Page 43 of Savage Bond

CHAPTER 27

KAIRON

The artifact hums louder now, its glow shifting from silver-blue to violet-gold, pulsing in time with my heartbeat. It vibrates beneath my skin, resonating with something primal deep inside me. A call I can’t ignore, one that feels almost familiar.

Ava stands just ahead, reaching toward the orb, her eyes wide with wonder.

I should stop her. Should warn her to wait until we know more about what this thing is capable of. But the words get stuck in my throat as a rush of adrenaline courses through me.

Then the explosion rips through the eastern wall.

Stone and metal scream as part of the ruin collapses inward. Shards fly like shrapnel, glinting in the artifact's glow. Instinct takes over—I throw myself toward Ava, shielding her as debris rains down around us.

She gasps, her breath sharp against my shoulder as I wrap an arm around her waist. I pull her close, my body blocking the worst of the falling rock. The ground shakes beneath us.

“Are you okay?” I growl against the chaos.

She nods, eyes wide and shaking but alive. Relief floods through me as I help her up without thinking, not releasing myhold on her just yet. My instincts scream to keep her safe—this human who’s become more than just a liability in a jungle filled with danger.

Then they flood into the chamber—mercenaries armed to the teeth, weapons drawn and intent clear: take the artifact and kill anyone in their way.

My grip tightens around Ava’s arm as we step back into the shadows cast by the collapsing structure.

I draw my blade with one hand, the familiar weight settling in my grip, and unclip my dagger with the other.

“Cover left.”

Ava's eyes flash. “I don’t have a weapon.”

“Leave that to me.” I press the dagger into her palm, feeling her fingers wrap around the hilt—a spark of determination igniting in her gaze.

In one fluid motion, I leap forward, steel glinting in the dim light as I plunge into the fray. Two mercenaries go down before they even register my presence—silent strikes to the throat, quick and clean. Their bodies crumple to the ground like discarded husks.

A flash of movement catches my eye; I toss a plasma gun back to Ava without breaking stride. It lands in her hands with a satisfying thud.

She doesn’t hesitate. In an instant, she moves into position, aiming with fierce precision, and pulls the trigger. The shot rings out—a bright arc of energy slicing through the air—and another mercenary drops, his screams swallowed by chaos.

We fight as if we’ve done this a hundred times—our movements synchronizing without thought. There’s no choreography; it’s instinctual, a primal rhythm built on trust forged in fire.

She covers my back while I press forward, every swing of my blade meeting flesh with brutal efficiency. I can feel her resolve behind me—her heart pounding just as fiercely as mine.

But they keep coming—more than I anticipated. The mercenaries are relentless, their faces obscured by helmets that reflect our frantic battle back at us. Some wield ion disruptors, weapons humming ominously with power that threatens both Precursor tech and anyone bonded to it.

One shot zips past my shoulder, sending a jolt of heat racing through me as I duck just in time. I spin on my heel and lash out at another attacker; he barely gets a shot off before my dagger finds its mark.

“Watch your flank!” Ava shouts just as another merc lunges at me from behind.

I pivot sharply and deflect his strike with ease before countering with lethal intent.

Her voice sharpens through the din of battle; every sound becomes part of our symphony of violence—grunts of effort mixed with sharp gasps of surprise from our enemies.

The chaos surges around me, adrenaline pumping through my veins like a live wire. I duck low to avoid another strike, my blade cutting through the air with lethal grace. Just as I take down another mercenary, a sound slices through the din—familiar bootfalls.

I turn my head slightly, and there it is: the unmistakable march of IHC soldiers. My stomach knots. The Alliance Standard commands echo through the chamber, sharp and authoritative.

“Seize the artifact. And the officer. Alive, if possible.”

The voice is unmistakable—Lieutenant Serix Vale.

---