by Liz Paffel
There was still work to be done. He needed to get Brandon.
And keep praying to the stars that his mate would live.
Chapter Seventeen
The night was moonless and still.
Tryllin crouched alongside Hahn and Quixx as they approached the Nozing compound. They’d waited until night fell, taking advantage of human’s natural sleep cycle to infiltrate the buildings. Sleeping humans wouldn’t cause a commotion and mass chaos as the vapor silently blanketed the interior. By the time they woke up, the Nozing would already be unconscious.
A team of his best warriors took up the rear, waiting for Tryllin’s signal. He had them halt while the trio approached the predetermined entry point. Intel hadn’t uncovered how many Nozing were present inside the compound. Taking out his scanner, Tryllin scanned for heat signatures that may be present. The captives were below, but they needed to make an entry on the main level and work their way down and he didn’t want any surprises.
No signatures.
He signaled four of his men to make a sweep behind the building. The activated their cloaking shields and disappeared. Their biosensors flashed inside a tiny screen in the headset dropdown he wore over his left eye.
The xerron-G devices were tucked inside the reinforced pocket on his left thigh. He was nervous having them so close to his body, but as King, the risk was his to bear. A rock found on a planet five hundred light years from what used to be Axxeon 8, xerron-G reacted to oxygen and carbon dioxide to emit a noxious vapor. It didn’t affect the Axxeon’s central nervous system the way it did to the Nozing. Instead, it ate through their solarderm, causing severe burns, peeling, and ulcers that were slow to heal, if they ever did at all.
Even with every inch of his body covered in metacloth, Tryllin worried about potential exposure. The vapor insidiously crept into the smallest crack or crevice. More than one of his warriors would come out of this with significant burns if they weren’t watchful.
He glanced at the viewscreen on his headset to see if anything had popped up from Yawndit. Nothing.
Alora had to survive. He was going to bring her brother home to her, and he wanted nothing more than to see her face light up. He’d done this to her.
The thought hit him like the blast from a proton taser. If he hadn’t implanted her with the pod, her heart would not have failed, and she would not be fighting for her life now. He trusted his physician but had no idea how he would patch Alora back together.
Sudden movement from inside the building drew his attention. A shape darted in front of a broken window, then paused and turned as if looking out. Tryllin crouched in the shadows. No moonlight reflected off the snow, and dressed in all black, the Axxeon blended in with the night.
His thoughts were connected to Hahn’s via their headsets. Wondering just how much of his thoughts his brother was paying attention to, Tryllin called his name in his mind.
I’m going in.
I have you covered.
He didn’t pause to consider that he shouldn’t be going in at all. He didn’t wait to remind himself that he was the King and should be tucked away safely at the Command center. Right now, he was a warrior who’d made a promise to his mate. Not even the risk of death was going to stop him.
Tryllin inched toward the door, watching the shape in the window. It paused, then raised what appeared to be arms with something clasped between its hands. Quixx blasted the window with a nanosecond of brilliant light, just enough to show it was a Nozing and not a human. Tryllin drew his bow and an arrow from the sheath at the same time, loaded and let the arrow fly before the enemy had a chance to recover from the light blast. A thunk sounded through the still air as the arrow sliced through the Nozing’s armor and pierced the center of his chest. A quick flash of green light. Poof, as the exploding arrowhead detonated inside the enemy's chest to finish the job.
The others will hear the commotion, Tryllin said mentally. We must move quickly.
If there was one sentry, there was likely another. Slipping inside, Tryllin paused to listen for the sound of anyone approaching. Hearing nothing, he made his way to the staircase on his left. A map of the building popped up on his headset. He pressed tight against the wall as he trotted down the stairs, his warriors close behind. He made another sweep for heat signatures when he reached the bottom. The air was thick and stagnant and reeked of Nozing stench.
Heat signatures multiplied on his headset screen, indicating a multitude of life forms huddled close together inside the gaping room. Reaching into his thigh pocket, he carefully gripped one xerron-G delivery capsule in his glove. His headset directed a thin laser light into the darkness, creating a target for him to launch the capsule against the far wall.
Heart thumping, adrenaline pumped through him, jacking his excitement. Revenge was so close. A warrior unit was cloaked in hiding at the Nozing ship, waiting for his command. Soon, this would all be over, and he could return to the compound and to Alora.
“My King!”
Quixx’s warning came too late. Four Nozing advanced from the darkness, swinging glowing swords and firing blasters. In a blink, the enemy were upon them, hand-to-hand. Tryllin pulled an arrow from the quiver as he spun, dropped to one knee and drove the arrowhead up and into a Nozing’s diaphragm. He’d barely stood when another was upon him, whipping a glowing cord that wrapped around his neck and yanked him forward. Tryllin gripped the cord with both hands to keep the pressure from his throat. The xerron-G capsule slipped from his palm and rolled into the darkness. No!
The Nozing pulled hard and Tryllin fell to his knees, ducked his head and rolled forward, pulling with his entire strength as he went head over heels. the enemy lurched forward, losing his balance and crashing to the ground, releasing the cord as he fell. He never saw the blade coming that advanced from the back of Tryllin’s glove and pierced the base of his throat.
Spinning, he looked behind him. Hahn was fighting off two enemies. Quixx was not in sight. Depressing the high lume light built into the front of his shirt, he lit the area in a silvery white glow. Quixx was on the ground with a Nozing on top of him, the tip of his sword dangerously close to Quixx’s temple. With a roar, Tryllin raced to his man, arrow drawn and seated in the bowstring. He pulled back… and was slammed from the side as a Nozing pummeled into him with his shoulder. Tryllin flew to the side, his left side making intense contact with the brick wall. Something crunched inside his thigh pocket.
His heart sank.
Before he could react, the Nozing was back with his sword raised. He grinned wide and evil through the clear front of his biomask. Tryllin gathered his weapon and released the arrow. They were too close, and the arrowhead barely made contact with the Nozing’s suit. Grabbing another, he rammed it through the enemy’s facemask and driving it up and through his right eye. The arrowhead detonated with a sickening wet pop.
Breathing hard, Tryllin patted his thigh pocket. A mist wafted up from the zippered closure. Slowly, he opened it and reached inside. One capsule had smashed against his body, the other intact. Clenching his jaw, he retrieved the active capsule and smashed it against the wall just as searing pain ripped through his thigh.
It streaked upward to his groin and spread across his lower abdomen. With a grunt, he fell to one knee, barely aware of the rush of human voices filling the room. Nozing cut through the crowd with weapons raised. The humans made way, allowing their captors through.
Pushing through the pain, Tryllin got to his feet and readied another arrow. Red haze billowed through the air, filling all the spaces beyond the light they could not see. Loud thuds sounded through the room, followed by gasps from the humans.
“Do not be alarmed. The vapor will not affect humans. Please, remain calm.”
The room went eerily still as the humans glanced around at the Nozing who fell, lifeless around them. Hahn rushed to Tryllin; his arm covered in the sticky blue blood of his enemy.
Tryllin gripped his thigh, grimacing against the sawing pain.
“Brother,” Hahn said. “What happened?”
“We need to finish this thing.” He stood to his full height. “I count nine Nozing on the ground.” He spoke into his comm to inquire if his warriors taking up the rear had found any enemy, but they hadn’t.
He turned to his other warriors. “We will not let these dogs return to the ship. There numbers are few. Kill them where they lay.”
The mass of humans gasped and danced out of the way as his warriors made quick work of his command. Holding his brother’s gaze, he ordered his team at the Nozing ship to begin their mission.
A live feed played over his headset screen. They’d created a temporary weak spot in the Nozing ship’s cloaking shield. Tryllin was sure he’d hold his breath until his men made entry, introduced the capsule and got back out before the shield recovered. The pain made it hard to focus. Sweat ran down his face and back. His arms began to shake as he watched two warriors break the Nozing shield and disappear beneath the ship.
Hahn gripped Tryllin’s wrist and held on tight as if he could offer support. What is it, my brother? His internal voice was filled with concern.
I was exposed to the xerron-G. I’m not sure I’ll make it back to the compound.
Hahn turned disbelieving eyes on him. We need to go, now.
No.
You will die.
Tryllin gave a wan smile. Then you will make an excellent King.
“They are out.” He made the announcement for Quixx’s benefit. Breathing in relief, he watched as his men withdrew from the circumference of the ship and waited.
A moment later, U-5 was escorted toward the ship. His face was calm, accepting. He smiled at the Axxeon next to him and gave a reassuring nod before stepping through the hole in the cloaking shield. Tryllin watched with a pang in his heart as the Nozing disappeared into a side door. Soon, the enemy would awaken. By then, U-5 will have already infected them. In a matter of hours, they will all be dead.
He counted to ten inside his mind and tapped the detonation code for the pod on his comlet. Tryllin turned away.
It was done.
Gripping his brother’s shoulder for support, he swallowed a groan and addressed the humans.
“I am Tryllin, King of Axxeon 9. We’ve come to take you home; all but one. Brandon Church, I require that you to stand before me.”
He struggled to control his breathing, gulping hard, fast breaths into his throat as agonizing pain ripped and clawed through his leg. There was no telling how far the xerron-G would burrow into his flesh and spread. It already felt as if it were down to the bone. Quixx grabbed his other arms and he had no strength to fight for his own pride.
He peered over the sea of faces. The mass of humans parted, and a blonde headed man came forward. His features were hard, suspicious. He wore a tattered, dirty fireman’s uniform, blood streaked over his face and arms. Tryllin put a hand on the man’s shoulder and looked into eyes so like Alora’s.
“I will take you to your sister,” he said.
And then he fell to the ground.
Chapter Eighteen
The corn had grown fast.
Green leaves waved from the tall stalks, the newly grown silky tops waving like golden hair in the wind. She was running through the stalks, laughing as she parted them with her hands to clear a path. She’d been running a while and her legs were getting tired. But she didn’t want to stop.
August sun beat down, warming her face even as humid air hugged every inch of her body. If she took a right and veered out of the corn, she’d reach the pond where she could dive in and cool her body. Not yet. Sure, the edges of the corn leaves were abrasive against her skin as she darted through them. And the stalks sometimes whipped back and left a mark.
She didn’t care. She wanted it to last because stopping meant she was closer to going back to her rigid, over-scheduled life. Leaving the corn meant she was one minute closer to going back to the city, to her parent’s tenth story apartment and leaving the cows and open fields and row after row of emerald green crop.
Leaving meant it would be weeks again before she’d listen to Grandpa sing to the cows while he set the milkers on their teats, or before she’d get to carry as many fluffy kittens in her arms as she could carry.
Brandon was somewhere behind her, dashing through the rows and rows, chasing her.
Her legs pumped.
Her breath came fast.
Her heart pounded. The pulse in her neck thrummed to the beat of her feet hitting the packed dirt between rows.
Her heart.
It was… beating.
Brandon… he’d caught her. He was holding her hand and smiling like he’d won the biggest prize.
Alora’s eyelids fluttered to blinding lights. A face cut through the glow; the features so real that she thought she might not be dreaming after all.
Those big eyes. Those broad cheekbones.
That smile.
She reached up a hand, her brow furrowing. He took it, the warmth of his skin a familiar comfort.
“Brandon?” Her voice broke into a squeak, but just saying his name made it even more real. Struggling to sit, she called him again. And again. He gripped her hand in both of his and nodded, butting his forehead against hers like he used to when they were kids and she needed comfort.
“I’m here, sis.”
Suddenly, he was hugging her, and she pulled wires and tubes just to move her arms enough to hug her back. After long moments, Brandon pulled back and she realized how unkempt he was. “What did they do to you?” She touched his face, wincing to see streaked blood there.
“I fought back. We all did, but they’re weapons quickly overpowered us. The Axxeon men told us the fires have burned out and there’s no sign of the creatures. As soon as I get home, I’m going to--”
“NO,” Alora burst. “Don’t leave me. Not again.”
She gasped and settled back against the pillows with a sigh. God, her chest hurt. Her eyes widened when she lifted the sheet to look down at her body. A long, red scar ran vertically down her sternum and between her breasts.
“I hear you have been given the heart of a warrior.”
She glanced up to the sound of Tryllin’s smooth voice. He leaned on his brother as he hobbled into the room in a boxy white shirt and wide legged shorts. His right leg was heavily banged, but fluid had begun to seep through and stain the fabric yellow.
“Your blood is yellow.” Tears hit her eyes as she recalled asking him about it once. It seemed so long ago.
He grinned. “Yes.”
Their eyes caught and a surge of sticky emotion welled inside her. “You brought me my brother.”
Tryllin nodded. His lips parted ever so slightly. He was weakened and injured, yet his strength amazed her. It radiated off him and she longed to feel the heat of his solarderm next to her.
His eyes dropped halfway. “This is my fault.”
Hahn sniffed and gestured to Brandon. “I will show you to your quarters so you may bathe and get fresh clothing.”
He helped Tryllin to the side of Alora’s bed and then they quietly left the room.
Her jaw trembled as she tried to hold back tears. “What happened to you?”
“No,” Tryllin said. “I will not change the subject. I am responsible for this.” He gestured to her chest. “It is my fault that you have been put through so much.”
She cupped his cheek and closed her eyes as sweet sensations crossed her palm at the touch. “What do you mean that I have the heart of a warrior?”
He trailed one finger across her lips. “Yawndit gave you one of his inventions. A heart and new vessels made from supple metal that flexes and stretches to accommodate blood flow, just like the real thing. Your new parts are indestructible and free of the flaws of a human heart.”
“I have a strong, indestructible heart.” She grinned and ran a hand over the sheet on her lap. “I guess that means you’ve given me something I always wanted.”
He took her han
ds in his and kissed her knuckles. The lines of his solarderm began to glow and she wanted nothing more than to lie next to him.
“I do not understand.”
“You said I have the heart of a warrior. Strong. Brave. I finally have the heart to stop being afraid.”
Tryllin groaned and gently pulled her into his arms, cradling her tenderly. careful of his wounds, she urged him to lie next to her and they wrapped in the blanket together, his flesh warming them, their hearts connecting.
“You will be my mate?” He ran a hand over her hair.
“If you promise to never implant a deadly virus in me ever again.”
He nodded with a grin, then grabbed his thigh with a wince.
“How bad is it, Tryllin?”
The white circles around his dark irises began to shine as he gazed into her eyes. “Luckily my base layer of metafabric prevented complete tissue breakdown. I will need debridement and possibly grafting. Infection is a real risk. Yawndit says that I must rest.”
“He also says that I’m not allowed to get my heart rate up for quite some time.”
She wagged her eyebrows and he made a curious face. Realization dawned on him and he laughed softly. “Well then, my little human, we will have to spend our healing hours getting to know each other in many other ways.”
They laced their fingers together and she snuggled against his chest. “Let’s start by discussing who talked you into wearing those skinny jeans--”
The End
AXXEON COMMANDER’S PET
Releasing 3/12/20
Pre-order now at www.lizpaffel.com
He couldn’t wait to get off Earth.
Quixx stood before the monitor with his hands behind his back and watched unrest unfold in the city. Humans battled each other with primitive things found in the streets-- garbage can lids, sticks, a discarded license plate.
