Page 6 of On a Rogue Planet
Out of the corner of her eye, she noted the giant was still not moving, just rocking on his heels. Was he trying to psych them out? Toying with them?
Xander’s gaze lingered on her throat where she knew her pulse was fluttering like an out-of-control avian droid. “But…you’re afraid,” he said.
She tightened her grip on the laser cutter. “Thanks for the pep talk.”
He blinked again. “You are either very brave or very stupid.”
“I’d prefer to go with brave…but I’m actually neither.”
“He outweighs you by a hundred and fifty-seven standard pounds.”
He could tell how much she weighed? “I said, enough with the pep talk. Now quit distracting me.” She forced herself to focus solely on the giant.
The warrior reached behind his neck and there was the scraping sound of metal on leather. He pulled a wicked sword from a scabbard on his back. It was a dark, glassy color with jagged edges.
Great.Mal tried to hide her dismay. He had a giant sword. Talk about overkill.
“I will bathe in your blood,” the giant said with a wide grin, his words harsh and heavily accented.
“A sword? You had to have a fricking sword.” Mal shook her head. “My day is going rapidly downhill.”
Beside her, Xander gathered himself then lurched upward, managing to get one foot under him.
With a roar, the giant started in their direction. His yellow gaze was now on Xander.
Oh, no you don’t. Mal remembered everything her dad had taught her about fighting dirty. She took two steps forward and ducked low. She swiped out with the laser cutter.
And ran the golden laser against the giant’s heel, severing his Achilles’ tendon.
With a bellow, the big man spun, taking his weight off his damaged leg. He swung out with his sword.
Xander managed to push upright and slam Malin out of the way. She felt the whoosh of air as the blade passed close to them. Really close.
“Again,” Xander told her.
She dropped again and swiped at the giant’s other heel. This time he dropped to the ground on his knees. Surprise was stamped across his face. With a quick, almost dainty move, Mal bounded to her feet and stabbed the laser cutter into the giant’s thick neck.
Blood the color of Regalian sapphires spilled out, splashing down his chest.
Then he pitched forward and fell in an ungainly heap on the ground.
She’d killed someone.Oh, stars.
She couldn’t deal with the thought right now. Wasn’t going anywhere near it until she was safely back on her ship. No, until she was back on Khan. Or maybe she’d never think about it. She moved back to Xander’s side.
“Time to go.” She wedged a shoulder under his arm and helped him to his feet. Jesus, he weighed a ton. “Put your arm over my shoulders.”
He towered over her. Her shoulder didn’t reach his armpit, so she just had to press it against his hard side.
Xander stared down at her for a second, like she was some foreign entity that wasn’t in his database. With obvious reluctance, he dropped his arm over her shoulders.
Tough guy wasn’t used to leaning on anyone. Despite everything, she felt a smile tug at her lips.
They moved forward, awkward at first, until they found a hobbling rhythm.
“You are more muscular and a lot tougher than I’d calculated,” he said.
“I’m a salvage mechanic. We’re tough stock.” They stumbled a few times, and she muttered several curses under her breath.
