Soul of Eon (Eon Warriors #8) - Anna Hackett Page 0,2

arm. The alien swung its other arm and Thane dodged.

His hips slammed into a bench and pain rocketed through him.

With a groan, he dodged the Kantos’ next strike. He and the soldier traded blows, moving across the room.

He saw Kaira leap onto a bench. She ran along it, the soldier chasing her on the floor below.

She leaped off, and whacked the leg into the soldier’s head. The alien rocked back, looking dazed.

Thane’s soldier rammed into him. They crashed against another bench.

Thane hammered his fist into the alien’s face. It made a frantic buzzing noise.

Suddenly, Kaira leaped onto his Kantos, using her bench leg to press against the soldier’s neck. She jerked it back and the alien kicked.

With all his strength, Thane rammed his bench leg into the soldier’s chest. The hard carapace held. He rammed it again. And again.

The soldier’s chest cracked. With everything he had, Thane slid his makeshift weapon deep.

The Kantos slumped.

Panting, Thane rose, and Kaira leaped free of the dead Kantos. The other soldier was on the floor, not moving.

“You’re a tough fighter, Commander.”

She arched a brow. “I was highly motivated.”

“Let’s get out of here.”

“I really like the sound of that.”

Thane pried the doors open and glanced out. Cren.

He ducked back inside. “The corridor is filled with Kantos.”

“Shit,” she muttered.

He glanced around. “I think we’re close to the Kantos labs.” He needed the antidote. Once he had access to his helian, it upped their odds and gave them options. He looked up and his gaze snagged on a grate in the ceiling.

She followed his gaze. “Ventilation ducts.” Her nose wrinkled. “How will we get up there?”

The ceiling was high, and Thane considered it carefully.

He grabbed her discarded bench leg from the floor. He hefted it, aimed, and threw it.

It slammed into the grate, knocking it open.

“I’ll throw you up.” He moved under the grate, cupped his hands together and gestured with his head. “Run, and put your boot in my palms.”

Kaira bit her bottom lip. “How will you get up?”

“I’ll jump from the bench.”

Her gaze narrowed. “It’s too far.”

“I have to try. Come on, Kaira. They’ll be back soon.” He at least wanted her safely out of here.

But she didn’t run. She walked to him. “I know you’re hurting.” She touched his cheek.

That small touch felt so good and he wanted to savor it.

She looked uncertain, like she was fighting herself. Like she didn’t want to touch him, but couldn’t help herself. She stroked his skin. “Don’t you think about not following me into that vent, warrior.”

Thane nodded.

She backed up. Then she ran, planted her boot in his palms, and he boosted her high. Such a tough, tiny thing.

She sailed through the air gracefully, caught the lip of the hole in the vent, and pulled herself in.

“Ugh, it reeks in here.” Her head popped out. “Your turn, warrior.”

He climbed onto the bench. It was a long jump, and his body was already aching.

“Come on, Thane.”

He took a deep breath, then ran along the bench and threw himself into the jump.

Cren. He wasn’t going to make it.

He extended his arms as far as he could. His fingers brushed metal and he tried to find purchase.

Kaira’s hands clamped on his wrists. She grunted, trying to pull him up. She slid a little, and for a horrible second, Thane was sure they would both come crashing down. Then he gripped the edge of the vent.

Down below, he heard the door opening. Cren.

“Come…on.” She yanked back.

Ignoring every ache in his battered body, Thane thrust himself upward.

She tugged him into the vent and Thane landed on top of her.

“Oof.” The air rushed out of her.

In the gloom, their gazes locked.

Then they heard buzzing below, and they both tensed.

Chapter Two

Kaira heard the Kantos below.

“Quiet.” Thane’s near-soundless whisper.

She didn’t dare move. She prayed the soldiers didn’t notice the grate.

Thane’s big body pressed into hers. All solid muscle.

Despite the horrible circumstances, it felt damn good to have the man’s weight on her.

Shit. She closed her eyes. How about you focus on surviving the enemy aliens, Chand, and not jumping the hot alien warrior?

“They’re leaving.” Thane finally shifted off her. “Now, we search for the labs.”

She turned onto her hands and knees to crawl. “Gotcha.”

Behind her, she heard him stifle a small groan.

She looked back. “You okay?”

“Fine,” he said, in an odd tone.

That’s when Kaira realized that her ass was inches from his face.

Jeez. She started crawling, trying to focus on the mission. The ductwork was quite large, so they had room to move. As they