raised a brow. “I think it’s licking you.”
She gently pushed the tentacle away. “We don’t have time to play. We need to go there.” She pointed to the island.
The creature sank back into the water with a ripple.
Oh. “Bye.”
Donovan looked at the island. “Airen, they’ll have lookouts, security surveillance. By the time we swim up to them, they’ll have seen us coming. They’ll no doubt turn the gun turrets on us.”
She dragged in a breath, trying to think of a better plan. “I guess—”
Two tentacles broke out of the water and wrapped around their waists.
Airen gasped and gripped the scaly appendage.
“Damn, I think your friend got hungry,” Donovan said.
She tried to pry the tentacle off her.
Then they both jerked as the tentacles moved. Their friend appeared out of the water, then took off toward the island, moving fast.
Airen cried out. She and Donovan were being towed behind the creature at lightning speed.
The prison command island drew nearer at a breakneck pace. Water splashed Donovan’s face and he turned his head to the side, struggling not to swallow too much of it.
A second later, he and Airen were tossed up on the sand.
“Oof.” Airen spun on her hands and knees.
Donovan coughed up some water. A tentacle flicked out of the water and gave Airen’s cheek another lick. Then the creature disappeared back beneath the surface.
“I’m dizzy.” She moved into a crouch, wringing water out of her braid.
Donovan shook his head in disbelief, then focused on the gun emplacement nearby. “Come on, we’re too exposed here.”
The creature’s actions were a stroke of luck, and he wasn’t going to waste it. They ran together, ducking down beside the metallic box of the turret to avoid detection.
“Do you think they have thermal scanners?” she asked.
“Not sure.” He would have them, if he were in charge of this place, but maybe the wardens believed that the ocean and the creatures in it were enough of a deterrent to the planet’s residents.
He studied the main walls of the base ahead. Heavy-duty metal and very high. Large doors were set into the wall, but with no obvious way to open them. It looked like a futuristic castle.
“You think we can get those doors open?” he asked.
She considered. “I might be able to hack into the control system. We need to get there first.”
They both looked at the row of turret emplacements.
Then she smiled. “Ready for a little run, Sub-Captain?”
“I’ll fight by your side any day, Second Commander.”
There was a flash in her eyes, a warmth that softened his warrior’s face. Donovan grabbed her and pressed a quick kiss to her lips.
Then they both rose and started jogging toward the wardens’ base.
There was a snick of sound. Donovan turned. Another snick and he saw metal panels moving on the turret box. His blood ran cold.
A turret rose up out of the center and swiveled in their direction.
“Run!”
They sprinted across the sand. Laser fire broke out and they both dived, rolling across the ground.
The laser cut into the sand. It was so powerful, it changed the sand, leaving hunks of glass behind.
They both leaped up, and another turret emplacement ahead opened.
Donovan grabbed Airen and threw her into the air. She dived over the top of the turret.
Laser fire tore up the sand near him and he dodged. He ran as fast as he could, but the laser arced closer.
He pumped his arms and legs. Air sawed in and out of his lungs.
Suddenly, Airen leaped onto the top of the turret and lifted her arm. She rammed a black-scaled spear down into the turret, and the blast cut off.
Donovan slid in beside the turret box and she leaped down.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
He nodded and they swiveled to look at the building. Several wardens were visible now—all wearing dark uniforms and helmets—standing on top of the walls of the base.
“Okay, what’s our next move?” he asked.
There was a rush of sound and they both looked up. Donovan expected to see some sort of ship belonging to the wardens.
Instead, several Kantos swarm ships filled the sky.
“Oh, fuck.”
Bugs swarmed out of the side of the ships, dropping down toward the beach. He spotted several Kantos soldiers arrowing down as well.
One swarm landed to the north side of the beach, and the other to the south.
Airen and Donovan were trapped in the middle of them.
“Cren.” Her face looked grim.
All around them, bugs hit the sand. There were so many different types. Some were smaller, about the size of a dog. Many were