Restrain them.
Aydin heard a clanking sound, and saw several soldiers carrying chain-like bindings. The soldiers made quick work of wrapping them around Aydin’s wrists, and then Jamie’s.
He tested them. They were made of a hard, brown substance and strong. Strong enough to hold an Eon warrior.
Then both of them were yanked up and dragged forward by soldiers.
“Motherfuckers,” Jamie muttered. She turned her head. “You should have left.”
“I’ll never leave you.”
She sucked in a breath.
They were both shoved against the wall. The soldiers did something Aydin couldn’t see, and suddenly, their shackles melted into the rock, gluing them to the wall. Jamie jerked on her arms, but they didn’t budge.
The elite stared at them. Who knows of this facility?
“The entire Eon fleet,” Aydin answered.
“And all of Space Corps, asshole,” Jamie added. “Our ships are on their way. You’re screwed.”
The Kantos leader stopped in front of Aydin. Medical Commander Aydin Kann-Ath of the warship Desteron. A renowned Eon doctor.
Aydin tensed. This elite knew way too much about him.
You will help us unlock the secrets of the helians.
Jamie cursed.
“I’ll never help you,” Aydin said.
The elite tilted its head, four eyes glowing like pinpricks of bright light. Suddenly, a soldier appeared, holding what looked like a long stick. Bright-green fluid dripped from the end of it.
“What is that?” Jamie demanded.
Incentive.
They touched the green fluid to Aydin’s gut.
He felt the burn instantly, and he grunted. As the pain intensified, he gritted his teeth. The fluid was some kind of poison, and he felt it entering his system. His helian screamed, filling his head with noise.
His chin dropped to his chest and he let out a groan of pain.
“Leave him alone,” Jamie yelled.
Beside him, he sensed her fighting her bindings.
“Aydin?”
“It’s some…sort of poison targeted to helians,” he gritted out.
He could feel his armor flickering, patches appearing as it weakened. His helian was fighting, but it was losing the battle.
Help us and the pain will stop.
“No,” he spat at the elite. “Never.”
The soldier jabbed the stick into him again, more poison touching his skin.
This time the pain was worse, and Aydin threw his head back and roared.
Chapter Eighteen
No.
Jamie’s gaze was glued to Aydin’s face. Seeing him wracked with pain was like a sword to her chest.
She wouldn’t let them hurt him.
She strained against her bindings. Shit. They were too strong.
“Aydin, hold on!”
He groaned.
Ahh. She needed to get to him. She ground her teeth together. She still had a few tricks up her sleeve—or rather, in her boot.
Jamie lifted her legs and kicked the Kantos soldier closest to her. The alien slammed into another one and, in the chaos, she contracted her abs and brought her legs close to her chest. She butted her head against a small device attached to her boot.
The tiny drone broke free and flew up, a small laser knife flaring on it.
She jerked her head and the drone moved close to her wrist. The laser cut into the web-like substance holding her to the wall.
One of the Kantos soldiers turned and spotted the drone. Its eyes flashed and it came forward, arms slashing.
Jamie planted her boots into the alien’s chest.
Then one of her arms broke free. Nice. She directed the drone to her other hand and the laser cut into her bindings.
Another Kantos soldier rushed at her, swinging a sharp arm at her head.
Jamie ducked and heard the Kantos’ arm scrape into the wall above her head. She jerked her elbow up, into the Kantos’ face.
As the soldier stumbled back, she yanked her second arm free of the now-broken bindings.
She jumped up, wrapped her legs around the Kantos’ head, and twisted her body. The alien’s neck snapped.
She dropped back to the ground and spun, running forward. She dropped to her knees and reached up for her combat sword. As her hands closed around the hilt, she smiled.
But when she pulled, it didn’t move. It was stuck in sticky Kantos web to its sheath.
Shit. Jamie tugged and yanked, but it wouldn’t budge.
Several soldiers started in her direction.
Come on. She yanked with everything she had and the sword slid free.
Oh, yeah, baby. Then she let her anger and worry fuel her.
“You don’t get to hurt him.” She came up hard, charging at the soldiers. She turned into a blur—all swings, lunges, and hard, brutal blows.
She fought her way toward the elite. Several soldiers leaped at her, trying to protect their leader. Jamie slammed into one, knocking it down. She stepped on it and jumped into the air, swinging her sword over her head.
With a vicious slash, she sliced through the elite’s shoulder. She worked her sword in. The alien stumbled back, trying to stay on its feet. She pulled her sword back, then sliced off the elite’s head. It crumpled, falling back into the other soldiers.
She lifted her sword, green blood dripping onto the floor. The other Kantos soldiers milled around in confusion, uncertain. Without their leader, they were left uncontrolled and directionless.
Still, she knew it wouldn’t last. There would be other elites in the lab to take control, and one could arrive at any minute. She pointed her sword at the soldiers, daring them to come at her again. None of them attacked.
Swiveling, she rushed to Aydin. She sliced through his bindings, and he dropped down to his knees. He was sweating, his face lined with pain.
She saw the green shit was still on his abdomen.
“What do I do?” she asked.
“Get…it off.”
She saw his backpack nearby and snatched it up. She spotted the intact helian container inside and let out a brief breath of relief. Then, she grabbed a flask of water and tore it open. She poured it down his stomach. Most of the green gunk washed away, and she quickly grabbed a bandage out of his backpack and wiped the rest of the poison off him.
He let out a shuddering breath.
“Come on, babe.” She wrapped an arm around him and pulled him up. With her free arm, she swung his backpack and the helians over her shoulder.
The soldiers were still milling around nearby, watching but not attacking.
Together, Jamie and Aydin hobbled backward, heading out of the chasm.
“You should have left with the helians,” she muttered.
“I’ll never leave you, Jamie.”
She looked at him.
“You matter to me.” His gaze bored into hers. “More than anything.”
Jamie felt something tremble in her chest. She’d waited a lifetime for someone to say those words to her. “If you make me cry, I’ll be pissed.”
He managed a smile.
“You matter to me, too,” she whispered.
His arm tightened around her.
“Let’s get out of here,” she said.
They shuffled through a doorway and into another large room. In this one, multiple cocoons lined the wall.
Ugh, the Kantos creeped her out.
As they moved past the woven cocoons, she felt like she was being watched.
Suddenly, a skittering sound echoed in the shadows, and she slowed. A bug skidded into view.
It had a flat body, and a triangular head. It was almost up to her waist, and its back was covered in an interesting red pattern. It watched them with huge bug eyes.
Aydin sucked in a breath.
“What?” She watched a long proboscis extend from the bug’s mouth, or nose, or whatever the hell it was.
Aydin hissed. “That’s an as
sassin bug.”
Jamie grimaced. Well, that didn’t sound good.
* * *
Aydin stared at the assassin bug. Pain still burned through his veins, but it was getting better. Slowly. He sensed that his helian was already shaking off the pain.
He tried to form his sword, but nothing happened. His helian wasn’t strong enough yet.
Frustration flared, but right now, they had other problems to worry about.
Two more assassin bugs came out of the shadows. The bugs were laser-focused on them.
Jamie lifted her sword, her body tense and ready to fight. “Tell me about them.”
“They stab their victims with their proboscis, inject an acid that dissolves their victim’s insides, then they suck it out.”
Her head swiveled and she rolled her eyes. “Just once, I’d like a cute and fluffy enemy. With soft fur and maybe even velvety paws.”
By Ston’s sword, she was joking at a time like this. He really, really loved this Terran.
His heart stopped, then resumed beating hard and fast. He was in love with Jamie Park. He totally belonged to her.
“Okay, so don’t get stuck by the proboscis,” she said.
Aydin cleared his throat. “I can’t form my sword yet. My helian is still recovering.”
She shot him a sharp smile. “You just stay here, babe. Let me do my thing.”
She turned and ran, not at the bugs, but at the wall. The bugs tensed, skittering forward. She hit the wall with her foot, flipped over, and landed on top of the closest assassin bug.
With a flash of movement, she brought her sword down and sliced off the bug’s proboscis.
The bug shrieked and bucked her off. She flew through the air, hit the ground, and rolled.
The other two bugs rushed her.
No! Cren, he needed a weapon.
He noticed a resin-like lattice all over the wall. He grabbed it and pulled. A long piece snapped off, and he jabbed the end against the ground, forming a sharp point.
That’ll work. He spun.
Jamie was on her feet, slashing at the closest assassin bug.
Cren, watching her fight was incredible. He strode in, and when the second bug darted closer, he stabbed it with his makeshift weapon and it skittered back.
Jamie whirled and swung her sword. She finally cut into the one bug, leaving it bleeding, but the first injured bug rushed in, knocking her over.
“Jamie!” Aydin roared.
The first bug leaped on her, the damaged end of its proboscis rushing at her. She rolled and the proboscis stump hit the ground. The bug flopped onto the floor.
But the second bug rushed past Aydin and leaped. It crashed into Jamie and pinned her down.
“Get off me!” She shoved and tried to push it off.
It didn’t budge. Its proboscis lowered, getting closer to her face. She struggled to push it off.
Aydin rushed forward, but the third bug—despite its injuries—came at him, hissing. He swung the resin stick. “Get out of my way.”
All he could see was that proboscis getting closer to Jamie.
“Jamie, move!”
“I’m trying to.” She dropped her sword and grabbed the proboscis with both hands.
He saw her gloves start to steam.
“Ow, it’s burning,” she shouted.
Aydin kicked the bug in front of him. He had to help her. He needed his sword.
With that thought, he felt a flash of warmth from his helian, and his weapon formed. He stared at his sword for a second, then he attacked.
He sliced through the bug blocking him. Green blood sprayed everywhere. He pivoted and sliced off the legs of the other bug.
Then he advanced on Jamie and the bug on top of her. He sliced through the proboscis and it hit the ground with a fleshy slap.
The bug screeched and skittered back. Free, Jamie leaped up and scooped up her sword.
Side-by-side, they slashed and took down the final bug.
Jamie turned, green blood smeared on her face, and grinned. Aydin closed the gap between them and kissed her hard.
“Let’s get out of here,” she said.
They turned, and had taken three steps, when they heard a noise.
Her smile dissolved, and a group of assassin bugs poured out of the doorway.
“Oh, fuck,” Jamie said.
Dread filled Aydin. He watched the bugs march in, forming a circle around them both.
Cren, there was no escape. He scanned around them, looking for any way out. The bugs had them cornered, and there was no way they could fight this many assassin bugs.
Jamie’s dark gaze met his.
“Jamie.” His throat clogged.
She smiled. “It’s okay. I’m not alone, warrior.”
In that moment, Aydin knew he’d give anything he had to save her. To have more time with this woman who’d captured his heart and soul.
Suddenly, a shrill whistle cut through the room.
Both Jamie and Aydin looked up. A dark figure stood on a ledge high up on the wall. The person had a powerful, lean body clad in black, including a three-quarter coat that fell to their knees.
“What the hell?” Jamie muttered.
The being threw something, and it arced through the air, then hit in the center of the assassin bugs.
“Down!” yelled a man’s deep voice.
Aydin dived on Jamie and they hit the floor.
Boom.
He covered her body, burying his face in her hair. Her hands clung to him and they listened to several more explosions of sound.
The shrieks of dying bugs filled the air. Aydin lifted his head and his chest locked.
It looked like the bugs had all imploded.
Jamie looked up and her eyes widened. “Nice.”
Chapter Nineteen
Jamie and Aydin helped each other to their feet.
They looked up at their rescuer. The man jumped from the high ledge, and Jamie sucked in a shocked breath. It was too high.
But he landed in a crouch, then rose, his dark coat flapping around his muscular body. He walked toward them with a lazy, liquid gait.
But as he got closer, she realized there was nothing lazy about him. Jamie sensed a predator.
The man had a sharp, handsome face, longish, coal-black hair that was pulled back at the base of his neck, and brilliant-blue eyes. A high-tech, metallic gauntlet was strapped to one strong forearm, and beneath his coat was smooth, black-metal armor.
He looked like a dark knight.
“Oronis,” Aydin murmured.
So this was one of the Eon’s distant relatives and allies. She’d only seen the dead Oronis warrior in the previous Kantos lab.
“Are you uninjured?” the Oronis warrior asked.
Wow, he had a deep, sexy voice. “Mostly. Thanks to you.”
The man inclined his dark head then turned to meet Aydin’s gaze. “Eon.”
Aydin nodded back. “Oronis.”
“I suggest you get out of this facility and as far away as you can,” the Oronis knight said. “The Kantos are amassing more soldiers in another part of the lab.” The man’s blue gaze dropped to the bag on Jamie’s shoulder. “Get your helians out of here.”
“Thank you for your assistance,” Aydin said.
The man nodded. “We will always offer assistance to our most valued allies.”
“Why are you here?” Jamie asked.
“Gathering information,” the Oronis answered. “The Kantos are a scourge to the galaxy, and we will not let them continue to kill and rampage.”
“They attacked Oronis territory?” Aydin asked.
The knight nodded. “An Oronis outpost and research station.”
The sound of marching Kantos feet echoed from nearby. A second later, Kantos soldiers rushed in through an opposite doorway.
The Oronis turned and lifted his hand. A ball of blue energy amassed on his palm.
“Go!” he yelled.
Aydin and Jamie tensed. Th
e man ran toward the Kantos and tossed the ball of energy. It slammed into the lead soldiers, throwing them into the air. A throb of energy filled the air.
“Come on,” Aydin said.
“What about him?” Jamie asked.
“He’ll be fine. I suspect he’s been here a while.”
They took off running.
“I hope he doesn’t end up an unwilling lab rat like the other Oronis we saw,” she said.
Aydin yanked her through a doorway. “For now, let’s get ourselves and the helians out of here.”
“There.” She pointed at some steps cut into the rock. They ran up them.
At the top, she heard Kantos coming from the opposite direction, and they both turned the other way.
They raced down the wide corridor, and when they rounded a corner, a large, green bug scuttled into view. Jamie yelled, leaped into the air, and skewered it with her sword.
When she straightened, he grabbed her arm and they kept jogging.
“That way,” he said.
They rushed into another room. It was lined with glass windows, offering a breathtaking view of Veela’s unforgiving landscape. The rivers of lava looked like lines of blood.
Jamie looked out the window. “The drop to the ground isn’t too far.”
The sound of incoming Kantos echoed from out in the hall.
Aydin waved her out of the way and morphed his helian into a blaster on his arm. He lifted it and aimed at the windows. “Helmet.” His formed over his head.
Jamie touched her controls and her helmet slid into place.
A throb of energy blasted out and hit the windows, shattering them in a rain of sharp glass.
“Ready?” He took her hand.
She felt a throb of excitement. “Let’s roll, warrior.”
Together, they ran at the broken windows. Kantos soldiers exploded into the room, just as the two of them leaped out the windows.
They sailed through the air, then a moment later, hit the black, rocky ground in a deep crouch.
They both jumped up and ran. Behind them, bugs poured out of the lab, giving chase. Aydin turned, firing on them. Jamie lifted her own blaster, picking off some of the closest bugs.
“Your suit?” Aydin asked.
She’d slapped the last of her patches on as they’d dashed through the corridors, making their escape. For now, she wasn’t feeling any ill effects, but she knew the suit wouldn’t hold up forever.
Mark of Eon: Eon Warriors #5 Page 14