Claim of Eon: Eon Warriors #6 by Hackett Anna

Author:Hackett, Anna
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-07-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Airen’s pain was finally fading, but her ears still throbbed. Her head felt like it was caught in a hard vise, and her helian was working overtime to heal up the last of the damage.

“There’s high geothermal activity here,” she said.

Behind them, the shouts and cries were getting closer.

“We need to get across,” Donovan said.

They both knew the criminals’ blood lust was up. And there could be more Kantos anywhere around them in the jungle.

Airen studied the waterfall and pools. Black stone edged the pools, and in places, there were some large, flat stepping stones.

She nodded. “Let’s go.” She started across the rock, holding her arms out for balance.

Donovan moved in behind her.

“How hot is this water?” he asked.

“Hot. Don’t fall.”

As they made their way across, she glanced ahead. A solid wall of rock barred their way, and her gut cramped. They’d have to climb—

No, wait. There was a cave.

Cren, she hoped it led somewhere.

“Airen, faster,” Donovan said.

She picked up speed. To her left in a pool, she saw a snake-like creature appear, swimming lazily. It disappeared down into the cloudy, glowing, green-and-yellow-tinged water.

Wild shouts broke out behind them, and when she glanced back, she saw the criminals at the edge of the jungle, pointing at them.

The first one started across the rocks after them.

It wasn’t long before several criminals were crossing the pools in a single line.

Airen paused and climbed up to a higher pool. The rocks were hot to touch.

“Gonna kill you, traitor,” a criminal yelled. “Then I’m gonna claim that female, have some fun with her, then sell her.”

Donovan turned and pulled out a knife. He gripped the hilt, looked down, then threw it.

The blade slammed into the criminal’s neck and the man teetered, his arms waving madly. He fell into a pool with a splash.

He came up thrashing in the water, his screams making them all freeze. Airen watched as his skin started to melt off his bones. She winced.

Donovan cursed and turned. “Keep going. And don’t fall.”

She carefully placed her feet, and drew in a steadying breath. They kept moving.

Suddenly, there was a whistle of sound.

A long, wooden arrow flew past them, its sharp end hitting the rock. It rebounded off the stone and landed in the water with a splash, sizzling as it melted.

“What the hell?” Donovan barked.

Airen glanced back. A tall, pale-skinned alien held some sort of crossbow.

“Go, go, go,” Donovan yelled.

She tried to move faster, but they couldn’t go too fast, or they’d risk falling into the water.

Two more arrows flew past. Airen crouched down, and saw Donovan do the same. The bolts hit the water with a dangerous splash.

Close. Too close.

“Go ahead of me,” she said.

“No.”

“Donovan—”

“You’re not going to be my damn shield, Airen. Let’s just get across, as fast as we can.”

Stubborn Terran. She moved into a crouch and kept moving. The cave mouth was getting closer.

They were almost there.

She heard the whistle of another arrow, then Donovan grunted.

No! She spun. She saw him over-balancing.

Airen lunged and caught his arm.

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