Page 43 of When Eden Falls

He raised his eyebrows and glanced down at his chest, to where, I realised, I was staring.Eyes up, Eden.Nux, what was wrong with me?

“I never wear it out on the sea. If the boat capsized or I fell overboard, the weight of it would drag me down. And even with my Akquarian lungs, I would drown.”

“Ahh, I see.”

“I only tend to wear it around the fortress. Havav insists I wear it to show authority and rank.”

“So, what, exactly, is your rank?”

He smiled, almost bashfully. “I do not know if there is a word for it in your language. Possibly protector or…general.”

I nodded. Exactly what I assumed. “And the large golden swirl signifies that?” I gestured to his chest.

“That is correct.”

“I do feel like a fraud for taking your attention away from your duties. You seem to be here guarding me. I am honoured, but I really don’t need protecting.”

There was a hint of primal possessiveness in the way he stared at me. “All females need protecting.”

“But you are the Akquarian general…”

“What if I am?”

I huffed a smile. “Don’t you have more important things to do?”

“Your crew’s appearance has been the highlight of Havav’s reign. Believe me, he defines you as important.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, trying to work out if there was a deeper meaning behind that comment?

The computer pinged behind me. Turning, I found the download was complete. I removed the small, portable hard driveand placed it in my back pocket. I faced Dybgo again and found him watching me.Damn, had he seen something?

I smiled, motioning to the closed door to the sleeping quarters and flight deck. “I need to retrieve a couple of books for Cora. I won’t be long.”

His eyes softened and he regally inclined his head in understanding.

I tapped on the door panel. It scanned my thumb print and the door opened.Now,where had Cora left those books?Flight deck, that’s what she’d said.

I strolled to the front of the ship. The door to the cockpit was open. Quickly scanning the dashboard, I couldn’t see any books, but stepping forward between the pilot chairs, something light in colour caught my eye. A small book sat in the co-pilot chair, its pages creased and strewn open. I leaned down to pick it up when I noticed another, larger book on the floor. I tutted, astounded at how carefree Cora was. I knelt to retrieve it but froze when I realised the edges had strange marks embedded in the leather cover, as if it had been chewed on.

Snatching the book up, I turned it over, assessing the damage. The marks seemed too dainty to be anything to worry about.

A clonking noise from the kitchen caught my attention. Dybgo must’ve followed me in, probably amazed at how little space we had to eat on board. No palace luxury here. I stood and turned, ready to ask him his opinion, but I didn’t find Dybgo standing there. Instead, I was staring at the white–yellow scales of an Igknamai. Its head was facing away from me, its front four legs up against the kitchen side emptying out the cupboard with its skeleton fingers. It was the size of a large dog but far wider, and the smell that was resonating from it was making me want to retch.

But I couldn’t move. If I remained motionless, it may not notice me. But even if it remained oblivious to my presence, I had no clear means of escape. It was positioned between me and the short corridor which led to the door to the analysing room. That’s when I realised the door was shut. It must’ve automatically closed behind me after I entered. I was locked in here with an Igknamai.

I watched it pull the metal containers out of the cupboard. They clattered against the metal floor causing my muscles to constrict. I closed my eyes, sensing the panic rising up my legs, into my body. How was I going to get out of this? It was pointless shouting for help. As well as alerting the creature to my presence, with the door closed, the area was practically soundproof. And even if Dybgo did hear my plea, he wouldn’t be able to open the door. It needed fingerprint authorisation. I didn’t even know if he had fingerprints. I was stuck in here with no radio, no way of letting anyone know I needed urgent assistance. What the hell was I going to do?

I felt my heart pounding in my ears. The heat was stifling, and the smell was growing worse as the Igknamai moved around the kitchen, scuttling closer. I was too scared to breathe in case it sensed me.

Glancing at the door panel to the flight deck, I wondered if I could get close enough to shut the door before the Igknamai had a chase of pouncing, but the button wasn’t illuminated. None of the lights on the dashboard were either. There was no power in the cockpit.

I felt my breath shudder as the beast shifted its position, edging closer. Then, it looked at me.

Four large black eyes widened at the sight. My breath caught as it hunched and roared, so loud I thought my ear drums had perforated. Its sharp fangs glistened in the light pouring in through the driving screen behind me. Any moment now, I was going to be shredded and ripped apart just like Sym had been.

My mind accelerated through vague memories of my parents, my brother, my grandma. Regret filling me that I hadn’t been to see their graves in years. Memories of nights out with Rooke and mutual friends, full of laughter and bickering—Rooke, my dearest friend. Why had I never told him what he meant to me? If I died now, he would never know. My heart ached at the thought.

The Igknamai danced on its legs, riled and excited at the prospect of my capture. Still frozen on the spot, the two books I was holding slipped from my hands and I reached for Rooke’s gunlodged in my belt. Flicking the safety catch off, I prayed it was loaded. It had to be loaded. Rooke wouldn’t have given me a dud gun, antique or not. I took a step back and aimed with both hands. And the Igknamai launched itself at me.