In a flash, Galen is charging through the now open door, slamming it into AJ’s face, and shoves him backward. AJ stumbles back and falls to his ass. Galen is on him in a second, pummeling his massive fist into AJ’s face.
Henry is screaming. I think I’m crying, but all it takes is one backward glance from Galen to spur me into motion. Partially from fear, partially from panic, I scramble over the unconscious man and past Galen into a narrow hallway.
Behind me, Galen’s cries of rage erupt again as Nate comes to and jumps on Galen’s back.
8
GALEN
Pain thunders in my nog, making me crash face first to the floor. The hallway echoes from my fall. Before I can rise to my feet again, another slam to the nog makes everything spin and blackness eat at my vision.
It’s okay.
This was the plan.
Distract the Kevins so Stella and Henry could make a run for it. If getting beat to The Eternals by a monster Kevin is their chance for escape, I’ll gladly take the beating.
“Run,” I roar, my voice reverberating off the walls.
I try and shield my nog from the whacks this mortarekker is delivering, but he’s relentless. I swipe at the Kevin, claws bared, with my good hand. I rip through the material of his suit, tearing across his flesh too.
The Kevin stumbles back, skittering away from me. I bare my double fangs at him, hissing in warning. At first, I think he’s running, but as soon as he picks up a zonnoblaster on the ground beside his deceased shipmate, I realize I was foolish in letting him get away.
I close my eyes, waiting for the inevitable.
Flashes of a future I want so badly I can nearly taste flip by in my mind. Stella and Henry. More mortlings. Me showing Henry different plants and how to grow his own greenhouse. Stella, no longer malnourished, but meat on her bones from good nutrition. A permanent smile affixed on both their faces.
No more pain or fear.
Just happiness.
The blast is deafening. It echoes so loudly, it makes my teeth rattle. I wait for the pain—wait for it to rip through my chest or knock my nog off my shoulders. I cling desperately to thoughts of Stella and Henry, selfishly wanting to take them, even if only by memory, with me into The Eternals forever.
The pain doesn’t come.
A small hand touches my hair while a slightly larger one takes my uninjured hand.
“He’s hurt,” Henry says, his voice sad and teary.
“I know, baby, but we’re going to get him fixed up. Right, Galen? You’re going to be okay. Wake up.” She shakes me hard enough, pain rips through my nog and makes me aware of plenty of new bruises.
Breathing heavily through my nostrils and gritting my teeth, I open my eyes to find the two people I want so badly to build a life with crouched beside me.
“The Kevins…”
“You killed one and I, uh, I got the other.”
“Mama protected you,” Henry explains, his cute face scrunched in concern. “All safe, Gawen.” He pats me gently on the nog.
I’m overwhelmed by their kindness and tears prickle my eyes. Is this what it feels like to have a loving, caring mate? Knowing they’ll be by your side no matter what?
“You were supposed to leave,” I chide, though I’m pleased they didn’t.
“Then who would have saved you?” Stella asks, her brow arching. “You’re welcome, alien.”
A chuckle rumbles through me. “It really is cute you think I’m the alien here.”
She shakes her head, but her lips are curled in amusement. “Get up. We need to get out of here.”
“I’m enjoying the view,” I say with a grin.
“Well, I’m not.” She makes an annoyed face at me. “Get up, big guy. I’m not carrying you.”
I’m still dizzy from the smacks to the nog, but I eventually manage to get to my feet. Stella frowns hard, assessing me through narrowed eyes before picking up the zonnoblaster she’d found and points it down the hallway.
“Let me lead,” I grunt, attempting to shoulder past her.
Her glare is scathing. “No. You’re in no position to lead. Stay with Henry behind me. I’ll shoot anything that moves.”
Pride surges through me. My mate—rekk, she’s not my mate, but I’ve claimed her anyhow—is fierce and formidable. She might be small, but nothing will stop her. Not a trek across a deserted, harsh, barely inhabitable planet filled with disease and ravenous beasts, nor a ship full of Kevins. Nothing will get in her way when protecting those she loves.
My chest aches with longing.
One day, could I fall into that category?
We reach the doors that lead to the exit. Outside, red dust is swirling, making it hard to see. When it does clear, though briefly, I catch a glimpse of several ships, Kevins by the hundreds spilling out.
“We can’t go out there,” I state, releasing Henry’s little hand to rest my palm on her shoulder. “Too many.”