeching. When they looked back, a huge wave of bugs was pouring through the main doors and into the base.

  “Go!” Donovan roared.

  They sprinted the rest of the way to the base of the tower. She tried to block the pain, but both she and her helian were running on fumes.

  She had to keep going. She knew that Donovan wouldn’t leave her. Her gorgeous, stubborn mate.

  They reached the elevator and she slapped at the control panel. They raced inside and spun. The doors started closing, but the bugs were streaming toward them.

  “Come on,” Donovan muttered.

  The doors were almost closed, but one horned bug slammed its head through the gap. It snapped at them, its horn whipping around.

  “Doors won’t close,” she cried.

  Donovan moved, swinging his sword at the bug. He sliced its head off, and the doors closed. The elevator moved upward.

  She slumped against him and he lifted her chin, kissing her. He gently reached out and touched her bleeding stomach.

  “We’re going to get off this rock, get you healed, and then I’m going to tan your pretty, white ass.”

  She stiffened. “Excuse me?”

  “Not telling me that we’re mated.” He gripped her chin. “Or how you feel about me.”

  “Donovan—”

  “You still haven’t told me how you feel.”

  She bit her lip.

  “Be brave, Airen. Tell me.”

  She trembled, fear a horrible thing inside her. He could tear her apart.

  “I won’t hurt you,” he murmured.

  She knew that. It resonated in her soul. “I love you, Donovan. My mate.”

  He grinned and kissed her again. This kiss was hungrier and far deeper.

  Suddenly, the elevator jerked to a halt, and they both stumbled.

  Spinning, she pressed a palm to the control panel. Nothing happened. She commanded her helian to hack the panel. “The alarms have disabled the elevator.”

  “Is the ship still on the landing pad?”

  She checked the logs and nodded. “They’re waiting to evacuate some warden VIPs.”

  “Well, it’s our ride now.” Donovan jumped up, grabbing onto a trapdoor that was set in the ceiling of the elevator car.

  While he worked on opening it, she accessed the main prison system and hacked into their communications.

  Donovan pushed the trap door open and climbed onto the roof of the elevator car. “Come on.”

  “Wait, I’m going to send an emergency transmission.” She quickly sent out an Eon-coded emergency message. She knew they were too far away from Eon space for a warship to pick it up, but maybe there was someone out there who would intercept it. She wanted a record of both her and Donovan’s location, in case something happened to them.

  She reached up and took his hand. He pulled her onto the top of the elevator car. Long, metallic cables headed upward to the top of the tower.

  He gripped the cable and started climbing.

  Abdomen aching and fresh blood sliding down her side, she gripped the cable. Then she followed him.

  Climbing was agony. Biting her lip, she breathed through her nose. Hold on, Airen.

  All of a sudden, the cables moved. “Someone’s activating the elevator!”

  “Climb!” Donovan roared. “Move it.”

  Hand over hand, she kept climbing, trying to increase her speed. Below them, the elevator car had begun moving upward.

  “We’re nearly there,” he yelled.

  Looking up, she saw Donovan had reached some doors. He was trying to pry them open.

  Cren. The elevator was coming up fast. If they didn’t get out, they’d be squashed.

  “Donovan, hurry!”

  “Got it.” The doors parted and he slid through the opening.

  Just a bit more. Her stomach spasmed and she cried out. Move, Airen.

  She grabbed the cable above her head and pulled. The car below was picking up speed. She had to move faster.

  “Airen, jump!”

  She didn’t stop to think or reason. She trusted this man completely.

  She leaped. Donovan grabbed her and yanked her out through the doorway. The car arrived a second later with a clang.

  They spilled onto the floor, their hearts pumping. That was close.

  The elevator doors opened, but the car was empty.

  “Damn.” Donovan blew out a breath.

  They both rose and turned.

  They were at the top of the tower. A squat, circular ship was idling on the landing pad. There were no pilots in the cockpit.

  “They must have started the engines remotely,” she said.

  Moving closer, she risked looking over the edge of the pad, and sucked in a sharp breath.

  Below, the courtyard was heaving with bugs. She saw a group of wardens with fancy badges and braids on their uniforms, and guessed that they were the VIPs. They were currently being eaten alive.

  The prison command was overrun by Kantos.

  “Let’s get aboard that ship and get off this hellhole.” Donovan yanked her toward the ship.

  They’d almost reached the ship when a Kantos swarm ship rose up above the landing pad. Airen cursed, clinging to Donovan.

  The ship fired.

  Donovan tackled her, pulling her in behind a loader unit. The swarm ship fired again, but it wasn’t aiming at them.

  The back of the warden ship exploded.

  “Ah, fuck,” Donovan bit out.

  * * *

  Donovan bit down on several more curses. He took in the warden ship, and saw that its engines were toast.

  The Kantos swarm ship waited for them to reappear, but a second later it moved off, firing at fighters on the ground.

  Airen and Donovan rose. She
stared at the burning ship.

  Damn. He stroked a hand over her hair. He’d wanted to get them free, to get off Oblivion. That plan was ruined now.

  She spun. “Interested in killing a lot of Kantos?”

  He smiled. “Always.”

  “Good. I have a plan.”

  His woman. She’d never wallow in despair, or be a victim. She’d always pick herself up and move forward. Donovan knew he’d never have to rescue his mate because she could damn well rescue herself. But he could sure as hell stand with her and help her fight. And he could be her strength at night, when she needed arms to hold her tight.

  They both moved toward the damaged ship.

  “What’s your plan, baby?” he asked.

  She reached the side of the ship and a black cord snaked out of her wrist. She plugged into a control panel near the underbelly.

  “I’m going to overload the ship’s power supply. Then we’re going to push it off the tower.”

  He smiled again. “Make a bomb.”

  “Yes.”

  “I like your thinking.”

  Her gaze turned inward as she worked on the ship’s controls. He looked around and his gaze snagged on the loader they’d hidden behind earlier. It was probably used to shift cargo on and off the ships.

  Perfect for pushing a starship off the edge of the tower.

  He jumped on it and got it going.

  Airen stepped away from the ship, and he saw the metal near the engines starting to turn red hot. The loader rumbled as he drove forward. She moved toward him and climbed on the side of the loader.

  “Do it,” she said.

  He drove to the ship and there was a clang as the prongs of the loader hit the hull. The loader’s engines growled, and slowly the ship moved, metal scraping across the landing pad.

  He kept pushing, gunning the loader engine, until the ship teetered on the edge of the tower landing pad.

  Then it fell.

  Both he and Airen jumped off the loader. They watched the ship plummet down into the courtyard.

  Boom.

  Donovan grabbed her and pulled her close as a cloud of flames and smoke rose up into the air.

  They looked over the edge again.

  “Holy hell,” he breathed.

  The ship had blown out part of the prison command building. Dead and burning bugs littered the entire courtyard.