She had no weapon. No way to defend herself.
His heart was beating like a drum in his chest. “Finley!”
Suddenly, scales flew off Sabin’s armor, moving through the air like a black cloud.
They hit Finley’s body, flowing over her.
With a screech, the bug leaped off her.
Sabin’s heart stopped.
Finley rose, staring at her body.
Finley was his mate.
A sense of rightness filled him. Of course, she was. “Finley, think of a shield and a weapon.”
She held out her arms. The black-scale armor covered her snugly. Suddenly, a glowing purple energy shield formed on her left arm and a short sword on her right.
“I can’t use a sword,” she cried.
The Kantos soldier attacked Sabin again and he looked away from her. He kicked and slashed at his opponent.
“Just swing it,” he yelled over his shoulder.
A bug attacked her. She held up the shield and drove the bug back. She jabbed with the sword.
She clipped the bug and sent it through the fire.
Sabin kept fighting the soldier, working his way toward her. His happiness at seeing her safe in his armor bled away.
“There are so many,” she breathed.
The lizard peeked out of her hair.
Kantos soldiers and bugs filled the streets of the ruined city. They were all converging on Sabin and Finley.
Sabin pulled her close. They couldn’t lose hope.
“Stay strong, my gorgeous mate.”
“Mate?” She shook her head. “This has been a hell of a day. My first trip to space, my first spacewalk, my first—and I hope only—abduction by aliens, my first time on an alien planet, and now mated to a sexy alien warrior.”
Two soldiers leaped through the fire on the far side of the circle.
“Let’s fight, mate of mine.” Sabin charged.
Finley was right behind him.
They kicked and slashed and skewered. Finley fought—she wasn’t skilled, but she was fueled by the will to survive.
But as they fought the Kantos, he knew that they were both tiring. His body was still healing his injuries, and several had started bleeding again.
A soldier rammed into him from the side and he fell to his knees.
“Sabin!” Finley fought to get to him.
An elite emerged from the flames. Time to die, Eon.
Suddenly, a body swooped in and landed in a crouch in front of Sabin. For a second, he thought it was a Kantos assassin.
But the figure rose, a powerful body covered in black-scale armor, with wings that retracted back into the armor.
War Commander Malax Dann-Jad.
More bodies landed. Airen. Donovan. The warriors of Sabin’s security team.
They all formed long swords and attacked.
Thank. God.
Finley watched the Eon warriors fight, relief punching through her. She kicked a bug and held her shield up to block another one.
Nearby, an Eon shuttle, followed by several sleek Eon fighters, whizzed past, opening fire on Kantos in the streets.
She worked her way back to Sabin. He was already looking stronger, standing taller. Her lizard friend curled around her ear.
Sabin saw her, emotion filling his face. He yanked her into his arms as the fight raged around them. His arms were so tight she could barely breathe.
“Sabin.”
His hold loosened.
She cupped his cheeks. His eyes were flickering, his nostrils flared. “Are you all right?”
“Cren.” He pressed his face against her hair. “Yes. Sensory overload.”
She kissed him, slowly, with deliberate gentleness. “Come back to me.”
His hands flexed on her, then his eyes returned to normal. “Thank you, Finley.”
“For what?” She clung to him. She never wanted to let him go.
“For not giving up.” He met her gaze. “For saving me. For believing that I could control my senses.”
“I’ll never give up on you, and I trust you with everything I have.”
They kissed.
She looked at the armor covering her. “So, we’re mates.”
“We are.”
Her stomach did an uncomfortable roll. “You told me you never wanted a mate.”
He had an unreadable look on his face. “I never—”
“Sabin.” Malax strode to them. The man radiated authority and was a little intimidating.
“Malax.” The men clasped arms in a warrior grasp.
Finley saw the other warriors had finished dispatching the Kantos. The rest had run and were being chased down by Eon fighter ships.
The warriors moved closer. She noted that one man—with dark skin and a muscular body—was actually human. She realized it was Sub-Captain Donovan Lennox. The Space Corps officer was assigned to the Rengard, and mated to the tough female warrior, Airen Kann-Felis, the second commander of the Rengard. Finley guessed it was the tall, sleek woman standing beside him.
Sabin greeted the warriors. “I’m glad you weren’t any later.”
“We met a little resistance getting here.” Airen’s gaze flicked to Finley in her scale armor, then back to Sabin. “I see you’ve been busy.”
“Sabin, I’m afraid this isn’t over.” Malax’s face was deadly serious, and Finley’s stomach dropped.
Sabin slid an arm across her shoulders. “Tell us.”
Malax paused. “Congratulations on your mating.”
Sabin didn’t respond. God, was he even happy about it? He’d told her that he loved her, but she knew that he’d never wanted to mate.
“The Kantos fleet is about to attack Earth,” Malax said.
Finley gasped. “The StarStorm?”
“Space Corps is trying to get it operational, but they need your expertise, Dr. Delgado.”
“Let’s go.”
A shuttle landed nearby and as they moved toward it, the little lizard, now vibrant green, turned around on her palm. “You’re safe now, little guy.”
She lowered her hand and the lizard leaped off. It squeaked, then moved over to touch her hand—like a kiss—then with one last look, it darted away.
“Good luck.” Sadness moved through her, but hope, as well. Hope that her little friend would thrive, and that this world would recover. She scanned the ruins and prayed that somewhere, some of its residents remained hidden and safe.
Now, she had to save Earth.
The Eon shuttle was sleek and spacious. Much nicer than Space Corps’ designs. Within minutes, they were strapped into plush seats and zooming away from C’addon.
Finley bounced her leg, nerves getting the better of her.
“Hey.” Sabin’s hand rested on her thigh. “It’s going to be fine.”
She nodded.
A warrior sat beside them. “Glad to see that you’re still alive.”
He had gray threaded through his brown hair, although he didn’t look much older than Sabin.
With a smile, Sabin gave the man a one-armed hug, slapping his back. “Finley, this is Medical Commander Thane Kann-Eon.”
“I’m this guy’s closest friend, and medical commander of the Rengard.” Thane’s green-black gaze took in Finley’s armor and his eyes widened. “You’re mated.” He grinned.
“So it seems,” Sabin said.