Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Xander and Malin sprinted through the Rahl living areas. Xander studied the map overlay, identifying possible routes to the landing pads.
“How far to the shuttle?” Malin asked, panting a little from their pace.
“Not far—”
A door at the end of the corridor burst open. The lead Rahl spotted them and let out a roar.
Without blinking, Xander pushed open the nearest door and dragged Malin through.
They were in the kitchens.
Staff of all species looked up from their work, staring at them. Xander paid them no attention. He crossed the space and pulled Malin through another door.
They ran through the corridors, twisting and turning to throw their pursuers off.
Dathan’s voice came through Xander’s systems. “You guys nearly at the shuttle?”
“Negative. The access was blocked by Rahl.”
Dathan cursed.
“We’re coming through the living areas. We’ll get there.”
“Make it quick. There’s a group of Rahl tearing through the landing pads. Think they’re looking for our shuttle.”
Xander moved through another door. It led into a sort of dorm room with beds lining the walls.
And it wasn’t empty.
She stopped and bumped into him.
“What the—”
He slapped a hand over her mouth and dragged her around in front of him. But his gaze didn’t leave the tableau in front of them.
A large Rahl warrior was sprawled back on the edge of a bed, legs spread.
Between his legs, a green-skinned woman knelt, her mouth engulfing his large cock.
Xander felt Malin stiffen. His own muscles tensed to breaking point. He couldn’t make himself look away—from the woman’s stretched red lips and bobbing head or from the rictus of pleasure-pain on the man’s face. The woman was making little humming sounds of pleasure.
In Xander’s head, it was so easy to imagine the scene with him and Malin. Him, sprawled back and Malin on her knees, his cock in the sweet heat of her mouth.
She leaned into him, her shapely bottom rubbing against him. He hissed out a breath.
When the Rahl groaned, it snapped Xander out of the sensual spell. He took hold of Malin’s arm and pulled her left, toward the opposite door and out of the room.
As they passed into yet another corridor, she kept her gaze resolutely ahead. “Which way?”
“Ahead and to the left.”
They hadn’t gone far when Dathan’s voice came through again. “CenSec, you there?”
“Yes.”
“They’ve found the shuttle.”
Xander bit off a curse. “We’ll find another shuttle.”
“I won’t risk my cousin—”
“I’ll take care of Malin.” He looked down into turbulent amethyst eyes. “You have my word.”
“I’ll hold you to that, CenSec. If you don’t get her back to us safely…” Dathan didn’t need to finish his threat.
“I’ll keep her safe.” And as the words crossed his lips, he realized keeping her safe had become vitally important to him.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
He hurried her down the hall. “The Rahl found our shuttle. We’ll need to find another way out.”
“We’ll have to steal another shuttle.”
“The Rahl are patrolling the landing pads.”
“Any secondary pads?”
He ran through the overlay glowing over his right eye. “No.”
“Wait a second.” She drew to a stop. “Do they have a salvage yard?”
“Yes. A small one.”
“Then there should be pads there.”
He scanned the schematics. “Yes. There is also a record of a small starfreighter.”
She grinned. “Let’s go.”
They made it out of the building. Xander was grateful Rhage had a breathable atmosphere, with only a slightly decreased oxygen content. Surprisingly, he and Malin made it out into the courtyard in front of the arena without encountering any other Rahl.
“Look!” She pointed ahead. A high electro-link fence cordoned off a small salvage yard.
They’d only gone a couple of steps when a Rahl guard rounded the corner of the building. When he saw them, his eyes flared and he bared his fangs.
Xander leaped high and came down on the top of the guard. He gripped the guard’s head and with a violent twist, broke his neck.
He dropped the body and looked at Malin. “Keep moving.”
They sprinted across the open courtyard. Behind them, he heard the sound of running footfalls.
Malin glanced over her shoulder and her mouth tightened. “They’re coming.”
His sensors detected thirty Rahl in pursuit.
They passed a large statue of a Rahl set to attack—fangs bared, large fists raised. Ahead of Xander, Malin stumbled on her precarious heels. Without breaking stride, he swung her into his arms.
They neared the glowing fence. He searched for an entrance and then assessed the height in case he had to jump. Luckily electro fences didn’t carry enough voltage to do much harm if they touched it.
Malin cursed. “Xander, look at the freighter.”
He looked beyond the fence’s blue mesh. The small freighter sat on the landing pads. He swallowed his own curse. It had been sitting there a long time and wouldn’t be leaving any time soon. It had been partially dismantled and listed to one side.
He set her down, running through their options. He looked behind them and saw the Rahl racing toward them. Some were bounding on all fours like giant cats.
“Run.” He flexed his hands, letting his system run through the best attack plans. None of them had a hundred percent chance of success.
But he could distract them, take down enough of them to allow Malin to get away.
“What?” she stared up at him.
“Run. Get out of here. Find a way off the planet.”
Her eyes widened. “I’m not leaving you.”
“Then you’ll die.” He gripped her chin, wished for more time with her. “I don’t want you to die, Malin.”
Her lips parted. “They’ll tear you apart.”
“As long as you’re safe.” He stroked her smooth skin. “Go, find your cousins, and if you can, find the Antikythera.”
The growls and yells of the approaching Rahl filled the air.
She closed her eyes. “Xander—”
Then a new sound blasted around them.
The roar of starship engines.
Xander and Malin looked up.
The Infinitas, with its distinctive scorpion shape, hovered above them.
Malin pumped a fist in the air with a smile. The blasts of air generated by the engines whipped up the debris around them and sent the Rahl into chaos.
Xander saw a thin metal line lower from the ship. “Come on.” He pushed Malin ahead of him.
They sprinted together. The line finished descending but was still far above their heads. The nearby buildings were preventing the ship from descending lower.
“It’s not low enough,” Malin yelled.
He took a second to assess, then he grabbed her, and swung her onto his back. She let out a short scream, but instantly realized what he had planned. She wrapped her arms and legs around him.
He ran, took three large steps, and leaped into the air.
His enhanced strength took him high into the air. He grabbed the line with his mechanical arm, then used his other to reach around and secure Malin’s slight weight.
Below them, he saw a few of the Rahl warriors attempting to jump up and grab them.
But then the line was retracting, whizzing upward, sending them higher and higher.
Niklas pulled them aboard the ship. “You two okay?”
Malin’s eyes were squeezed shut. “Fine.”
“Dathan—” Niklas slammed the ship’s hatch closed “—get us out of here. Before the Rahl can scramble any ships.”
“You got it,” came Dathan’s cheerful reply from the cockpit.
Xander cupped Malin’s face, looking her over. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“I’m okay. Just don’t love heights.” She smiled. “Thanks for the rescue.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll put it on your bill.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Oh my stars, Xander. Did you just make a joke?”
“CenSecs do not joke.” He savored her smile, and glanced at Niklas. “We found the location of the Antikythera. A planet called Technis.”
“Never heard of it.” Niklas frowned. “Where is it?”
Xander ran the name through his databases. Nothing. “I have no idea.”