Page 119 of Saved By the Alien Hybrid

He loosed a hard breath like a stallion and nodded sharply. At the expense of professionalism, she darted in for a bruising kiss, dragging him down to her by his horn. When she drew back, his misery was gone.

There were so many things she still wanted to say to him, but there wasn’t any time. She released him with reluctance.

She looked back at the others. “We all know what we have to do, and we all know what’s at stake. Let’s get it done. Move out!”

CHAPTER 49

Rentir caughtat Cordelia’s shoulder before she turned a corner, pulling her back just in time to avoid the plasma bolt that would have caught her in the shoulder. It slammed into the far wall and cooled. The power on their blasters was turned down to keep from damaging the ship’s hull, but it was still more than enough to burn through flesh.

She cursed, dropping to one knee and peering carefully around the corner. “Just one!” she hissed.

Thalen charged the rifle he’d stolen off one of the soldiers, bringing the butt up to his shoulder.

“I’ve got it,” he said evenly.

Cordelia shuffled out of the way, and three shots later, there was a heavy thud.

“Clear,” Thalen announced.

Cordelia eyed his rifle with envy. “Wanna trade?”

Thalen huffed a laugh in answer, clapping her on the shoulder before he remembered himself and darted a wary glance at Rentir—but he was having an easier time controlling his outbursts now that they’d lain together and she’d promised herself to him. He shrugged.

Cordelia checked the holomap on her comm again. “Fendar’s best guess at where they’re keeping Thea is down this hall.”

Rentir took her wrist, studying the blip on the map. “I recognize this area. There are no cells, as such, but there are store rooms that can be locked from the outside.”

“You know your way around?”

“Well enough, I believe.”

Xeth grunted. “Let’s go before they realize this one is missing,” he said, kicking the dead soldier’s ankle with a sneer of disgust.

They crept down the hall as fast as they dared, trying to avoid the ringing sound their boots made against the smooth metal floor when they stepped too quickly.

“Here,” Rentir called softly, gesturing to a side hall lined along one side with wide doors. “Deep storage.”

Cordelia hastened toward the first door, slapping her free hand against the scanner. It opened without complaint, the security still thoroughly corrupted by whatever Fendar had done. There were crates upon crates of freeze-dried Aurillon delicacies, but no sign of her colleague. She moved to the next, full to bursting with silks and leathers from Auretia.

“What is all this crap?” she muttered, kicking an opened chest.

“Luxury lotari-shit,” Xeth answered, opening the next door for her. Frigid air poured out in an undulating cloud. “More here, too. Looks like a bunch of frozen produce.” He plucked a berry off a vine, popping it into his mouth. His expression turned considering as he chewed. “Hm. This room… I understand.” He grabbed another berry before Thalen pushed him away and let the door to the freezer slide shut.

Cordelia was already at the next door. Rentir looked anxiously up and down the hall. There was at least twenty doors. If they lingered too long…

“Everyone take a door,” Rentir called, stepping around Cordelia to get the next one. It hissed open as he made contact with the scanner. “We don’t have time to—augh!”

The world spun as pain lanced through his jaw, and he barely had time to register that he’d been struck before the metal pipe hurtled through the fog toward his head again. He tipped his head at the last second, taking the blow with his horn instead of his forehead.

A hoarse, faint cry of anger met him as a pale face swirled in the mist, catching the light spilling in from the hall. The woman had already wound up for another blow.

“Cor—” He lost his plea for help to a grunt of pain as the woman kicked him squarely in the cock after feinting with the pipe. “—delia.”

“Thea, wait! Wait!” Cordelia cried, jumping between them before the human could finish the job. “They’re with us!”

Rentir huffed, leaning back against the far wall and cupping his wounded manhood as he watched the other woman take in Cordelia’s familiar face. The pipe wavered in the air and then sagged.

“We’re here to get you out,” Cordelia said hurriedly. “Can you move? Are you good?”