17
“NO!”
Laarn saw Jess fall and his heart felt like it had been torn clean from his chest to tumble to the floor next to her. A feral, wounded bellow escaped him, ripping its way up from the depths of his soul to give voice to his pain. Launching himself into movement, he tore into the warriors in front of him, carving a path with blade and assault pistol.
No one who stood before him survived. Red-striped faces fell and were instantly forgotten as he fought his way toward the crumpled figure on the other side of the room. The war cries of his fellow warriors sounded behind him but he paid them no mind, his entire focus on reaching Jess. Everything passed in a blur, so fast, yet it felt like an eternity until he reached her, falling to his knees by her fallen form. His weapons clattered
