Page 54 of Venomous Lust
There was no answer from Zaxis. Khal dug deep into his Eok training, into all those years of strenuous discipline, and everything faded. All he could see was the land below, his hands gripping the control wheel, the Myrador an extension of his body. As the metal frame of the ship rocked and shook in its descent, Khal prepared for the crash.
There. One thousand yards.
“Now! Full capacity!”
Zaxis bent and activated the engine. Power roared to life within the dead carcass of the ship, fire erupting from below, slowing their drop. But it didn’t slow enough.
The Myrador crashed.
The solid underbelly of the ship embedded deep in the unknown planet’s dirt, piercing the surface like it was water with a great screech of tearing metal. The window got covered in dirt and debris, but Khal managed to lift the nose of the ship so it didn’t explode. It seemed to go on forever, but finally, the ship slowed, then stopped.
Time felt suspended as the sound of their breathing filled the control room.
We did it. We’re still alive.
But they were not safe. Not by a long shot.
“Zaxis, what’s your status?”
Long seconds passed, but finally, Zaxis answered. “Unharmed.”
“The Myrador?”
Fingers sounded on the control boards. Then a pause.
“Engines are all unresponsive. We have a complete hull breach in the cargo hold, but that’s the extent of what I can diagnose here. Do you want me to send a signal?”
“No.” Khal shook his head. “The only relay in range for the emergency communication system is Garana. We’re going to have to repair the main communication board to send a message to Eokim. I trust no other.”
“There’s no telling who will intercept our communication if you send a message that far.” Zaxis moved, unstrapping himself.
Khal did the same, standing and turning. Muhar was uncharted; its native inhabitants, the Muharee, were a primitive, little-known species. They were rumored to be ruthless and savage, killing foreigners without asking questions. But rumors from beyond the Ring were not known to be reliable by nature. Very little contact had been made with the Muharee.
“There’s no other choice. The Myrador will never fly again, so unless you want to spend the rest of your days in the Beyond, we have to find a way to reach out to Chief Arlen,” Khal said.
They locked gazes in the dusty air of the fallen ship, then Zaxis nodded. They were together in this.
A female whine attracted his attention and Khal was at Hazel’s side. Her face was still slack and her skin pale and damp, but she didn’t appear injured.
“Hazel, wake up,” he gently coaxed her and was rewarded by a fluttering of her eyelids. “We’ve landed.”
Hazel blinked, her mouth closing and opening a few times, then her eyes locked with his. She looked confused and fearful then, gradually, she regained her composure.
“We made it.” Her voice was just a thread but she stirred in her seat, her strength returning fast. “How’s Celaith?”
“She’s still out,” Zaxis answered as he cradled the Arvak’s unconscious body against himself. “We need to get her out of here so I can assess her injuries again.”
Not for the first time, Khal watched Zaxis as he held Celaith against him like she was precious, wondering when he would find the courage to claim the female for himself. He was clearly smitten with her, as smitten as Khal had ever seen a male with a female. But it didn’t matter right now. What mattered was getting out of the ship and assessing the damage.
Khal carefully unstrapped Hazel from the restraints and helped her to her feet. She looked around, a resolved expression on her delicate features.
So strong. She was so strong.
But Khal couldn’t lose himself in pride for his mate. They had to get outside, had to see what this strange planet held in store for them.
Helped by his infrared vision, Khal led the way through the liquid darkness of the Myrador’s hallways until they arrived at the escape hatch. He paused at the bottom of the ladder.
“Stay behind me at all times.”
