I stashed the ion blasters inside the base entrance and turned as Ruk came back inside. No more than a few minutes had passed. We both turned to watch as the Hive ship slowly descended to the ground. Twenty-one Hive Soldiers and nine Scouts emerged, wearing the same fucking armor.
Ruk looked at me. “I think it’s time to let the Atlans come out to play.”
“Fuck.” He was right. We were not going to survive without help. “I’ll go.” I turned my comm back on. “Abby, can you hear me?”
“Yes. God! Thank god you’re all right. Are you all right?”
Covered in blood, facing down certain death, I grinned. My Abby, my mate. She was everything. “Yes, but we need help up here. Release the Atlans.”
“Too late.” Abby’s voice sounded a bit too sweet. She was up to something.
“What does that mean, mate?”
Abby’s voice was crystal clear in my helmet comm, as was her soft laughter. “I already did.”
I turned as the elevator door slid open, and Abby stepped out with Enzo, the one they called Thumper and seven other Atlans.
Ruk looked as well. “Not going to do us much good like that.”
I assumed he was referring to the fact that not one of the Atlans was in beast mode. They looked like standard Atlan males.
Enzo caught my eye and grinned as they all filed out. “Had to fit in the elevator.”
14
Abby
Iran to Cormac and wrapped my arms around his waist. He was covered in muck and gross things I didn’t want to think about, but I didn’t care. The only thing I cared about was that he was alive.
Standing in Cormac’s embrace, I glanced over at Ruk, who was watching us as if fascinated. He was literally drenched in blood. His mouth and chin looked like he hadn’t just been killing, but eating the enemy as well. Which was just gross. I must have made a face because he opened his mouth to bare his fangs at me. Then he smiled as if everything was right in the world.
“That’s a good look on you, Ruk,” I teased.
“Indeed. I believe so as well.”
“Comfort your mate later, Rogue. They are nearly upon us.” Enzo bent to pick up one of the blasters. Cormac cleared his throat.
“Those won’t do any damage. They have modified armor.”
Enzo looked Ruk over as I had and then turned to look at something outside on the ground. I craned to see, but Cromac turned his body away and took me with him.
“You do not want to see that, Abby.”
“But—”
Enzo’s voice was loud enough for me to hear. “He is right. No female should see this.” His voice had a tone to it that made me think he was smiling. “Excellent work. Perhaps you are not a complete loss, Rogue.”
“Do not praise the pirate. I am winning. I have destroyed six of our enemy. Cormac only three.” I heard that rumbling, loud laughter again and couldn’t hold back my smile. Ruk was big and scary, but he was growing on me.
“The battle is not over, Ruk.” Cormac squeezed me gently as he bantered with his friend.
“It’s not?” Oh shit. Glancing down at the floor, I studied the bodies of two of what must be the Hive I’d heard so much about. They looked like normal men, maybe even from Earth or a planet just like ours. But they had even more of the metal in their bodies than the Atlans did, each piece somehow sticking out of the armor. Maybe their armor was designed that way. I didn’t know, but their blood was red. The metallic smell of it filled my head and lungs until I struggled to breathe. The bodies were twisted, sliced and torn to pieces. Instinctively, I knew those were Ruk’s kills. If there was more of the same outside, the guys were right. I didnotwant to see it.
I stiffened, and Cormac spread his hand over my back like a warm blanket. His size and strength calmed me enough to get over the light-headed, spinning sensation that had sneaked up on me. I was not freaking fainting in front of all these gigantic alpha male warriors. Not happening.
Cormac looked down into my eyes as well as he could through our helmets. “Another ship has arrived. Do not worry, Abby. With the Atlans here, we will easily defeat them.”
“How many?” I had not signed up for gore and blood and battles. Hot sex? Hell, yes. A mate totally devoted to me? Double yes. Being scared out of my damn mind? No. I’d kept it together so far, even when our ship was about to explode and we had to cram into the escape pod. This—I looked at the twisted, bloody, Hive corpses one more time—this was over the edge. I began to shake, anxiety making my chest hurt.