Jax (Astral Mates #7)

Chapter 15

Fifteen

Jax landed the ship.

Barely.

The Hyena was damaged beyond repair as they crashed into this lush, alien jungle. The windshield was smashed and broken, the wings twisted. They were not flying off this planet anytime soon.

“You okay?” He asked, concern in his voice as he turned to Elara.

“I’m fine,” she said, her voice trembling. “Scared shitless, but fine.”

Jax leaned back into his chair and breathed a sigh of relief. “You fight well,” he said after a moment of silence. “In fact, you’re the best damn co-pilot I’ve ever had.”

“Thanks,” Elara answered. “Shame we’re not going to fly this piece of junk ever again.”

“I can repair many things, but you are correct. This is scrap metal now.”

Elara tried to flip the com-channel on, but nothing happened. She had no idea if Kylie, or any others, had survived their landings. All communication had been cut. The only thing she knew for sure was that she had Jax by her side.

“Do you think the others made it?”

Jax nodded. “They are excellent pilots, each and every one. I’m sure they’re fine.”

“Nathan, Xarlon, Jimmy and Osax aren’t fine,” Elara said. “So many dead…”

“The Dark Sun will pay for their crimes,” Jax growled. “We will honor the fallen tonight. Right now, we have to scout our surroundings and build a shelter. We might be here for a while before the general returns for us.”

“You really think they'll be back for us?”

“I know General Kai, and he leaves no one behind,” Jax said. “But with the damage taken and energy spent, it might be months.”

Elara nodded, her mouth dry. She had already spent weeks in one room with Jax. Now she only had to last a couple of months more. This was fine… right?

She unbuckled herself and climbed out of the broken cockpit. Elara landed in thick green grass, with tall trees surrounding the crashed ship. There was a cool, refreshing wind blowing. The sky was clear blue, a few clouds streaking across — and then the large shadow of a Dark Sun cruiser darkened the sky.

“It seems they do not give up easily,” Jax growled as he hopped out of the ship.

At that moment, several shuttles left the cruiser and headed towards the surface of the planet. Elara’s pulse was jacked up instantly.

If the Dark Sun got her hands on her, she would spend the rest of her life as a sex slave, sold off to the highest bidder on some backwater desert planet.

Luckily, she had Jax with her. Instinctively, she reached out for his hand, their fingers locking.

“I will protect you, little one,” Jax spoke softly. “Even though I know you don’t need protection.”

Elara laughed. “I think I could use a little protection, just to be safe,” she answered.

Jax smiled and squeezed her hand.

The shuttles were headed straight for them. The smoking wreckage of their Hyena was easy to spot from outer space. The two of them ran into the jungle and hid in the bushes as the Dark Sun shuttles touched down nearby.

Elara tried to slow down her breathing. Her heart was pounding in her chest, fear gripping her heart. She was a trained pilot — not a warrior at heart, like Jax was.

The shuttle doors opened and a dozen soldiers clad in black armor rushed out. They carried energy rifles and wore black helmets.

They looked around, their guns sweeping across the thick jungle.

One of them aimed their rifle at the wreckage and fired. A ball of fire erupted from the Hyena, the hull of the ship groaning.

Another soldier joined in, and a second explosion rocked the crashed ship. It split apart in a fiery blast.

If one of those blasts hit them… they would be nothing but ash.

Elara felt Jax getting ready to pounce. She squeezed his hand, trying to hold him back. The soldiers wouldn’t hesitate to kill him.

And she needed him by her side.

Desperately .

The two of them had grown incredibly close these past few weeks. While Jax could be arrogant, smug, and cocky, he could also be kind, funny, and caring. As she squeezed his hand, she realized something important.

Elara realized she loved this man.

Jax pulled himself out of her grasp and, in an instant, charged into the midst of the Dark Sun soldiers. Elara gasped.

“What the fuck—” A soldier yelled before Jax grabbed his helmet and ripped it off. The Dragan grabbed his neck and snapped it with a loud crack.

“That’s for Nathan,” he growled.

Jax dropped the body and leapt to the next soldier, grabbing their rifle and tearing it from his hands. He swung the stock of the weapon into the soldier’s gut, doubling them over, then spun the rifle around and shot them point-blank in the head.

“That’s for Xarlon.”

The other soldiers opened fire, but Jax was quick. He used the body of the soldier as a shield. He fired the rifle at his enemies, picking off two more before the gun jammed. He threw the weapon aside and charged them head-on.

The soldiers scattered in fear, some diving for cover, others trying to get a clear shot of the lightning fast Dragan warrior.

Jax barreled into one soldier and slammed his head into the ground with enough strength that nothing but a pulpy mess remained.

“That’s for Jimmy and Osax,” Jax breathed.

The remaining soldiers opened fire. Jax leapt away, zig-zagging through the trees, dodging their blasts.

He closed the distance between them and made quick work off them.

“That’s for threatening my dunatar ,” Jax breathed as he stood over the broken remains of his enemies.

Elara emerged from the bushes, staring wide-eyed at the carnage Jax had wrought. His blue chest was heaving, red blood splattered across it.

“Jax…” she said. She was in awe of how easily he had taken out these well-trained, extremely dangerous soldiers.

Jax took a few deep breaths. His expression softened as she looked at his mate. “Are you okay, Elara?”

“I’m fine, but are you?” She asked as she got closer.

“I’m unharmed,” Jax said as he flexed his fingers. “Only my knuckles are bruised.”

“Thank you for protecting me.”

Jax grinned, grabbed her hands, and pulled her close. “I would die before I let those animals harm you, Elara.”

She gazed into his mesmerizing, alien eyes. Her heart pounded. Jax was covered in the blood of his enemies, but that didn’t matter.

He was there for her. That was the most important thing.

Jax pressed his forehead against hers and breathed deeply. “I must apologize, little one.”

“What for?”

“I have not treated you — or the other humans on our crew — fairly. I was wrong, and I see that now. You humans fight with honor and dignity. You are hardworking and reliable. And you are… very dear to me, little one.”

Jax tilted her chin up, and gazed deeply into her eyes. His heart stirred.

“You are the holder of my heart, my little human. My dunatar . Elara Morgan, I love you.”

The alien kissed her deeply.

Elara stood on her toes, her heart thrumming as she returned the kiss. This is all she ever wanted to hear. She loved this man as well, with all her heart, but she had been too stubborn and too scared to admit to herself.

But she loved him. She loved Jax deeply.

Jax sighed contently, a big smile on his face. “We must head into the jungle, little one. The Dark Sun will send more and more of their men after us, and we must find Kylie, Zythar, and Vexel.”

“You’re right,” Elara said, swallowing the lump in her throat. Her best friend might still be alive, somewhere on this jungle planet.

She was going to find Kylie, no matter what.

Together Jax and Elara ran deep into the woods, disappearing from sight.