Free Alien Exile: An Alien Warrior Romance (The Tourin Legacy Book 5) by Immortal Angel Page A

shaking.
    “I just hope we got far enough—”
    But before he can finish his thought, the ship starts to tip and a roaring fills my ears. I look for something to grasp on to, but there’s nothing in reach.
    Juordin and Corin both throw their arms around me. The three of us fall to the floor near the ladder as Juordin reaches for the bottom of it.
    His fingers don’t quite make it.
    The universe is spinning, tipping on its axis, and we start to slide backward toward the center of the room.
    The force of the shaking is enormous. My teeth are chattering. It feels as if my bones are shaking apart. I try to hold on to the warriors, as they hold on to me.
    The ship can’t handle this.
    We’re going to tear apart.
    But at least we took those bastards out with us.
    I’m terrified out of my mind, but as I clutch on to Juordin one thought is stronger than all the rest. At least I’m going to die with my mate. The shaking dies down for a moment and we go to our hands and knees. I hear myself groaning as if from far away. We crawl toward the ladder. Every movement is arduous, difficult. I can’t get my muscles to obey me. Left arm, right arm. Left foot, right foot. Moving but inches at a time.
    Through sheer force of will, I arrive at the base of the ladder. The door to the floor above is still open, far above me.
    But we’re hit with another wave, this one harder and louder. The shaking intensifies and I realize I’m screaming, but there’s no sound. Just a terrible roar that pervades everything.
    I try to reach for Juordin, but I can’t control my movements. I collapse on the floor, shaking with the ship.
    I hear a terrible crack, and a blue light emerges from behind me.
    But I can’t worry about it, because I can’t do anything about it.
    The shaking is never ending.
    Even my mind is shaking apart.
    When the blackness finally comes, I welcome it.
     

2
Juordin
     
    I open my eyes in disbelief.
    We’re alive? How is it even possible?
    I try to rise, but every movement hurts. A lot. I’m used to some pain with the toxin, but not at this level.
    Corin is beside me, Ande has slid a bit farther away. I crawl to him and shake him on the way to her.
    He rouses, eyes wide. “What the hell was all that?”
    “I think it was a shock wave from the cat ship. They must have had a massive source of power on board.”
    “This is why I like to keep my feet on the ground.” He tries to sit up. “I feel like I was in a fight with a dozen Fighting Spetars. The ones with double tusks. You hurting that bad?”
    I shake Ande gently. “I don’t know.”
    She doesn’t move, so I shake her harder. “Ande! Ande, wake up!”
    I pick her up in my arms, even though the movement makes my muscles scream in protest. Watching her closely, I see the rise and fall of her chest. At least she’s still alive.
    “Please, just open your eyes!” My voice holds an edge of hysteria, but she still doesn’t respond.
    Turning to Corin, I meet his worried gaze. “She isn’t waking.”
    “Did she hit her head or something?”
    My fingers push through her thick hair and run along her scalp. “I don’t think so.”
    “Fuck!” The panic in his voice has me looking up sharply. “Did you notice the blue light during the shock wave?”
    My heart stops. There’s only one thing that could mean. The engine seals had cracked. We’re all going to die. Slowly and painfully. But soon.
    I groan but get up despite the pain, lifting Ande with me and hauling her over my shoulder. “Healing bunk.”
    He nods, leading the way and climbing the ladder before me. When he reaches the top, he turns, kneels down, and grabs Ande’s arms. He hauls her up while I push, both of us groaning with the effort.
    He helps me pick her up this time, and I don’t even protest. The pain in my body is excruciating, my muscles protesting every movement.
    We rush down the hall and he raises the glass so I can lay Ande on the bunk.
    After the glass closes over her, I lean over it,