Cover Reveal: Claim of Eon

Sub-Captain Donovan Lennox stood on the bridge of the Rengard, staring out into space. It felt nothing like his usual post aboard the Space Corps high-tech ship, the Divergent.

He missed working with his crew. But he was learning a lot from the Eon and the Rengard’s warriors.

And there was one warrior he liked watching most of all.

Second Commander Airen Kann-Felis was sharp, dedicated, and a stickler for the rules. She was also gorgeous. Donovan had never gone for flashy. He liked quiet and understated, and Airen had that in spades. She was all smooth white skin, like cream.

Donovan liked cream.

Not for the first time since he’d come aboard the Rengard, he wondered what she was like when she relaxed. When she set the second commander aside and let the woman shine through.

A muted alarm sounded.

“Airen?” Malax asked.

Airen frowned at a console. “We’re showing a problem in an access conduit on the central deck.”

The war commander frowned. “Did we pick up a stowaway? Kantos?”

“There’s no sign we did. But it is close to the helian room.”

After he’d joined the crew, Donovan had learned that the Rengard had some top-secret, high-tech helian technology that helped run the systems on the warship. It also made it a target.

“I’ll check it over personally,” Airen said.

“I’ll come with you.” Donovan shifted toward the door.

She hesitated, but Malax nodded. “An excellent idea. You can show Donovan some of the internal systems.”

Airen was quiet as they walked down the corridor. He’d learned that she didn’t say too much unnecessarily. Finally, she stopped and pressed a palm to a maintenance door. It opened silently to uncover a tight maintenance conduit.

Turning sideways, they slid into the space.

When Donovan’s shoulder brushed hers, he saw her jolt.

“Do I upset you?” he asked.

“What?” Her black eyes, threaded with pale-green strands met his. “Of course not.”

“I feel like I make you nervous.”

She lifted her chin. “I’m still getting to know you.” She turned. “Here.”

She dropped down and opened a smaller conduit tunnel. She crawled inside, giving Donovan a glimpse of her slender, firm ass before she disappeared. He looked at the ceiling for a second, praying for some control. The last thing he needed was the second commander catching him with a hard-on tenting his uniform pants.

Dropping down, he followed her in.

“The damaged area is just up here,” she said.

She stopped. Together, they crouched in the conduit. He looked at the melted, burned-out patch of metal.

“What the cren?” she muttered.

“Something came through here.” Donovan arched his head, looking up through the incinerated hole above. The edges had dripped then solidified.

Her brow furrowed. “There’s nothing on scanners.”

“Some of these Kantos nasties are good at evading scanners.”

She turned again, and this time, Donovan got her toned ass just inches from his face. He swallowed a groan.

“There’s a trail of…something sticky.” Her frown deepened, as she gestured at the floor of the conduit.

Donovan saw the glittering trail and, as Airen started crawling to follow it, he followed her.

They turned a corner and a second later, he spotted a slug-like alien. It was leisurely eating one of the Rengard’s components.

“Is it Kantos?” he asked.

“I’m not sure,” she said.

The alien turned. It looked almost cute…until it bared a large set of fangs at them. Then it moved. Faster than any slug should move.

As it launched itself at him, Donovan grabbed it. Its squishy body oozed between his fingers, and its teeth snapped at his face.

Airen shoved in close and grabbed it as well.

“It’s slippery,” he warned.

The alien slipped free of their hands and landed with a slap in front of them. Before it could launch at them, Donovan hit it, knocking it against the wall.

“Pin it,” Airen yelled.

Donovan pulled his leg up and pressed his boot against the slug. It tried to slide free but he kept it pinned to the wall.

Airen’s armor shifted, a knife forming on her arm. She reached past Donovan, her body pressed against his, then stabbed the slug’s body.

The creature slumped.

She pulled back.

“Nice work, Second Commander.”

“You too, Sub-Captain.”

He pulled his boot back and watched the slug’s body lie motionless in the conduit. Then he turned his head and found his face inches from Airen’s.

She stilled, her gaze catching on his lips.

The air in the conduit charged.

“You have gorgeous eyes,” he murmured.

Something flared in them, the delicate strands of green glowing turquoise.

Unable to stop himself, Donovan leaned forward and touched his mouth to hers.

She gasped and pulled back. She licked her lips. Then suddenly, they were both moving. The next second, Airen Kann-Felis threw an arm around his neck and kissed the hell out of him.

Donovan groaned. She tasted so fucking good. He angled his head, deepening the kiss and heard her make a hungry, little sound.

Suddenly, Airen jerked back. Her cheeks were flushed with color. “This is inappropriate.”

“Two consenting adults enjoying each other?”

“We work together. Our species have an alliance.”

“That’s nothing we can’t work around. I’d like to know how you taste, Airen, all over.”

Her cheeks flared with color. “No.” She pulled back, her shoulders stiffening. She tossed her braided hair back over her shoulder. “I do not get involved with people I work with.”

“Airen—”

She shuffled back through the conduit and touched her communicator. “I need a small containment box brought to my location.”

“Yes, Second Commander,” a warrior responded.

Then her green-black eyes met Donovan’s gaze. “My error in judgement will not happen again, Sub-Captain.”

He raised a brow. “You aren’t attracted to me?”

Something indescribable flickered across her face. Then, she licked her lips and turned away.

No comment? Well, we’ll see, sweetheart. We’ll see. She definitely hadn’t said she didn’t want him.

It was a good thing Donovan was a patient man, and had always excelled at strategy.