Claim of Eon: Eon Warriors #6
Page 3
Airen nodded back.
Once the recruits were busy on the equipment on the other side of the gym, Donovan studied her. “You aren’t allowed to be off-duty?”
“A second commander is always on duty. And doesn’t get caught hugging crewmates in the gym.”
“You’re allowed to have a life, Airen. Even your war commander is mated now.”
“That’s different.”
“Because you’re a woman?”
“Partly. There aren’t many female warriors, so we always have to work hard for our place. But mostly because I had to fight to become a warrior. I had no family, no connections. Everything I have, I earned myself.” She released a breath. “And I almost jeopardized it fraternizing with another warrior once. I won’t make that mistake again.”
Donovan felt a burn of anger. Some asshole had betrayed her trust? “Someone hurt you.”
“No, he just opened my eyes.”
“Who is he? I’ll—”
That earned him a faint smile. She touched his arm. “Do you think I need defending?”
“No, you can defend yourself, but that doesn’t mean I can’t help.”
“He isn’t on the Rengard. And it’s just another old fact.” Her hand stroked down his arm, and he wasn’t even sure she realized she’d done it.
Then he saw the way she was staring at his chest.
“You feel it,” he murmured. “The pull.”
She dropped her hand, her fingers curling. “I’d be lying if I said no.”
“I want to kiss you. Badly. I want you to touch me.”
Color appeared in her pale cheeks and she squeezed her eyes closed for a second. “Neither of us want or need this. It’ll be a huge distraction and cause problems.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do,” she said firmly.
“I want to pull you down on these mats and tear your clothes off.”
Her breath hitched. “That might be more than those warriors expected to see in the gym.” Her lips firmed. “You can’t say things like that, Donovan.”
He blew out a breath. “Okay, okay. We’ll be friends.”
“Friends. I’d like that.” Gorgeous black eyes streaked with green met his. “But I’m not sure I can do it.”
“What?” he said. “Why? You can trust me, Airen—”
She held up a slim hand. “I know. I haven’t known you long, but it’s been long enough to see that you’re a man of honor.”
“So?”
She leaned down and grabbed her gear, slinging her bag on her shoulder. She stepped closer to him. “I’m not sure I can stop myself from dragging you down to the floor and tearing your clothes off.”
Donovan’s gut filled with flames and he groaned. “Airen, you can’t say stuff like that and not expect me to act on it.”
“Don’t worry, I’m very good at controlling my desire for things I can’t have. Good night, Donovan.”
She strode out, leaving him with a hard cock, and a fierce need to carry her straight to his bed and make her beg for him to do delicious things to her.
Chapter Three
On the bridge, Airen stood at a large light table with Malax and Wren.
“I’ve managed to crack some of the encryption.” The Terran woman was small and curvy, with curly, brown hair. She pushed at an errant curl, frustration evident on her face. “But this stuff is crazy. There’s no rhyme or reason or rhythm.”
Malax touched his mate’s back. Wren leaned into him, relaxing a little.
The pair was so connected. Airen could practically touch their bond. She looked at the light table, instead of at the couple. Even though she knew she didn’t want that, she wondered what it’d be like to have one person become the center of her universe. Someone who she could depend on, and who would always be there to support her.
She shook her head. Her career was the center of her universe.
“These look like coordinates,” Airen said.
Malax nodded. “We have some pirate maps in the database. Let’s see if anything matches up.”
“I’m already one step ahead of you, and I’m a genius.” Sassy’s voice came through loud and clear, and she sounded pleased with herself. “I’ve already matched some locations.”
Wren smiled and Malax shook his head.
“Let’s see,” the war commander said.
Maps flashed up on the light table, with several locations marked by glowing gold dots.
Malax frowned, pressing a hand to the table as he leaned forward. “Those are Eon outposts.”
“Correct,” Sassy said. “One is a colony, and the other four are science outposts. They’re all close to the edge of Eon space.”
Airen tapped her fingers against her leg. “Why do the pirates have all these marked?”
No one had the answer, but Wren looked worried, and Malax looked angry.
Her war commander swiveled. “Airen, contact these outposts and have them raise their alert levels.”
“Yes, War Commander.”
“Sassy, keep working on decoding the rest of the pirate data with Wren.”
“We’re already on it, big guy,” the AI replied.
Wren and Malax left, but Airen remained, staring at the table. Sabin moved in beside her.
“I don’t like this,” the security commander said.
“I don’t, either. This has Kantos treachery written all over it.”
“These are science outposts, so there is no heavy warrior presence. We know the Kantos want to find a way to neutralize our helians.”
And the aliens also wanted to find a way to utilize the helians’ unique abilities for themselves. They’d already dabbled with fusing helians with their weaponry.
It was vital Airen’s team decoded the rest of the information. She glanced around the bridge. “Is Donovan with you today?”
“No,” Sabin replied. “He has a few assigned days with engineering and maintenance.” Sabin paused. “He is extremely competent.”
“You like him.”
“I was sure an alliance with the Terrans was a mistake, but he’s helping prove me wrong.”
A warrior from Sabin’s security team called out, and he moved away. Airen’s portable comp pinged and she pulled the small screen out. She had a message.
Donovan: Good morning, Second Commander.
She touched the screen.
Airen: Good morning, Sub-Captain. How’s Engineering?
Donovan: Engineering is interesting. Although, your chief engineer doesn’t like Terrans much.
Airen: Our Engineering Commander is still a little upset that Wren hijacked the Rengard and kept us hostage for a week.
Donovan: Uh-oh, you got me into trouble. I laughed and he skewered me with his grumpy gaze.
Airen found herself smiling. It was getting harder to deny, but she liked this smart Terran.
Donovan: I’m guessing you’re on the bridge?
Airen: Yes.
Donovan: Bet you’re standing in front of the viewscreen, feet hip-width apart, back straight, looking in-charge and badass.
Airen shifted her feet. She was standing exactly like that.
Airen: Actually, I’m lounging in my seat, studying rosters.
Donovan: Liar.
She smiled. Then she glanced up and spotted a young warrior eyeing her curiously. Airen cleared her throat. Okay, so she didn’t smile much on the bridge.
Airen: My shift is almost over. I need to finish my work.
Donovan: Let me guess, you’ll head to the gym and work out.
Cren, he’d only been aboard the ship two weeks and had her worked out. Was she so predictable?
Airen: Yes.
Donovan: I like you in your workout gear.
She felt a flare of heat.
Airen: Sub-Captain, time for you to get back to work.
Donovan: Yes, ma’am. You should try some music with your workout.
Airen: Music is a distraction.
Donovan: Dist
ractions can be good, Airen. Have a good workout.
There were no more messages. At the end of her shift, Airen checked in with Malax to see if Sassy and Wren had made more progress with the encryption.
“Nothing yet,” he grumbled.
With a nod, Airen left. She stopped at her cabin to change her clothing, and spotted a box sitting on her bed.
Who the cren had been in her quarters?
She snatched it up and saw a note flutter to the ground. She lifted it.
You’ll like it, I promise — D.
Her heart did a funny flutter. Donovan had left her a gift.
She opened the box and frowned at the small Terran device. She touched a button.
Donovan’s voice came out of it. “I put some classics on here for you. Enjoy, Airen.”
Ignoring the effect of his smooth, deep voice on her system, she listened as music started to play. It was a loud song with a pumping beat. She shook her head, but she did take it with her while she changed.
If she was tapping her foot by the end of the song, well, she wasn’t admitting to it.
She grabbed her gym bag, hesitated, then placed the music player inside.
* * *
Donovan crawled out of the maintenance conduit, lugging the heavy toolbox behind him.
Ahead, three Eon engineers were with him, checking systems panels. That included the Engineering Commander Narann-Jad.
Despite the fact that they were the Rengard’s engineers, they were still warriors—big and muscled. He had no doubt they could hold their own in a fight.
He felt a vibration in his pocket and pulled out his portable comp. He smiled. There was a message from Airen.
Airen: Thank you for the music player.
Donovan: You like the music? Told you it would be good to work out with.
Airen: I don’t listen to music when I work out.
Donovan rolled his eyes and shook his head. She sure had a stubborn streak.
Donovan: Are you lying to me, Second Commander?
Airen: Eon warriors do not lie.
Donovan: That isn’t an answer. I thought you’d like this band. It’s one of my favorites. You should listen to song ten. I marked it for you.
Airen: Perhaps when I have time.
God, she got to him. He found himself grinning like a loon.
Airen: How’s Engineering?
Donovan: Reminded me why I scraped through my engineering classes at the Space Corps Academy.
Airen: You’re an intelligent man. I find it hard to believe that you scraped through any class.
Donovan: You think I’m smart? Well, I aced those classes, but what I mean is that I scraped by because I was bored out of my brains during them. I’m a man of action.
Airen: I see.
Donovan: I promise you, I do not find these maintenance conduits interesting at all.
Airen: You’re there to learn.
Donovan: I’d prefer to be watching you.
Airen: Stick to appropriate comments, Sub-Captain.
He grinned. If he didn’t know better, he’d say Airen was enjoying this.
Donovan: As you wish, Second Commander.
There was a pause and he thought she’d left him.
Airen: Do you miss your ship? Your crew?
Donovan: Yes, but I’m learning a lot. I do miss my favorite drink. I’d give anything for a glass of cold cola.
Airen: Our synthesizers can make whatever you want.
Donovan: I tried. Doesn’t taste the same.
“Sub-Captain,” one of the engineers called out. “You’ll enjoy seeing these energy couplings.”
Donovan swallowed a groan. “Great.”
He tapped the screen again.
Donovan: Duty calls.
Airen: Thanks again for the music.
Donovan: My pleasure.
After he tucked his comp away, he focused on learning about the Rengard’s high-tech innards. He had to admit that some of it was interesting. The way they’d incorporated their helian technology into the ship was fascinating. They hadn’t shared much about the helian core that was a key part of the Rengard’s systems, but what he had noted was impressive.
And at the same time, he thought he detected that grumpy Narann-Jad might be thawing toward him.
By the time his shift was over, Donovan was hungry, thirsty, and ready to relax. He had exited the lift and headed down the corridor to his cabin, when he almost ran into Wren.
“Hey, Wren.”
“Donovan.” Her smile was bright and wide. “How are things?”
“I’ve seen way more maintenance conduits than I wanted to.”
Her nose wrinkled. “Dude, I spent a week playing hide-and-seek in those tunnels, with warriors trying to track me down.”
He grinned. “You win. You shouldn’t go around stealing warships from angry alien warriors, you know.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Any luck with the pirate data?”
Wren groaned. “Don’t bring that up. Malax is grumpy as hell. Airen looked very unhappy, and I thought Sabin was ready to shoot lasers out of his eyes. Apart from those locations of the Eon outposts, nothing. The outposts have been warned to beef up the security, but who knows what the pirates and/or the Kantos have planned.”
Donovan gripped her shoulder. “We won’t let those insect bastards win.”
“Right.” She tilted her head. “You heading to your cabin?” She had a funny look on her face.
“Yes. Why?”
“Oh, nothing.” She grinned. “Have a good night.”
Donovan entered his cabin and scanned around. Nothing looked out of place.
Then he saw a card resting on the built-in desk beside the bed.
Check your cooler.
It wasn’t signed. He strode over to the small refrigerator cooler and opened it. A bottle of dark liquid rested on the top shelf.
He pulled the bottle out and gave it a little shake, watching it fizz. He popped the top and took a sip.
Cool cola slid down his throat, and he groaned with pleasure.
It was perfect. Just like the real thing.
He grabbed his comp.
Donovan: Know anything about the drink in my fridge?
Airen: I don’t know why you like that brown liquid so much. It tastes foul. And it has no nutritional properties.
Donovan: It’s an acquired taste. How did you get it right?
Airen: Wren helped.
Donovan: Thank you, Second Commander.
Airen: My pleasure. We want our Terran allies to feel comfortable aboard the Rengard. Have a good evening.
Donovan sank down into his armchair, sipped his cola, and smiled. A certain tough, female warrior was starting to thaw a little, too.
Chapter Four
The peal of the ship’s emergency alarms had Airen leaping out of bed. She shoved her hair out of her eyes, quickly fighting off the grip of sleep.
By the time she was upright, her comm chimed. “Second Commander,” a warrior’s voice said. “Your presence is requested on the bridge.”
“On my way.”
It took a second to pull on her uniform and braid her hair. When she strode onto the bridge, a thunderous-looking Malax stood, staring at the viewscreen, flanked by Sabin and Donovan.
All the men had clenched jaws, and an upset Wren stood in front of Malax. He had his arms wrapped around his mate.
“What’s happened?” Airen demanded.
Donovan turned and their gazes met. He’d clearly been dragged from his bed as well, as intriguing dark stubble covered his strong jaw. She made herself look at Malax. Right now, she couldn’t afford any distractions.
“Pirates have attacked Thessa.”
She sucked in a breath. Thessa was one of the Eon science outposts.
She turned to the viewscreen. On the feed, Eon were running in all directions, dodging explosions and screaming. The colony was being attacked and bombarded.
“They’re not using typical space pirate weaponry,” Airen noted.
“No,” Malax said. “This is Kantos weaponry.”
“It’s likely a trap,” Donovan said. “To lure the Rengard to this outpost.”
Airen nodded. “They still want something off our ship. Likely the helians, or at least another attempt at our helian research data.”
“I know, but we will not abandon our people,” Malax said.
“Forty ship minutes until we reach Thessa, War Commander,” a warrior called out from his station.
It was a tense forty minutes. Airen tried not to fidget while she watched the fighting on the screen.
The security contingent of warriors at Thessa were fighting the pirate foot soldiers. Several buildings were destroyed and burning.
It was nighttime on the small moon. The pirates had attacked in the middle of the night, when people were sleeping, and at their most sluggish. Typical cowardly pirate tactics.
“You okay?” Donovan stepped up beside her.
“No,” she answered. “But I will be, once I’ve taken a few pirates down.” Hard and painfully.
“We’ll make them pay.” His voice vibrated with quiet conviction.
She nodded. “But how many will die? There are children at that outpost, Donovan.”
He gripped her arm, squeezed. Such a small move, but strangely, it made her mind settle.
“We’ll get there soon and do what needs to be done.”
He squeezed her arm again, then he moved away.
A small comfort. She sucked in a breath. She hadn’t lied to him when she said she hadn’t had anyone to comfort her, ever. She’d been raised as a ward of the Empire, and the instructors at the Warrior Academy didn’t hug the young recruits.
She touched the helian on her wrist and felt it pulse. It was the only thing she’d felt truly close to her entire life. She respected her fellow warriors, counted Malax as a friend, but she’d never go to him for personal advice or comfort.
Finally, Thessa appeared in range.
“On-screen,” Malax called out.
Thessa was a small, forest moon, and the four pirate ships were clustered together in orbit.
“Take them out,” he ordered.