Page 46 of Kazzon's Human Bride
“I suppose it came as a surprise to your people when you weren’t able to work our weapons, particularly the blasters,” Kazzon replied in a biting tone. The Xollnaxians had probably found little that could be of use to them on Stonnas’ ship. Tarrkuan blasters and other weaponry could only work with a Tarrkuan biosignature.
“Stonnas and his guards wouldn’t show us how to use the weapons, so we ate him. Ate most of the guards too.”
“Are they all dead?”
The alien grinned. “All of them. There were more of us then, the outcasts, and we overpowered them while sustaining few casualties of our own. But once some of the neighboring tribes discovered we possessed powerful alien technology, they conducted raids of their own.” A sneer replaced the Xollnaxian’s grin. “We would’ve managed to kill you and your men today if we hadn’t been weakened by the recent attacks. But, perhaps we won’t lose today, after all.”
A sense of foreboding fell upon Kazzon. He glared at the green male, waiting for him to continue. Thus far, no black mist had appeared around his face. He was telling the truth, though Kazzon suspected he wouldn’t like the truth he was about to hear.
“More than half of my fellow exiles are on their way to your ship. We intend to capture your ship and leave this planet, where we are considered less. You’re far away from your ship, and I have no doubt your remaining crew will all be dead by the time you return.” Again, no black mist appeared, and the green alien soon threw his head back and laughed.
Rage surged through Kazzon, as well as a strong urge to shove an electrified dagger deep into the Xollnaxian’s heart, but he quickly pushed his vengeful instincts aside and turned to his guards.
Without issuing a command, he ran out of the cavern, his guards at his heels. They’d overheard the alien’s confession and knew how important it was to reach theCorranneliaas soon as possible.
“Do you want us to bring the alien with us, Ambassador?” one of the guards called.
“No. Leave him there, tied up. I don’t care what happens to him.” More than likely, a giant serpent or some other deadly creature from this planet would find him and make a meal of him. But it wasn’t Kazzon’s concern. Right now, the only thing that mattered was reaching theCorrannelia.
Reaching Caylee. Keeping her safe.
Just as they exited the grotto, his wrist comm buzzed and beeped. Not slowing in his pace, he glanced down at the message. Fear clutched him as he read the words.
Warning: the ship has been boarded by enemy aliens
Chapter 34
Caylee ran through the corridors,heading for Kazzon’s quarters. She jumped over debris and the occasional body of a dead Xollnaxian. Thus far, she hadn’t come across any fallen Tarrkuans inside the ship and she sincerely hoped the two guards she’d seen pierced with spears outside were the only casualties among Kazzon’s people.
Cries and blaster fire echoed through the ship, and she avoided rushing down a corridor where a fight was in progress. She darted by the entrance of the hallway, keeping low. She pulled the blaster and the knife from her waist and held the weapons, one in each hand, praying she wouldn’t need to use them.
She had no fighting skills and wasn’t totally sure how to make the weapons work. The blaster contained several buttons, and the point of the knife didn’t feel pointy, even though it looked dangerously lethal, as if it contained some sort of force field around it that kept it from working until it was actually needed.
She blew out a frustrated breath. Maybe she ought to toss the weapons down and just run for her life, instead of glancing down at them every few seconds, trying to figure out how they worked.
Before she could come to a decision, the corridor where Kazzon’s room was located came into sight. But after a few steps into the hallway, she came to a stop as the smoke ahead of her cleared to reveal the corridor was completely blocked off. Part of the ceiling had caved in and there wasn’t any way to reach Kazzon’s room. Not unless she could lift the debris out of the way.
Shit shit shit.
She ran to the blockage, hoping that there would be a small hole she might crawl through. Her heart sank when she couldn’t find a space large enough to squeeze her body into, and she spun on her heel, still holding the weapons. But she gasped at what she saw when she finished turning around.
Icy fear poured through her veins.
Two large Xollnaxians were approaching her, spears held high at the ready.
* * *
Kazzon had never run so fastin his life.
When the ship came into sight, he managed to increase his pace and rush beyond the Xollnaxians and Tarrkuan guards who were currently battling outside. His only concern was reaching Caylee. He prayed she was in his quarters. The room locked down during an enemy attack and was nearly impossible to breach.
He fought his way through several Xollnaxians who stood on the boarding ramp, then hurried onto the ship, leaving a pile of lifeless green bodies in his wake.
A spear shot past his head and he ducked, squinting to see through the smoke. He caught sight of a lone Xollnaxian running straight for him, holding a knife in each hand, but he aimed his blaster at the alien’s head and pulled the trigger. The huge green body slumped at his feet and he jumped over it, hurrying through the chaos as he continued his search for Caylee.
Just in case she wasn’t in his quarters, he called out her name as he ran, but he received no response. This left him both unsettled and relieved. Since she wasn’t answering, perhaps it meant she really was safe in his quarters. But he couldn’t help but consider the other reason she might not answer him now—because something terrible had happened to her. Because he hadn’t gotten here in time to save her.
He turned down the corridor where his quarters were located, and his heart lurched in his chest at the sight that greeted him. Caylee stood, tall and fierce looking, in front of two huge Xollnaxians. She had a blaster aimed at one and a knife held in the direction of the other. Behind her, two large spears were embedded in a pile of wreckage that blocked the hallway.
