Arak's Love: A World Beyond Book 2 Read Online Free Page A

Arak's Love: A World Beyond Book 2
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We’re heading up. Position on the returning Marenians?”
    “They didn’t go in. Circled around the building,” Faruk spoke, heavy pants in between the words as if he stayed on the move. “They never tried to enter and left on the hover bikes they arrived on.”
    There was an underlying tone in Faruk’s words. Arak tried to place it but couldn’t. He met Kyele’s eyes across the room. Confusion darkened the green orbs and for a moment Arak could swear they swirled like polished metal before returning to their normal state.
    “Affirmative.” Kyele hurried toward the desktop communicator and pried the side panel off with his knife then slipped the small, data chip in his shirt pocket.
    Faint rumbles suddenly shook the building from above. Arak stiffened, sending a shaft of pain shooting down his thigh.
    “Explosives!” Jaron yelled in their ear comm. “Get out now!” The team leader’s voice had lost its calm rhythms and sent adrenaline spiking down Arak’s spine.
    “Move,” Kyele snapped, rushing toward him and providing support with his shoulder as they reversed direction and fled back the way they’d come.
    Arak’s jaw clenched with each step. No time to worry about his leg if they ended up stuck in this shit hole. Another rumble from above as soon as they reached the main floor and a section of the ceiling gave way.
    “Arak, report! Kyele, where the fuck are you guys?”
    The distant boom of bombs going off blurred the rest of Jaron’s shouts.
    “Moving,” Arak snarled back. To Kyele. “Go! I’m slowing you down.”
    To emphasize his point, Arak shoved his friend ahead. Clouds of dust and burning pieces of metal fell around them.
    “You’re crazy,” Kyele argued, playing with that damn knife of his in one hand.
    Arak might be crazy but the two of them wouldn’t make it in his current condition. “I’ll find another way out,” he lied.
    Kyele returned to his side and lifted the bulk of Arak’s weight with one arm. “Can you shift?”
    He referred to Arak’s secondary form. Arak reached for his cat and tested the idea. The response came without hesitation. “No, the shift will drain me.”
    Another loud crack split the night around them and a long rafter above crashed down, blocking the way to the front door. Flames erupted from the ceiling and the acrid odor of smoke curled around them.
    Kyele laughed. Freaking bastard.
    “Looks like we have to find another way out together, Arak.”
    A reluctant grin tugged at Arak’s lips. As if Kyele had even contemplated leaving him behind.
    “Jutak!”
    Arak froze and Kyele spun on his boot heels. Both of them fired at the same time but the approaching Marenians ducked and threw themselves to the floor as they returned fire. Arak dove to the side, continuing to blast his laser at the two slavers.
    “Fetch, cat boy.” Kyele tossed his laser in Arak’s decision.
    What the…?
    Reflex had him reaching up to snag the weapon flying through the air toward his face. Arak pushed off backward with his feet until he hit the wall, pain screaming up and down his leg. He jammed his own laser into his thigh holster and aimed the other around the room. Arak tried to pin down the location of the Marenians as Kyele disappeared.
    “Can’t wait to kill me a Jutak.”
    The words were all Arak needed to aim. The shot veered wide. The Marenian tossed his horned head and roared just feet away. Too close for another blast. Arak dropped Kyele’s laser as he pushed off his good leg and leaped across the space, claws out. A muffled curse followed when Arak’s weight slammed into the body. It was like hitting a hover car full on as they both went down. The Marenian struggled beneath Arak’s claws and landed a lucky punch. The blow rammed into Arak’s ribs and fire licked up his torso when they cracked.
    Support beams and girders groaned around him. Grunting, Arak rolled to the side, his hand managing to grasp one of the Marenian’s flailing arms. Another wild punch
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