Kiss of Eon: Eon Warriors #4 Read online

  Aydin moved around her, treating the vicious bruises on her neck. Instantly, the healing solution started to make the ugly marks fade.

  “She’s okay?” Brack kept his gaze on her closed eyes.

  “I told you three times already, yes,” Aydin replied.

  “You’re sure?”

  The medical commander made an annoyed sound. “Yes.”

  Allie’s eyelids fluttered, and Brack shoved past the doctor. He took her hand and leaned closer.

  She came up swinging. She managed to punch Brack in the jaw before he pinned her arms down. “Allie, you’re safe.”

  She turned her head, their gazes meeting. Her eyes were unfocused, and he saw her fighting her way through the fog. He could almost see her putting the pieces together.

  “Hey, Captain,” he murmured.

  “Second Commander.” Her voice was husky, and she lifted a hand to her throat.

  “You’re all healed.”

  “I was in the Divergent’s cargo bay. Why are we on the Desteron?”

  “I…” Panicked. Was worried you’d die. “I brought you to our doctors.”

  She sat up. “Ensign Sharma?”

  “Your Lieutenant Park restrained him, and your doctor checked him out. The general consensus was to lock him in your brig.”

  “I detect a ‘but’,” Allie said.

  He jerked his head and Allie turned. The engineer was strapped to a medical bunk, being scanned by Eon equipment.

  “Your doctor couldn’t find anything wrong with him, and I suggested our medical team take a look.”

  She managed a tight nod. “Damn, what a mess.”

  Her golden hair was loose, falling around her shoulders. To stop himself reaching out and touching it, he pressed his hands to the edge of her bed. Cren. He wanted to sink his hands into it and use it to pull her closer to…

  By Eschar’s embrace. He sucked in a breath.

  He was so churned up from seeing her hurt. When he’d entered the cargo bay and seen the engineer choking the life out of her…

  If Brack hadn’t gone looking for her, driven by the crazy sense from his helian that she needed him, she would have died on the floor of the Divergent’s cargo bay.

  “Hey, are you okay?” She touched his wrist.

  Brack grabbed her hand, their fingers tangling, and squeezed.

  Her gaze was on his face, trying to read him. Then she squeezed back.

  “Don’t worry, Second Commander. I’m still here to annoy the hell out of you.”

  He couldn’t help but smile. “Actually, now that you remind me, maybe I shouldn’t have intervened.”

  She elbowed him in the gut, but there wasn’t much power behind it.

  “Brack,” Aydin called out. “We found something.”

  Brack helped Allie swing her legs off the bunk. He went to slide his arms beneath her, when she slapped a hand to his chest.

  “You are not carrying me.”

  “You’re weak—”

  She glared at him.

  “From the attack,” he hastily added.

  That stubborn chin pointed straight at him. “I’m walking. It’s three meters away.”

  Obstinate woman. He followed her unsteady progress across Medical, staying close in case she fell.

  They stopped by Sharma’s bunk. The young Terran was still and sedated.

  Beside him, a large scanner screen showed the outline of his head. And a strange, bright spot behind his left eye.

  “There’s something in his head,” Brack said.

  The doctor pointed. “See the tendrils?”

  Leaning closer, Brack saw thin filaments that snaked deep into the man’s brain.

  Aydin shook his head. “Whatever it is, it’s controlling a lot of his bodily functions and impulses.”

  “And directing his actions?” Allie asked.

  Aydin nodded.

  Anger colored Allie’s face. “What is it?”

  Suddenly, whatever it was moved. On the screen, they watched as the tendrils flickered and danced. Sharma’s body twitched.

  Brack stiffened. He could see the thing better now. It looked like a…bug.

  Allie swiveled. “God.” She looked at Brack. “That thing is Kantos.”

  * * *

  “Injecting the drug now.”

  Allie watched the Desteron’s medical commander inject a green fluid into Erick. She tapped her foot on the floor, trying to keep her nerves under wraps.

  She eyed the concentration on the doctor’s rugged face. Medical Commander Aydin Kann-Ath looked like he spent more time fighting battles than he did doing delicate medical procedures. He had the same powerful body as Brack and similar features, but his brown hair was several shades lighter and well-cut. All warriors kept themselves in fighting form, and from what she could see, Aydin was also a gifted doctor.

  “The Kantos hate this concoction,” Aydin said. “It’ll force the bug to make its own way out of the man.”

  Then the medical commander lifted a tool and started cutting a hole in Erick’s head. She tried to control the gorge rising in her throat. He’d assured her Erick would be healed up just fine afterward, but it was still disconcerting to watch.

  Fingers brushed her hip, and she felt Brack standing silently beside her. That small touch was reassuring.

  You were pissed at him, remember? Planning to keep some distance.

  Next, Aydin picked up a long set of tweezers. He reached into Erick’s head and started extracting the Kantos bug.

  “I thought those brown blobs that attacked us were just some primitive space life-form.” She shook her head. “I should have known it was the Kantos.”

  “You couldn’t have known,” Brack said. “They’re always breeding new creatures.”

  “It’s resisting.” Aydin frowned, but kept pulling slowly.

  Allie watched the first brown tendril release, waving around. It was so thin, it looked like a wire.

  Then the medical commander smiled darkly. “Here it comes.”

  With one last tug, the entire bug came free.

  It squirmed around wildly, then broke free of the tweezers. Aydin cursed, and the alien creature dropped to the floor.

  It looked like a spider, but with longer, more delicate legs. It started flowing across the room. Fast.

  Shit. Allie and Brack both lunged for it. Then suddenly, the bug swiveled and jumped at Allie.

  She dodged, crashing into a bunk.

  Brack appeared with a small, clear container. He chased the bug and slammed the container down.

  The Kantos bug was trapped. It banged violently against the side of the container.

  “Feisty little guy,” Allie muttered.

  “Reminds me of someone I know,” Brack said.

  Allie screwed her nose up at him. “Ha ha.”

  His gaze dropped to her mouth.

  Uh-oh. She licked her lips and heard him groan.

  Aydin moved between them and crouched. He scooped the container up and screwed a lid on. He lifted the creature to eye level. “I’ll pick this thing apart and work out everything it can do.”

  “And Sharma?” Allie asked.

  The medical commander nodded. “We’ll take good care of him.”

  Brack’s comm chimed.

  “Second Commander.” A female warrior’s voice. “The war commander and the king are on the comm line. They’re requesting an update.”

  Brack tapped his chest. “I’ll take it in my office.” He looked at Aydin. “I want to know everything about that thing.”

  Allie followed Brack out of Medical.

  A resigned look crossed his face. “I don’t suppose I can convince you to rest?”

  “Nope.”

  A sigh. “Or allow me to carry you?”

  “Absolutely not. You are never carrying me anywhere. Ever.”

  He grunted. When they reached his office, they moved to the desk and she saw that his screen was split into two images. On one side, she saw Davion and Ev
e. On the other, was a handsome warrior with an aristocratic face. He had long, brown hair and a sharp blade of a nose. His sleeveless shirt was royal blue, and a gold cord circled one of his muscled biceps.

  Allie swallowed. King Gayel Solann-Eon, King of the Eon Empire.

  “Report?” Davion ordered.

  Brack gave a brief rundown of events, with Allie adding a few extra details.

  “Are you okay, Allie?” Eve asked, her face a mix of concern and I’m-pissed-the-hell-off.

  “Sure,” Allie replied. “I’m more concerned about Ensign Sharma right now.”

  “I have Aydin and his team analyzing the bug,” Brack said.

  Davion nodded. “And have the doctors from the Divergent help as well.”

  Brack inclined his head.

  The Eon king leaned forward. “The Kantos are becoming stealthier and more strategic. That hasn’t been their main mode of operation in the past.”

  And that left Allie’s nerves humming. The Kantos were bad enough when they were swarming their prey, but if they got sneaky, and Earth couldn’t see them coming…

  “We must ensure our alliance stays strong.” King Gayel’s gaze zeroed in on Brack and Allie. “Whatever it takes, Captain and Second Commander. Get your teams working smoothly. We won’t let the Kantos dig their claws between us. We need unity.”

  Allie and Brack nodded.

  “We’ll make it happen, Your Highness,” she said.

  “Yes, sire,” Brack added.

  “This is a stressful time for you and your crews,” the king added. “I suggest you get your people interacting on a personal level, as well as for work. In a more relaxed environment, where they can get to know and understand each other.”

  Allie tapped her lip. He probably didn’t mean by helping Brack stroke his big cock until he came all over her hand. Jeez, Allie. Focus.

  “What are you suggesting?” Brack asked with a deep frown.

  “I have an idea,” Eve said.

  Brack’s face turned wary. “We’re listening.”

  “A party.”

  Allie’s eyebrows winged up, and Brack’s frown got deeper.

  “It isn’t a good time for a party,” Brack said. “With the Kantos breathing down our necks—”

  “I think it’s an excellent idea,” Davion said.

  The king nodded. “It will be a chance to ease some of the stress, for them to get to know each other outside of work.”

  Allie glanced at Brack. “Suck it up, Second Commander. Looks like we’re throwing a party, and you are expected to have a good time.”

  Brack groaned.

  Chapter Eight

  This party was a bad idea.

  Brack looked around the large room situated at the front of the Desteron, and knew his bad temper was throbbing off him. Most people were giving him a wide berth. A large window gave a breathtaking view of space, and he could just see the edge of the Divergent. The walls were hung with decorative, historical Eon weapons—swords, staffs, knives. The room was filled with people.

  With the Kantos causing problems, the last thing they needed was this.

  Allie appeared and shoved a glass in his hand. It was some bright-blue Terran drink, that no doubt tasted too sweet. One of her navigators had commandeered the bar and anointed himself chief bartender. The concoctions were…interesting.

  “Loosen up, Second Commander,” Allie said. “You look like a storm cloud.” She lowered her voice. “Dark and looming.”

  He glared at her, but his gaze flicked to her neck, noting all the bruising was gone. A lot of people, including all his warriors, were in uniform, but Allie had encouraged her crew to dress up for the party. Several had taken the opportunity seriously, and were wearing all manner of bright, shiny clothes.

  Indeed, the bartending navigator was wearing a horrific shirt of clashing colors, with a design of some sort of large leaves on it.

  He looked at Allie and almost swallowed his tongue. Her dress was the same bright blue as his drink. It was also short and tight. He couldn’t help but take in her long, smooth legs. He jerked his gaze up, and it snagged on her hair. She wore it in loose waves, the golden strands shimmering and shining.

  His gut tightened. “This party is not a good use of our time.”

  She snorted and sipped her drink. “Sure, it is. Look.”

  He forced himself to scan the room. Everywhere he looked, Terran and Eon crew members were engaged. Engineers were busy in an animated conversation. Caze and Jamie looked like they were good-naturedly arguing about something. Others were laughing, talking, clinking glasses.

  “It doesn’t have to be all discipline and hard work to learn new things,” Allie said.

  Brack took a gulp of his drink. He grimaced. He was right. It was way too sweet. “How’s your engineer?”

  “Awake. Confused. But thanks to Aydin, he’s on the mend. He doesn’t remember much since he was attacked by the alien lifeform.”

  “We’ll make the Kantos pay.”

  “Oh, yeah.” There was a wealth of promise in her voice.

  But there was also a cool distance. She wasn’t meeting his gaze and he hated it. He told himself to leave it alone. To walk away. It was best if they just focused on their jobs.

  Against his better judgment, his mouth opened. “Allie, I’m sorry. About how things ended last night.”

  She glanced away. “It’s fine. We’re both professionals.”

  “I never meant that you weren’t worth it.”

  She lowered her drink and hissed out a breath. “Just leave it alone.”

  “I meant relationships aren’t worth it.”

  “Brack—”

  He leaned closer. Cren, she was wearing a different scent tonight. It was more floral than her normal fragrance, but he liked it.

  “You’re incredibly attractive and intelligent, and I get hard every time I look at you.”

  She made a strangled sound, her hands tightening on her glass.

  “But almost every long-term relationship ends in tears, fights, and ugliness.” Brack shook his head. “Added to that, we have plenty of work obstacles between us as well. And we’ve both been ordered to make this alliance work.”

  Now she looked at him directly. “Who screwed you up, Brack?”

  He blew out a breath. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “I guess not. You’re right, the alliance is riding on us being able to make it work.”

  He nodded. Good. This is what he wanted.

  So why the cren was his gut as hard as space rock?

  All of a sudden, shouts and screams broke out across the room.

  By the warriors. They both spun, and Brack spotted one of his engineering warriors, Koro, acting strangely.

  The warrior shoved a Terran male into a table. Drinks and plates crashed everywhere.

  Koro turned, his helian armor forming over his body. He lifted a chair, heaved it above his head, then threw it into the crowd. People scattered.

  Brack charged forward. He saw Caze closing in on the other side of Koro, shouldering through the partygoers.

  “Koro!” Brack yelled.

  The warrior ignored him, then spun to face several shocked Terrans. Koro’s sword started forming on his arm.

  Cren. Brack dropped his arms and let his own armor form. He had to stop this madness before blood was shed. Beside him, he watched Allie grab a ceremonial staff off the wall.

  “Allie, stay back,” he yelled.

  Of course, she ignored him.

  Brack lunged forward, kicking Koro. The warrior staggered backward, then roared, his face contorted.

  Stomach clenching, Brack watched the man. Something was wrong.

  Koro charged like a rampaging hinda beast. Brack blocked his kick, then followed through with a punch. They traded more blows—another punch, followed by two kicks.

  Somehow, the warrior was stronger. Koro’s blow made Brack grit his teeth. He was far more powerful than he usually was.

  Caze duck
ed in from behind, joining the fight. Koro spun, kicking at Caze. While he was distracted, Brack landed a punch to Koro’s lower back.

  The warrior let out a bellow. He grabbed a long table, knocked everything off it, then lifted it high. He threw it at Caze and Brack.

  The heavy table hit them and they both grunted. Together, they thrust their arms up and shoved it off.

  “What the cren is wrong with him?” Caze yelled.

  Brack straightened and saw Koro bearing down on a terrified Terran woman in a pink dress. Cren. Before Brack could move, Allie raced at Koro. She’d kicked off her shoes and was raising the staff.

  Somehow sensing Allie’s approach, Koro turned, and Brack exploded into action, pumping his arms to reach them.

  The warrior charged at Allie. He managed to hit her before she darted to the side and swung the staff again, breaking it over Koro’s head.

  The warrior staggered, shaking his head.

  Then Allie tackled him, knocking him to the ground. Moving fast, she leaped on his back, wrapping her arms and legs around him. She had an arm around the warrior’s neck, pulling him into a chokehold.

  Brack stumbled to a stop.

  Koro struggled, but Allie—dogged as ever—held tight, keeping her legs clenched tight around him. Her short dress rode up, flashing her toned thighs. A second later, Koro blacked out.

  From beside Brack, Caze shook his head. “Cren, these Terran women are bred tough.”

  * * *

  Aching in quite a few places, Allie rose to her feet. The damn berserker warrior had gotten in a couple of blows. Her right arm was on fire.

  She watched Brack and Caze lift the man. Other warriors appeared and carried the man’s limp, unconscious body out of the party.

  She looked around and caught Donovan’s gaze. Her second was checking in on everyone. He lifted his chin. Thank God, no one was injured.

  Except her.

  Allie sat on a nearby table and dragged in a breath.

  Brack appeared in front of her. “Nice fighting.”

  She raised her chin. “Is your warrior prone to fits of rage?”

  “No. The opposite.”

  “Think he might have a Kantos bug in his head?”

  Brack rubbed the back of his neck. “Yes.”