King of Eon by Anna Hackett ePUB)

Chapter Nine

As his warriors raced to them, Gayel reluctantly let Alea go.

She was covered in blood, but he didn’t want to stop looking at her, or holding her.

Fire pumped through his veins. Part of it was from the fight, but part of it was from watching her fight.

She’d been incredible.

He dragged in air, fighting back the need to kiss her again, or drag her to the ground and tear her clothes off.

“Cren, Gayel.” Adlyn stared in horror at the corpses of the corrupted targons.

“Organize a search,” he ordered. “We need to see if there are more of them. The Kantos bugs might have found more hibernating pairs. If there are, and they’re tainted, they must be hunted down.”

His sister nodded and turned. “Okay, spread out. Check for any more targons.”

“The hounds could help,” Ryphen said.

Gayel nodded. “Do it.”

“How the cren did the Kantos get here?” Adlyn’s jaw tightened. “How did they even find a targon?”

All questions he wanted answered. He scanned for Alea.

She’d recovered her knives, and moved toward the edge of the group of warriors, cleaning the blades on the grass. He frowned at her. She was holding herself stiffly, her face pale.

“I only caught the end of the fight,” Adlyn said. “But your Terran was impressive.”

“She was.” Pride and need filled him, but as he watched, he saw her waver.

His frown deepened.

Then she collapsed.

“Alea!” He sprinted toward her.

She’d fallen on her side, and was breathing shallowly.

Gayel rolled her and shoved her shirt up.

Three wicked scratches crossed her abdomen. They weren’t too deep, but he detested seeing them on her skin.

Then he noticed the clear slime on the edges of the cuts. It had a light-green tinge. He leaned down and sniffed. He smelled a faint undertone of sickly sweetness. Poison.

She arched. “Hurts.”

Cren.

“Gayel?” Adlyn knelt beside them.

“I think it’s some sort of poison.”

“We didn’t bring any havv with us. We were just on an easy hunt.”

The healing fluid was packed with biological organisms akin to their helians that could enhance healing. “I’ll get her back to the palace and to Medical.”

“I’ll come with—”

“Adlyn, I need you here to take care of the targon search.”

His sister huffed out a breath. “Okay. I’ll send a message ahead so they’re expecting you.”

“Have the medical commander ride out to meet us.”

Alea was so pale, and sweating and shaking. He lifted her into his arms.

“I need my drail,” he roared.

A warrior brought his steed. Alea’s drail trotted beside it, huffing. It moved closer and nudged Alea.

“She’s going to be fine,” Gayel said.

Ryphen took Alea, while Gayel settled in Azek’s saddle. The guard handed her up, and Gayel settled her in front of him. Her head lolled, her body limp.

His heart clenched. He hated seeing her like this.

He nodded at Adlyn and Ryphen, then urged Azek into a fast run.

They flew across the meadow, Alea’s drail following. In the distance, he saw the hunting party, but aimed away from them toward the palace.

He had to get her to the healers.

They were halfway back when she moaned, and her body convulsed.

Her eyes opened, but they were hazy and delirious. “Gayel… Too handsome. So good.”

“Quiet, Alea. You’ve been poisoned. We’ll be at the palace soon.”

She thrashed. “Hurts. Burns.” A low moan escaped her lips.

By Ston’s sword. They weren’t going to make it. He could hear how sluggish her heartbeat had become.

She started scratching at her abdomen. “Burns.” She cried out.

Her pain speared through him. No. He scanned around, then turned off the path. He leaped off the drail with her in his arms and plunged into the forest.

He let his senses expand. There. He altered course and soon heard the sound of the burbling stream.

When he reached the water’s edge, he clutched Alea tighter in his arms. He strode toward the stream. The water was crystal clear, and surrounded by rocks that had been smoothed by water and time. He strode in, splashing, then dropped to his knees.

As the water hit her, she gasped. It was fresh and cool.

She started tearing at her clothes, and Gayel helped her. He tossed her torn shirt and pants on the bank.

She tugged at her bra, and he formed a knife and cut it off.

Her breasts spilled free. She splashed water on herself, and Gayel slid an arm around her, and scooped more water with his other hand.

“You’re going to be fine.” There was an unfamiliar panic in his voice. He couldn’t lose her.

Together they kept washing her skin. Over and over. Handfuls of water.

“Everything will be fine. The Kantos will pay.”

“Gayel.”

“I’ll ensure it. With every resource, every last breath in my body.” The insectoids would pay. They’d pay for leaving such a strong, dynamic woman pale and shaking, and close to death.

“Gayel!”

“You’re going to be all right.”

He heard a sound, then Alea shifted. Her breasts pressed against his chest and her mouth covered his.

He stilled.

Her tongue slid into his mouth. Her taste filled him.

Alea. Something snapped inside of him, and he kissed her back.

With his arm around her back, he pulled her closer and took her mouth hungrily. She gripped his hair, her tongue licking his.

Finally, he dredged up some control and pulled back. He nuzzled her temple. “You’re okay?”

She nodded, panting a little. “I tried to tell you, but you weren’t listening. Once that gunk washed off, the pain stopped. I feel okay.”

He scanned her face. Her color was back to a healthy bronze, and her gold-brown eyes were clear and steady.

His gaze dropped and instantly his cock throbbed. Her bare breasts were a thing of pure beauty. Perfectly sized, her pink nipples had become hard nubs from the cold.

He couldn’t stop himself. He cupped one globe.

She moaned.

His gaze moved to her face and he watched her arch into him, fire in her eyes.

By the warriors, he shouldn’t be doing this now. “Alea—”

“Do it. Touch me, Gayel.”

With a growl, he pulled her up and lowered his head. He closed his mouth over one hard nipple.

She cried out. “Yes.”

He sucked, then swirled his tongue. He shifted his weight, the water splashing under them where they knelt. Alea clutched his head to her. At her urging, he moved to the other breast, giving it the same attention.

“God. God.” There was pleading in her voice.

He slid one thigh between hers and she rubbed against him.

He kept licking and sucking her breasts. Frenzied, she rubbed her sweet core against his thigh.

He dropped his hand, arrowing into her panties.

“Yes. Please—” she panted.

So beautiful.

He drove his fingers inside her and found the small nub above her sex with his thumb. She cried out. He kissed her deeper. With another flick of his fingers, she shattered.

She jerked against him, sobbing his name through her pleasure.

Gayel tightened his arm on her. Then he heard the shouts in the trees.

“Your Highness!”

“King Gayel!”

He recognized Medical Commander Narann-Eon’s voice.

He squeezed his eyes closed. No doubt they’d seen Azek and Alea’s drail on the path, then tracked them through the forest.

Alea stiffened, her eyes widening.

“It’s okay,” he murmured. He kissed her, then rose, lifting her with him.

She crossed an arm over her bare chest and glanced at her discarded clothes.

“You can’t put those back on,” he said. “The poison.”

He set her down and after ensuring she had her balance, he stripped his shirt off and pulled it around her.

It was way too big, but at least it covered her panties, barely.

She glanced at her naked body in his shirt, then at his bare chest. “Oh, God.”

With an arm around her, he dropped a kiss to her head. “It’ll be fine.”

She was alive. That was all that mattered.

Then Medical Commander Narann-Eon and several warriors burst out of the trees.

* * *

Alea triedto stay still as the medical commander finished treating her scratches.

She felt perfectly all right.

She wanted to get out of Medical. She needed a shower, clean clothes—any clothes would be an improvement on only panties and Gayel’s shirt—and she needed time to process.

The fight. Gayel. What they’d done in the river.

Hell. She closed her eyes. She was no good for him. She’d screw up all his plans. He needed a Terran wife that his people and Earth would admire. Someone would dig up her past eventually, and realize she wasn’t good enough for him.

But when it was just the two of them, nothing seemed to matter.

And watching him fight—she shivered.

“All right?” Medical Commander Narann-Eon asked.

“Fine. I just want to get back to my room.”

The doctor arched a brow. “Young lady…”

Man, it had been a long time since anyone had called her that.

“You just survived a vicious fight, and a dangerous Kantos poison.”

“I know, Medical Commander, I was there.”

That earned her a narrow stare. She closed her mouth.

“Call me Erisha, and then promise me you’ll actually follow my medical advice.”

“I can’t make any promises.”

The older woman rolled her eyes. “The warriors save me from bad patients.”

“You don’t win any awards for your bedside manner, do you?”

Erisha’s lips twitched. “No. But my patients don’t die. Your body absorbed some of the poison. I’ve given you anti-venom.”

Yeah, she’d felt that, too. The injection had hurt like hell.

“Your body is processing the last of the poison. Very soon, you’ll crash and sleep for hours.”

Great. “All the more reason for me to get back to my room.”

Gayel had been immediately whisked away by his councilors. They were all up-in-arms about the attack and the targons.

She’d seen the frustration in his face. He hadn’t wanted to leave her.

Hell, she hadn’t wanted him to leave. But it was for the best.

The doctor shook her head. “Fine. There’s someone here to see you, and get you back to your room.”

Her pulse spiked as the door opened. Ben strode in.

Oh. Of course, Gayel wouldn’t be able to get away.

“Hey,” she said.

“You’re alive, I see.” Ben’s tone was light, but his gaze was concerned.

“Still kicking.” She sat up and her head spun a little. Okay, maybe no kicking for a while.

The medical commander gave her an “I told you so” look.

Alea let Ben help her off the bunk. It took her a second to get steady on her feet.

He held out his arms. “Want me to—?”

She glared at him. “If you even think about carrying me, I will hurt you.”

Ben shot the doctor a look. “She seems fine.”

Erisha just sniffed.

Alea elbowed him. “Come on.”

“Remember, rest, no exertion, and no more fights,” Erisha called out.

Alea waved a hand. She and Ben hobbled out of Medical. Well, she hobbled. Ben strolled like usual.

He frowned. “You sure you’re okay?”

“Just tired. My system’s been pumped full of anti-venom. I need some rest.” As they walked, she realized her body wanted to keep tilting to the right.

Ugh. She hated anything impairing her.

“I’m not sure how long I’ll be out,” she continued. “Take care of the women. They could very well be targets. And liaise with Adlyn.”

Ben grunted.

“Without killing each other. It’ll look bad if a Space Corps officer kills the king’s sister.”

“I’d be doing everyone a favor,” he grumbled.

“Ben…”

He sighed. “I’ll take care of everything.”

They finally reached her room.

“I’ll be okay from here.” She gripped the doorway.

“No more tangling with Kantos.” He hugged her.

“I’ll try. Thanks, Ben.”

She closed the door and crossed her room in a mostly straight line. It took longer than usual, but she managed to shower and wash her hair. She pulled on her pajamas—blue boxer shorts, with a black tank.

After the shower, she felt much more awake.

She headed out onto the balcony. The sun was setting, and she breathed deeply of the cool, deliciously scented air. It was beautiful here. She leaned against the railing, eyeing the first of Eon’s moons appearing in the darkening sky.

“You should be in bed.”

Gayel’s deep voice made her jolt.

She looked back over her shoulder at him and drank him in.

He’d changed clothes, but looked tired.

“How did you get into my room?”

He stopped his intense perusal of her body. “I knocked. There was no answer, and I was worried about you, so I broke the lock.”

She arched a brow.

He shrugged. “I’ll get it fixed. Now, you should be in bed.”

“After my shower, I didn’t feel so tired. The targons?”

“No sign of any more of them.” He moved closer. “You smell good.” He ran a finger down her arm.

She shivered.

“You smell even better when you’re aroused and moaning.”

Her belly clenched into a tight point. “Gayel. You shouldn’t be here.”

“Yes, I should.” He slid an arm around her.

She knew she shouldn’t, but she leaned into him.

“We aren’t right,” she whispered.

“Yes, we are.”

Leaning on him, the last of the tension in her body seeped away. Tiredness rose up like smoke. She sagged against him. “I’m nobody, born to drug dealers, raised by an aunt who hated me. You need—”

“No.” His tone held a thread of anger. “You’re Alea. Captain Alea Rodriguez. Smart, strong, and brave.” He slid his arm under her legs, then lifted her and strode back inside.

“Stubborn.” She leaned against his chest.

“Yes, I am.”

She was barely aware as he laid her on the bed, and pulled the covers over her.

Barely aware of the whisper-light kisses on her eyes, nose, cheeks, lips.

“Rest now, Alea. I’ll keep you safe.”

She’d never in her life drifted off to sleep so easily, but this time, she did.

* * *

When Alea woke,the bright sun was piercing through the windows.

With a groan, she curled around her pillow.

Hang on, what time is it?

She sat up and pushed her hair back. It looked like midmorning to her. She’d slept away the remainder of the evening, all night, and half the morning.

She was feeling better. Her energy was back. She stretched, and the scratches on her belly stung a little. She pulled her shirt up. The claw marks were just thin, red lines and they didn’t hurt too badly. They seemed to be healing just fine.

She stilled. Gayel had put her to bed. She chewed on her lip. Or had that just been a dream? She turned her head and saw a flower in a small vase on the bedside table. She raised her eyebrows.

It was a lush, red bloom that smelled divine, but the stem was covered in small, knife-like thorns.

There was a note written on the cream card beside it.

Reminded me of someone. It’s called a lilacoris bloom. It starts life as a plain green flower and grows in any soil, like a weed. But if you care for it, and water it under the moonlight, it’ll transition into this exquisite flower.

I’ll see you later.

G

She stroked the petal. It was beautiful.

Right, time to face the day, check on her charges, and track down the Kantos. She sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed.

When she stood, she was pleased to see that she felt fine, and her energy levels were normal.

Then she heard a noise on the balcony.

She paused. What was that? She carefully opened the door and moved outside.

The balcony was empty. At the railing, she peered over.

Down below, there were some dense bushes in the garden. They rustled.

What the hell?

She crouched, quiet and still. Minutes ticked by.

Then a creature slunk out of the bush.

The breath lodged in Alea’s throat. It was some sort of Kantos bug.

It was an unassuming brown, with six long legs, and a misshapen, bumpy body. It had a round, black head, topped with a sucker-like mouth rimmed with sharp teeth. Ugh, it was really ugly. It had no eyes that she could see, but two long antennae vibrated on top of its head.

She had to stop it.

She rose, pressing one foot to the railing.

But it seemed the bug sensed her. It turned its head her way for a brief moment, then darted away at blinding speed.

No, dammit.

She didn’t have time to go and change. In her pajamas and bare feet, she leaped over the railing.

She had to track and kill the thing.