Claim of Eon: Eon Warriors #6

by Hackett, Anna

  The battle still raged on the beach.

  Then Airen stiffened, and he followed her gaze.

  Those damn gorilla-bugs had reappeared. The bulky creatures were racing across the courtyard. They hit the tower base and started climbing up, using their four powerful arms.

  There were a lot of them.

  Shit, shit, shit.

  “We need a plan,” he said. “We can use the loader to fight them off.”

  She cupped his cheek, calm and serene. She pressed her lips to his. “I love you, Donovan.”

  Damn. He pressed his forehead to hers. He knew there were too many of the gorilla-bugs, and he and Airen had nowhere to go. “We aren’t giving up.”

  “We won’t, but I also wanted to share what was most important. You made me realize how much I kept myself shielded.” She smiled. “I’ve never trusted anyone with all of me before. You opened my eyes to so much more.”

  He kissed her hard and tugged on her hair.

  “You’re everything, Airen. You’re every dream I’ve ever wanted all in one beautiful, tough warrior package.”

  Her smile was worth every ache, pain, and battle.

  He dragged in a breath. “You made me realize I was hiding from relationships. One, because I was scared of being hurt like my mom, but mostly, because I was afraid I’d turn into my asshole father.”

  “You are so brave and honorable, Donovan Lennox. Nothing like the man who abandoned you.”

  “And your parents, for whatever reason they left you, missed out on the greatest gift ever.”

  She clung to him for a second, then stepped back. “Okay, let’s fight.”

  They both climbed into the loader. He had the engine running just as the first gorilla-bug pulled itself over the edge.

  The loader rumbled forward and Donovan accelerated. As the Kantos straightened, he rammed it.

  Airen leaped off the vehicle, her sword forming. She started fighting another gorilla-bug that had climbed over the edge.

  More and more gorilla-bugs pulled themselves up onto the landing pad. Donovan rammed into another one.

  There were just too many.

  He saw four converge on Airen all at once. No. He spun, driving toward her. “Airen!”

  Bang. The loader vibrated. Looking up, he saw a gorilla-bug on the steel cage that formed the loader’s roof, staring down at him.

  Oh, shit.

  Suddenly, a deafening roar of sound cut through the air.

  Donovan looked up. Oh, hell.

  There was a ship in the sky. A big one.

  And it wasn’t Eon, Terran, or Kantos.

  The ship was black, sleek and angular, with huge, spiked plates of metal on its hull, almost like armor. Its engines glowed blue.

  The gorilla-bugs froze. The large ship started firing blue energy pulses toward the beach.

  The gorilla-bugs pulled back, disappearing over the edge of the tower. Retreating.

  Airen ran toward Donovan, beaming. He leaped off the loader and was just in time to catch her. She jumped on him, legs wrapping around his waist. Then she kissed him hard.

  “I take it that’s a friend?” he asked.

  “Yes.” Her smile widened. “That’s an Oronis ship.”

  Oronis. Jamie Park, one of the Divergent’s space marines, and her warrior mate, Aydin, had been helped by an Oronis spy. The man had saved them from the Kantos.

  “A related species to the Eon, right?”

  “The Oronis knights are fierce fighters.”

  As she spoke, he watched a wave of black bodies pour out of the Oronis ship.

  The fighters flew closer—all wearing kickass, black armor, three-quarter coats flaring behind them. Their heads were covered by black helmets. He couldn’t see any wing suits or anything, but the knights landed in crouches across the beach.

  Then, they unleashed hell.

  In awe, Donovan watched several knights draw long swords that glittered with blue energy. Others formed blue balls of energy between their gloved palms.

  If the Eon warriors were strong, tough broadswords, the Oronis were sleek, deadly rapiers. Across the beach, the knights fought with lethal intensity. Donovan watched a blue ball of energy hit a Kantos soldier. The Kantos writhed, the energy racing over it, before it burned up to a husk.

  He hugged Airen closer. “I like your friends.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Airen and Donovan stepped out of the elevator. Dead Kantos and wardens covered the courtyard, but it was the Oronis who dominated Airen’s attention.

  A group of the knights stood nearby, identical in their black armor and sleek visors.

  One raised his head and looked at them before striding their way, his coat flaring out behind him.

  Donovan’s arm tightened around her.

  Cren, she was exhausted. Her overworked helian was trying to heal both her and Donovan’s injuries. She wanted to climb into bed and sleep for a week.

  The knight’s visor retracted, revealing a sharply handsome face, with a hawkish nose and rather sensuous lips. The man’s eyes were a startling blue, like a web of cracks. He had space-black hair, far shorter than Eon warriors, but longer than Donovan’s. It was long enough to curl at the collar of his black armor.

  She inclined her head. “Knightmaster.”

  “Second Commander Kann-Felis.” His voice was deep and resonant. “Sub-Captain Lennox.”

  Her head shot up. “You know who we are?”

  The knightmaster gave her a sharp nod. “War Commander Dann-Jad tasked us to rescue you. They determined a wormhole had transported your shuttle, and with some enhanced technology, managed to calculate your approximate location. My ship, the BlackBlade, was closest.”

  “Thanks,” Donovan said. “We couldn’t have held out much longer.”

  “We picked up the emergency transmission you sent, although we were already tracking the Kantos activity to this location.” The knightmaster’s face didn’t change, but Airen detected his disdain for the Kantos.

  “Appreciate it.” Donovan held out a hand. “I’m Donovan Lennox.”

  The Oronis took his hand. “Knightmaster Ashtin.” His gaze ran over them. “You are both injured. Allow the knighthealers aboard my ship to tend to you.”

  Airen nodded, just as her legs gave out.

  “I’ve got you, Second Commander.” Donovan swept his arms around her and lifted her off her feet.

  He did. She trusted now that he always would. But old fears were still there, nibbling inside her. No one had valued her long enough to keep her forever. Not even her own parents. Would Donovan move on when things got routine?

  They strode out of the prison command base.

  “Knightmaster Ashtin, the residents of this planet assisted us in the fight,” she said.

  He nodded. “They have suffered a few casualties, but it appears local fauna in the water assisted them.”

  “Could you return them to their base? Get them some supplies?”

  “Consider it done.”

  A black shuttle had landed nearby. Donovan followed the knightmaster aboard, settling them both into a large black seat. Soon, they were taking off, heading toward the Oronis ship.

  “This rocks,” Donovan murmured appreciatively.

  “The Oronis and Eon share a lot of technology,” she said. “Although, they do have a grander sense of style than the Eon.”

  Once they’d docked, they stepped aboard the Oronis cruiser. Inside, the walls were dark and sleek. Lighting consisted of a bright-blue color. It was more ornate than an Eon ship, with its arched doorways, and carved, metal walls.

  When they entered Medical, they were welcomed by a female knighthealer, also wearing black armor, and no less deadly-looking than the rest of the knights they’d seen.

  “Over here, please. I’m Knighthealer Taera.”

  Airen stretched out on the bunk and the woman’s hands glowed blue. She moved them over Airen’s wounds and she felt a burning in her stomach. She gritted her teeth.<
br />
  Donovan leaned close, his hand clasping hers.

  “Do they have helians?” he asked quietly.

  “No. They have something else.”

  The knighthealer moved away to confer with some of her team, and then returned. “Your injuries are healing well, but you require rest.”

  “Can you check Donovan?” Airen asked.

  He shook his head. “No need. My injuries were all minor, and your helian’s already fixed me up. Just a few aches and bruises left.”

  The knighthealer raised a palm and the center of it glowed blue. “He is correct. I suggest some rest for you as well, Sub-Captain. The knightmaster has assigned you quarters. You can sleep and rest until we rendezvous with your ship in a few hours.”

  “So soon?” Airen asked.

  “Once they contacted us about your location, I believe your ship has made several star jumps to reach us.”

  That sounded like Malax. He would never abandon any of his warriors.

  “Thank you, Knighthealer.”

  The woman smiled and inclined her head.

  A young knight showed Airen and Donovan to a spacious cabin. The walls were similarly black and gleaming, and less-intense blue lighting lit the room. A large bed was topped with a black cover, and a tray of food rested on a long, narrow side table.

  “I need to be clean,” she said.

  Donovan helped her into the adjoining washroom. Panels of blue lit up the space, and soon, he had hot water going in the shower.

  She stripped off her clothes and stepped under the spray. She moaned at the pleasure.

  A second later, Donovan slipped in behind her, naked. His big hands moved up over her breasts, and she moaned again.

  “Now I plan to punish you, my mate, for trying to hide our mating.”

  She watched his dark hand slide down her belly and between her legs. She moaned his name. His clever fingers got busy, caressing, stroking, teasing.

  His mouth nipped at her ear. “I’m gonna make you come. Again, again, and again, baby.”

  Her mate was true to his word. He brought her to the brink again and again, one hand between her legs while the other moved up to cup her breast, then down again.

  “Donovan,” she moaned.

  “Punishment. My warrior mate needs to trust her man.”

  Finally, a thick finger slid inside her, his thumb on her clit. It didn’t take much. Airen came hard, only Donovan’s strength keeping her upright.

  Then he scooped her up and turned off the shower. He carried her to the bed, uncaring that they were both still wet.

  As he laid her out, she saw the light in his eyes.

  “I am damn glad we made it, Airen.”

  He pressed a kiss to her lips before his mouth wandered lower, gently kissing the knitting wound on her stomach. Her man could be so gentle.

  “I’m damn glad you’re mine.” Then his mouth was on hers again. “Not going to let you go.”

  She wrapped her arms around him, but a voice inside her head warned that soon they’d return to their ships. To their careers, duties and responsibilities.

  But then Donovan slid inside her, and she couldn’t think of anything but him.

  * * *

  Man, the Oronis ship kicked ass.

  Donovan had never been on a bridge so slick. The comm stations were all transparent, black screens manned by Oronis knights.

  Airen stood beside him. After a few hours of rest and some food, her color was better, and she was back in pure-warrior mode—armor on, posture straight, her brown hair braided.

  There was no sign of the touch-hungry woman he’d held in his arms the last few hours.

  When she glanced up at him, she gave him a small smile, but he sensed something was bothering her.

  “The Rengard is in range,” a knight called out.

  Knightmaster Ashtin nodded.

  The Rengard appeared on the viewscreen, and Donovan felt a stab of relief.

  They’d made it.

  Even better, the Kantos had suffered another blow.

  It wasn’t long before the BlackBlade docked with the Rengard.

  “Thank you again.” Donovan shook hands with the knightmaster.

  “The Kantos are our enemy too. Good luck in your fight, and know that we are here if you need our assistance.”

  The knightmaster and several of his knights walked them to the airlock. When the door opened, Donovan saw a crowd waiting for them.

  “Donovan!” Wren engulfed him in a hug. Malax pulled Airen close, and Sabin rested a hand on her shoulder.

  “Well, you look nice in your Eon armor.” Wren grinned at Donovan, her gaze sliding down the black-scales covering his body.

  “You aren’t the only one who found yourself an Eon mate.” He pulled Airen away from the other warriors, settling her under his arm.

  “Well.” Malax nodded. “I’m very happy for both of you.”

  “We were so shocked that the Kantos had manipulated a wormhole and took you,” Wren said. “Sassy and I worked overtime to find you.”

  “Thank you, Wren,” Airen said.

  “We did like three years of wormhole research in one day, and Malax has been utilizing the helian-tech aboard the Rengard to get us here ASAP. We weren’t letting the Kantos have you guys.” Wren lowered her voice. “Plus, Malax is a grump without you, Airen. He says you’re the best second commander he’s ever had.”

  Donovan saw the pride in his mate’s face and stroked her braid.

  Thane pushed forward. The silver-haired medical commander was frowning. “You’re both injured. I want you in Medical, now.”

  Airen turned. “Thane, I’m fine—”

  “I’m the medical commander aboard the ship,” the man said in a firm, unyielding tone.

  “You can be very bossy, Thane,” she grumbled.

  “My job, especially when dealing with stubborn warriors.”

  Donovan urged her on. “Listen to your medical commander.” He wouldn’t mind having her checked over, as well.

  “I need to check you, too, Sub-Captain.”

  “Ah—”

  “Listen to the medical commander,” Airen said.

  He swatted her ass out of view of the others, and she smiled.

  In Medical, they were both hooked up to several scanners. Donovan watched as Thane checked Airen’s healing wounds.

  “Everything is healing well, if a little slow. You need rest, and an intake of nutrients.”

  Airen sat up. “I need to debrief my team. I need to—”

  “Lie down and rest,” Donovan said with a growl. “We’ve been abducted, held captive, hunted, attacked, almost drowned, injured—”

  “Okay, okay,” she muttered.

  Then a scanner beeped and Thane moved. With a frown, he touched Donovan’s thigh.

  Donovan frowned. “Problem?”

  “There’s some debris under your skin. It’s likely nothing dangerous, but I’ll need to remove it.”

  “What?” Airen pushed off the bed and moved closer, looking a little panicked. “Could this hurt him? What if—?”

  Donovan cupped her head and pulled her close. He kissed her until she was breathless. “Lie down or I’ll make you lie down.”

  She glared at him, but reluctantly sat on the bunk beside his.

  “I need to put you under,” Thane said.

  Donovan nodded and lay down. Airen reached out and took his hand.

  It was nice to have her there. “Watch over me?”

  She stroked his hair. “Yes.”

  “You trusting this yet? Me? Our mating?”

  Something flashed in her eyes.

  “Baby?” Worry hit him. Was this not what she wanted? He felt the pressure injector at his thigh. “Wait—”

  But already his vision was blurring, darkness sucking him under.

  The last thing he saw was Airen’s concerned face.

  Chapter Twenty

  Every muscle in Airen’s body stayed tense until Thane completed D
onovan’s medical procedure.

  “He’ll be fine,” the medical commander said. “He’s extremely fit and healthy.”

  She nodded, stroking Donovan’s hair.

  “Congratulations on your mating, Airen.”

  She glanced up at Thane. “You’ve never found your mate?”

  He shook his head. “You know it’s rare these days for the Eon. Although, it seems the Terrans are changing that.”

  “Do you want a mate?”

  A small smile touched the medical commander’s lips. “I’m mated to my work.” He tilted his head, his gaze on her. “Did you want a mate?”

  “I never imagined it would happen.” She stared at Donovan’s strong, handsome face. The even rise and fall of his broad chest.

  “You’re unhappy?” Thane said carefully.

  “I love him so much it leaves me breathless. He’s a good, honorable man.”

  “But?” Thane prodded.

  “I’m Eon, he’s Terran. We both have command careers in different fleets.” She stood. “I need to get to the bridge.”

  Thane scowled. “You need rest and time to recover.”

  “I’m fine. I promise I won’t push myself. Watch over him?”

  “Of course.”

  When Airen strode onto the bridge, she saw Malax and Sabin at the light table, locked in an intense conversation. Wren was slumped in a chair. The entire bridge felt tense.

  When Malax saw her, his brows drew together. “You should be in Medical.”

  “I’m perfectly healthy.” She glanced at their set faces. She’d worked with these men long enough to know how to read them. “What’s wrong?”

  “Is Donovan awake?” Malax asked.

  “Not yet. What’s happened?” Worry gripped her. “Were other female warriors attacked?”

  Malax shook his head. “You were the female warrior closest to the edge of Eon space, the easiest target.” His lips quirked. “Clearly a bad assumption by the Kantos. After you were taken, we warned all other ships with female warriors aboard.”

  Airen glanced at Wren and saw the woman had been crying. She looked back at Malax. “So what’s wrong?”

  Sabin straightened. “The Kantos attacked Earth.”