Barbarian: A Scifi Alien Romance (Galactic Gladiators Book 6) by Anna Hackett

Author:Anna Hackett [Hackett, Anna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-06-25T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Nestled in the security of Nero’s strong arms, with the warm sunlight beating down on her and the gentle rocking of the tarnid, Winter dozed off.

When she eventually stirred, she blinked several times, trying to pull herself out of the haze of sleep.

“We’ll reach the Tent City Oasis soon.” Nero’s voice rumbled through her.

“Great.” She glanced around, seeing huge dunes off to the left and a flat plain to the right. She wondered what color it all was—washed out whites and beiges, or deep yellows and oranges? She saw movement overhead and looked up. A bird soared and dipped in the sky.

All of a sudden, Corsair brought his beast to a stop, swinging it around. It was much faster and more agile than the tarnids. He frowned, looking back behind their group.

“Pick up speed,” Corsair barked.

Instantly, Winter felt Nero tense up behind her. She glanced back, trying to see around his broad form. “What is it?”

Nero turned his head, staring back. “It looks like…a swarm of something. Whatever it is, it’s coming in fast. Hold on.”

He urged the tarnid into a gallop, and Winter gripped down on his arms. Around them, the others put on a burst of speed, too.

She tasted dust in the air, and knew they must be kicking up a cloud. They sprinted across the sand and she saw the gladiators drawing their weapons.

Winter leaned to the side and looked back. She saw a dark cloud chasing them, and a moment later, she could make out the closest creature.

Except it wasn’t a creature. It was a robot.

The air in her lungs lodged there like a rock. It was a flying robot. More aerodynamically shaped than the one that had attacked her at the factory, but it was still pretty similar, with several tentacle-like arms dangling beneath it.

God, there was an entire swarm of these things coming at them.

“I’m guessing Catalyst knows we’re here,” she said.

Nero’s jaw tightened. “Here they come!”

The swarm attacked.

Nero hunched over Winter, shielding her like a protective barrier. She couldn’t see anything, but she heard it all—shouts and the clang of swords on metal. The incessant, low humming sounds the robots made.

Then she felt Nero’s body jerk. He groaned.

When his body jerked again, she realized what was happening.

She pushed against him until she could raise her head. Over his shoulder, she saw a robot attacking his back.

Oh no, you don’t. She yanked her knife out of the sheath at her hip. Then she moved, reaching over Nero’s shoulder.

“Winter, get down!”

She stabbed at the robot.

It made a whirring sound, blue lights blinking at her. She kept stabbing, and it dodged a few times.

The tarnid jerked, and Winter lurched to the side. Shit!

Nero’s arms clamped down on her waist, keeping her from falling. She jabbed the blade at the robot again, and this time, it smashed through the blue lights.

The robot made a terrible, discordant beep, and flew to the side. It spun crazily before hitting the sand and tumbling away behind them.

Winter looked up and saw more incoming.

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