Soul of Eon (Eon Warriors #8) - Anna Hackett Page 0,49
send his medical team down to assist with any injuries.” Davion shook his head. “It’s my first time worrying about the comfort of Kantos.”
“Nisid’s help was vital. We would never have discovered the pathogen, nor made it into the base, without him. We also met another species who dwell underground, the Mollai. They helped us as well, but keep to themselves and avoid the Kantos.”
“You’ve had quite an adventure, Thane,” Lara said.
“You should both know that the Kantos were trying to abduct you both. I’m guessing they were after your child. They mistook Kaira and me for you.”
Davion growled and Eve’s face hardened.
“Fuckers,” Lara muttered. “They aren’t getting their claws on my niece or nephew.”
Eve dropped a protective hand to her belly. “I’m afraid we’re going to have to disappoint them.”
The war commander rested a hand on his mate’s shoulder. “I’ve already spoken with King Gayel and briefed him about Nisid and his rogues. We’ve agreed to take them to Suderia.”
A market world on the edge of Eon space. It had wide-open spaces and was home to a mix of species. “A good choice. Kaira and I saw the elite council on Crolla. Davion, the Kantos soldiers aren’t born ravenous. The council gives them the hunger. To turn them into good, bloodthirsty soldiers.”
“Cren.” The war commander rested his hands on his hips.
“You’re kidding?” Eve said.
“I wish I was.”
“This is knowledge we can use to our advantage,” Davion said. “Along with working on finding a way to neutralize the pathogen’s effects.”
Thane nodded.
“After Suderia, we’ll head to Earth. The Rengard will meet us there.”
Thane’s pulse spiked. What happened next for him and Kaira? Her job was on Earth. His was aboard his warship. His gut knotted.
“I want you to work with Aydin,” Davion continued. “We need a way to stop that pathogen. We all know that the Kantos will make more.”
“We can’t let them set that pathogen free,” Thane said.
“Agreed.”
Thane nodded. “Whatever it takes.”
The bridge doors opened, and Kaira slowly walked in.
Thane scowled, detecting the faintest limp from her newly healed leg. “You’re supposed to be resting in Medical.”
“Aydin gave me a clean bill of health.”
The sight of her bleeding from that wound would never leave him. He’d come so close to losing her.
She crossed to him, then ran two steps and leaped into his arms. He caught her.
“Your leg—”
“Is healed.”
She wrapped her legs around his hips, and, heedless of the fact that they were in the center of the Desteron’s bridge, kissed him.
Then she nipped his ear. “Let’s go and find an empty cabin, and I’ll show you just how healed I am.”
Desire ignited inside him, and he barely suppressed a growl.
Eve and Lara were grinning at them.
“The mating fever?” Davion asked.
“Uh, we’ve already dealt with that.” Almost all of it. Thane still felt that constant gnaw of need for Kaira in his gut.
The war commander raised a brow.
“Our mating… It actually happened on Earth. The moment we first met.”
“Oh my God,” Eve blurted. “That must’ve been a shock.”
“You could say that,” Kaira said dryly.
“Luckily, our nice trip with the Kantos convinced Kaira that mating might not be so bad,” Thane said.
She smiled at him.
“Kaira, I’m afraid I need Thane a little longer,” Davion said. “For a continued discussion on the pathogen.”
She unhooked her legs and he set her on her feet. “I understand.”
Eve moved forward. “We’ll find you a cabin. I’ll bet you’re dying for a shower.”
Kaira groaned. “Like you wouldn’t believe.”
Eve smiled. “And I’m sure your mate will find you when he can.”
“Does this cabin have a soft bed?” Kaira asked.
“Absolutely.”
“Earth food?”
“The ship’s synthesizers can make just about anything,” Eve said.
“Ice cream?”
“Sure thing.”
Kaira shot Thane a hot look. “Don’t be too long.”
He was hard as a rock. “I won’t.”
Chapter Twenty
Kaira spent far too long in the shower, but the flow of hot water had been way too seductive to ignore.
Dressed in a black Eon uniform, she wandered the cabin she’d been assigned. She’d tested out the synthesizer. It did make ice cream. And it was pretty good-tasting, actually.
Now, all she needed was her mate.
Mate. She smiled. Thane was everything. The way he’d stood by her during their ordeal on Crolla, the way he’d helped her, protected her, loved her…
Kaira was all-in.
The fear of losing Thane—like she’d lost Ryan and her father—would never go away, but she was done letting it overshadow her life.
“I love you, Ryan,” she whispered. “I always will, but I have a mate who makes me smile again.” She knew her late husband would want that