Heart of Eon: Eon Warriors #3

by Hackett, Anna

  The elite slumped, releasing the container with the helian. The glass container hit the floor, and broke, the small, slug-like helian rolling out onto the tiles.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Wren yanked the sword back, and stood there, heaving in air.

  She was a badass.

  She raised her arm, her armor and sword glowing faintly in the shadows. This rocked.

  Malax surged up, and kicked the Kantos elite’s body, checking that it was dead.

  Wren turned and saw the helian on the ground. She quickly scooped the small creature up and stuck it in a pocket on her belt.

  “Are you okay?” she asked him. The bleeding on his arm and shoulder seemed to have stopped.

  He nodded, eyeing her armor. “Yes, we need—”

  There was the sound of running footsteps and they both spun. Two more Kantos ran into the room.

  Oh, no.

  Malax lifted his arm and she watched as his sword morphed into a blaster weapon. He fired on the aliens. The blasts lit up the dim space.

  As she watched, several ugly bugs skidded in behind the Kantos soldiers.

  Really not good. The familiar, humming buzz of communication filled the air. The bugs charged forward like hunting dogs.

  Shit. Wren scrambled back, as Malax took several steps backward. Her boot caught on something and she tripped, landing on her ass. She scrambled back, and suddenly saw one of the bugs bounding toward her. She glanced quickly over at Malax.

  Two bugs and the soldiers were targeting him. He’d morphed his blaster back into a sword, and, as the first bug reached him, he slashed out with skill and precision.

  Wren glanced back, just as the other bug headed her way. It jumped into the air. Oh, God. Heart pounding, she threw her arm up.

  All of a sudden, throwing stars shot out of her armor. They sliced into the Kantos bug. With a screech, it hit the tiled floor. Its six legs spread out, scrambling as it tried to stand, but clearly, tendons were severed.

  Wren looked at her scales on her arm where the throwing stars had come from. Wow.

  A second Kantos bug came out of nowhere, slinking forward. It had a hard, striped shell, and huge, snapping mandibles. It made a hissing noise.

  Wren managed to get to her feet, just as the creature rushed at her, attacking with a snap of its mandibles. In her head, she imagined a huge can of bug spray, but unfortunately, her new armor couldn’t seem to create that. She dodged, but a sharp leg hit her and she felt the rake of it through the armor on her arm.

  The hot sting made her wince. Ow.

  She moved backward and saw a row of carved blocks. She leaped onto one, running along them. Turning, she aimed at the bug hunting her.

  Throwing stars. Throwing stars. As soon as she thought it, they morphed on her wrist and shot out at the bug.

  The bug jolted and let out a wild hiss.

  Take that. Wren spun and almost lost her balance. She threw out her arms, and her armor helped center her.

  Cool. Eon armor was the cure for clumsiness.

  She kept running along the blocks. She heard another hiss and watched the bug jump up on the block behind her. It leaped closer, its yellow eyes on her.

  Okay, what next? She needed to take this bug down. She patted the pocket on her belt and felt the helian move. It was safe.

  Wren leaped onto another block, but saw the bug was gaining. She imagined the sword on her arm again. Suddenly, it formed once more, just as it had earlier.

  Oh, wow. Thankfully, Eve and Lara had forced Wren to train with them on occasion. They’d wanted her to know the basics of fighting so she could protect herself. She wasn’t a swordswoman by any means, but she wasn’t completely clueless, either.

  She heard a grunt and a crash. Across the room, she saw Malax was pinned down by a Kantos soldier and another bug.

  Her heart stopped.

  She watched as the Kantos soldier raised his arm and then stabbed down.

  No! Her body locked. “Malax!”

  He wrenched free at the last second and rolled. The Kantos’ arm pierced Malax’s shoulder, instead of his chest.

  Bile rose in her mouth. She had to help him.

  Her bug launched itself in her direction, and fury flooded her. She was so fucking sick of everyone pushing her around—Lance, the Space Corps, the Kantos. She swung her arm and shouted. Her sword slashed the bug’s softer underbelly. Green blood sprayed, and the bug crashed to the floor. But Wren didn’t stay to watch. She leaped off the stone block, running toward Malax.

  “Sassy! God, please be back online!”

  “I’m here.”

  Thank God. “We need to help Malax.” As she watched, the Kantos slammed his other arm down, pinning Malax through his other shoulder. Malax was bleeding, but still fighting. He was heaving against his captors, even as blood flowed on the floor.

  “I can use the alien technology again,” Sassy said.

  Shit. The crazy alien weapons were just as likely to hurt Malax. But she was still too far away, and if she didn’t do something, he was going to die.

  She watched the Kantos bug getting closer, mandibles snapping, readying to tear out Malax’s throat.

  “Do it,” Wren cried.

  “Initializing.”

  A sharp whistling sound went through the room and the floor started to vibrate. Bright light speared down from the roof, and Wren swallowed a scream. As she watched, every single Kantos in the room was turned to stone. Even the ones standing over Malax.

  She gasped, staring in horror.

  A second later, the frozen Kantos vaporized, their bodies turning to dust.

  Oh. My. God.

  Malax sat up, his eyes wide with disbelief. Wren spun, scanning the entire space. All the Kantos were gone.

  “Sassy?” She was too afraid to move, in case she got incinerated.

  “I’ve shut the system off.”

  Gingerly, Wren started toward Malax. “Are you okay?” God, his armor was slick with blood, and torn in places.

  He nodded. “My helian is attempting to slow the bleeding and heal my wounds.”

  She smiled at him and he smiled back.

  Just then, a slab of rock slammed down from the roof, smashing into the ground nearby. Wren screamed and staggered back. Shit. Dust filled the air and she coughed.

  Another stone slammed down, and another.

  “The building’s integrity has been compromised,” Sassy said. “Get out.”

  Wren looked at Malax. He was up on his knees, staring at her.

  “We have to go,” she shouted.

  He nodded and started to rise…just as the roof collapsed.

  Right on top of him.

  Shock and fear ripped into Wren like a wild animal. She couldn’t breathe. More rocks fell and the air filled with dust. Coughing, she threw her arm up to deflect a few smaller rocks. They bounced off her.

  She lifted her head, and felt as though the ground had dropped away from beneath her.

  No. Where Malax had been, there was now just a massive pile of rubble and boulders.

  Agony split her chest open. “No. Malax!”

  Wren dropped to her knees beside the rocks and started clawing at them.

  * * *

  Malax coughed hard. The air around him was choked with dust.

  He heaved in a breath, working through the pain. He waved a hand to clear the air. His helian glowed, giving just enough light for him to see that a large stone beam was resting above him, holding the rest of the rubble off him. He was trapped in a small space.

  He shifted, pain shooting through his shoulders. He probed the wounds carefully. His helian had already stopped the bleeding. They weren’t life-threatening.

  Above him, he heard a noise—Wren’s frantic cries.

  Grimly, Malax gripped the rocks above him and started pushing his way through.

  Wren’s sobbing ripped at him. He heard her sorrow and terror. He kept pushing rocks out of the way, and finally punched through the last of th
e rubble.

  “Malax!” She stared at him for a beat, then reached for him.

  Her face was covered in dust, and tears tracked down her cheeks. When her hands touched him, like she was assuring herself that he was real, her face crumpled and she started crying.

  He pulled her close, crushing her to his chest.

  “I thought… I thought…” Her voice broke.

  He held her tight, stroking her dusty hair. “I’m all right.”

  “I thought you were dead.”

  “I’m right here.”

  “The rocks.” She lifted her head, gently touching the rips in his armor. “And you’re hurt.”

  “A few scratches.”

  Her eyes widened. “The Kantos skewered right through your shoulder and arm!”

  “My helian has already stopped the bleeding. The wounds are healing.” He didn’t tell her that despite his symbiont dulling the pain, it still hurt like being dipped in the fire sprays of Jad.

  Malax pulled Wren up on her toes and kissed her. He meant for it to be quick, but as soon as he tasted her, and heard her sigh, he groaned. He deepened it, kissing her like their lives depended on it.

  It was over too soon, but he sensed her body relax a little.

  “Let’s get out of here,” he said.

  She nodded and he scooped her into his arms.

  “You shouldn’t carry me, you’re hurt—”

  “I’m fine. Remember, a war commander never lies.”

  With a sigh, she pressed her cheek gently against his chest. Turning, he made his way out of the temple, keeping a close eye out for any more traps.

  When they stepped outside, the sounds of combat filled the air. The sky was filled with more ships: both Kantos and Eon. The battling ships filled the sky with laser fire, smoke, and explosions. Fighters from the Rengard were engaging swarms of small Kantos ships.

  Wren looked up. “Oh, God.”

  Malax’s communicator flared to life. “Malax?”

  It was Sabin.

  “We’re here, Sabin. We’re at the alien temple in the center of the city.”

  “I’m aboard a fighter. We’re coming to get you.”

  A second later, a sleek Eon fighter swept overhead. The blue lights along its sides glowed brightly. There was a burst of air around them and Wren tucked her face into his neck.

  The fighter landed in front of the temple, and the door opened at the back.

  Malax jogged down the steps and over to the ship. Sabin met them in the doorway.

  His security commander looked relieved to see him. The faint purple in the man’s eyes flared.

  “Thank the warriors.” Sabin’s gaze fell to Wren. “You’re both okay?”

  “Minor injuries.” Malax strode aboard the ship.

  Wren snorted. “The war commander’s idea of minor differs from mine.”

  Sabin closed the door and called out to the pilots. Malax moved to the small seats at the back, that folded out from the wall. A second later, the ship shot back into the sky.

  “The helian?” Sabin asked.

  Malax frowned. “We lost it in the—”

  “I have it.” Wren pulled something from her belt.

  Malax blinked. A small helian was resting on her palm. A laugh broke from his chest. “You have it.”

  She nodded. When Sabin came forward, holding a helian container, she held her palm over the top of it. For a second, the helian clung to her, then slipped into the jar.

  “Bye, little guy,” she murmured.

  Sabin looked amused. “You realize that ‘little guy’ is an ancient, sentient, and powerful alien being.”

  She shrugged, leaning back in Malax’s arms. “It’s still little.”

  As he sat, Sabin’s gaze moved over Wren again. The man’s gaze flicked up to Malax’s. “She wears your armor.”

  Malax nodded. Wren was his mate. He’d suspected it, already wanted it, but the way his helian responded to her confirmed it.

  Wren was his—now and forever. His to cherish, protect, and love.

  “I know, isn’t it cool?” Then Wren’s smile faded, as she eyed both men. Her gaze moved from Malax to Sabin and back again. “What am I missing? Why do you guys look so serious?”

  “It’s nothing,” Malax nuzzled her hair. “We’ll talk later. Right now, we need to get back to the Rengard.” Alive.

  The Eon fighter continued climbing into the sky.

  “Swarm ships incoming,” the co-pilot yelled.

  Malax saw the swarm ships rushing at them. He set Wren beside him and pulled the harness over her, then fastened his own. Just in time, because seconds later, they were both tossed against the straps.

  The Eon pilots worked together, their ship diving and rolling, to avoid the enemy fighters.

  But the farther they flew, the more the number of ships in the sky intensified. Swarm ships sped past, Eon fighters pursuing. Laser traces lit up the sky.

  Wren’s hand flashed out and grabbed his. He squeezed her fingers.

  “Brace,” the pilot yelled.

  A blast hit their ship. Wren gasped and the ship vibrated. The two warriors in the cockpit stayed focused. Malax kept his emotions under control. He had to show his complete confidence in his warriors.

  Eon fighters were battling some larger Kantos battlecruisers. Missiles flew, fast and hard, exploding in the sky.

  Then, he spied the familiar shape of the Rengard. It was in orbit, and under heavy attack from several Kantos ships.

  He sucked in a breath. So many. His warship was heavily outnumbered.

  Frowning, he looked at Sabin. “Reinforcements?”

  Sabin looked grim. “The Desteron and the Vymerion are inbound.”

  “But they’re too far away,” Malax said.

  Sabin nodded.

  So, there would be no help. Malax stared out at the fight outside, turning options over in his head. “We will fight until the others arrive.”

  It was what warriors did. They fought and protected.

  Just as his warriors had on Dalath Prime. Despite the odds, his warriors had been heroes that day.

  More swarm ships crowded the sky, and a new squadron of fighters poured out of the Rengard, arrowing into fight formation. Seconds later, laser fire lit up the sky. He watched several ships explode—both Kantos and Eon.

  His gut heavy, Malax closed his eyes for a moment. He was losing warriors, and the pain was immense. They were his people to protect.

  He felt Wren squeeze his fingers. “I’m so sorry, Malax.”

  He nodded. Just that small touch helped and he opened his eyes.

  “Hold on!” The pilot called out. “We have several swarm ships chasing us.”

  A blast hit them, and the ship shuddered.

  Another blast tossed them all sideways, and flames flickered over the outside of the ship, covering the viewscreen.

  “Shields holding,” the co-pilot said, voice tense. “For now.”

  Malax gripped the armrests of his seat. They needed to reach the Rengard, or they were dead.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The ship was hit again, and the wild jolt had Wren gritting her teeth.

  The warriors in the pilot seats were shouting, and beside her Malax looked grim.

  “Get us through that gap,” the pilot yelled.

  “More swarm ships incoming.” The co-pilot’s voice vibrated with tension.

  The ship picked up speed, diving and rolling. Wren gripped onto Malax. They pulled up so sharply that her stomach dropped then lodged in her throat. Oh, God, she hoped she wasn’t going to puke.

  She stared at the hard lines of Malax’s face. He stared out the viewscreen, watching his fighters. She’d seen some get destroyed and knew it was painful for him. She felt the tension throb off him.

  A massive explosion rocked the ship.

  “Missile,” the co-pilot yelled. “We’re hit!”

  “Cren,” the pilot shouted. “We’re losing shields. War Commander, we aren’t going to m
ake it.”

  “Keep flying, Naton.” Malax’s voice was firm, commanding, no hint of panic. He touched his communicator. “Rengard?”

  “Malax.” It was Airen’s harried voice. “We’re under heavy attack and losing our shields.”

  Malax cursed, staring at the floor.

  The fighter was hit again, shuddering hard.

  “We’ve lost an engine,” the co-pilot called out.

  Wren shook her head. She was not going to die here! She didn’t want to explode into tiny pieces, or get sucked out into space. She wasn’t going to lose Malax.

  She undid the straps of her harness.

  Malax’s head whipped around. “Wren—”

  Ignoring him, she darted forward. She moved between the two pilots’ chairs, gripping one to keep her balance. Another jolt almost sent her crashing to the floor.

  The pilots looked up at her, faces lined with strain. She slammed her hand with her blue wristband against the console.

  “Sassy.” The band on her wrist flared and she felt Sassy linking with the ship’s controls. “We have work to do.”

  Malax’s big body pressed against her back. “Get back in your seat.”

  “I can help,” she said.

  Malax growled.

  She turned her head to look at him. “I can fight, too. In my own way.”

  “You don’t belong up here,” he bit out.

  The words were a slash to her heart. For a second, it was Lance’s voice echoing in her head. Screw that. She lifted her chin. “Do you really believe that?” She paused and swallowed. “Don’t break my heart, Malax.”

  He cursed, looking torn. “Wren…I just want to protect you.”

  “And I want to protect you, too. Let me do what I’m good at.”

  He stared at her for what felt like forever. Then he nodded. “Silan, move.”

  The co-pilot shifted out of his seat. Wren dropped into it.

  “Sassy, we’re taking control.”

  “Nice,” Sassy replied. “This is a very nice ship.”

  Wren felt a jolt run through her body. She stayed perched on the edge of the seat, leaning forward. The fight outside made her gut roll, but she stayed focused.