The Soul Eaters (The Thin Hex Line Book 1) by Gwyndolyn Russell (e reader txt) 📕

“I think this may be a sign from God. His way of saving you, and possibly your father, too.”

She snorted. “A human god? Were it real, I doubt it would help any eldiravan.”

“Whether it’s a sign or not, listen, I can’t stomach sending you to your death when you did no wrong. We are investigating the eos. You can join us. If you’re on the Syndicate, they will not find you and you can search for your father.”

“An eldiravan on a human ship? Are you sure about that? I can’t imagine your people would take kindly to the enemy walking freely among them.”

“Humans are more open than you think.” He stood up. “I am merely offering you a way out, Ms. White Death. You can live, or you can die. It’s your choice.”

Reaper pulled himself slowly along the bars to leave the brig.

“Fine!” She called. “But you need to start calling me by name and not that stupid title.”

He pushed himself back.

“What is your name?” He fiddled with the lock on the door.

“Yaaranam Jneki.”

With the door open, he headed inside to uncuff her from the bench.

“I will assign you to the security team. Lieutenant Jackal will be your new CO as long as you are with us.” He paused in thought once he unlocked the cuffs. “His wounds are...still fresh from the war, you’ll have to be patient with him.”

“That was the guy in here earlier?”

“You’ll get along just fine!” He forced a smile.

Reaper escorted Yaaranam around the ship. Giving her a quick layout. He showed her to her own room, just down the hall from Jackal’s. Then he took her to the barracks where he knew the field team would be. There in one of the training rooms, Ruby and Mjolnir were up on the mat in the middle of a spar. The others were sat upon a bench, Fenris sitting on the floor next to Jackal. They hardly noticed the door opening.

Mjolnir lifted Ruby up and slammed him down shoulder first. There he stopped, still holding onto him. He ooh’d at the sight of Yaaranam.

“This seems to be a fortunate turn of events.” He purred.

The others looked back.

“Whoa!” Sparrow jumped up.

Jackal stood, “Captain? Are you okay?”

Reaper held a hand up. “Everything is fine.” He smiled, gritting his teeth. “Guys, meet your new team member. Yaaranam Jneki. Jackal, can I speak to you?”

Jackal followed Reaper out the door.

“So, it is The White Death.” Mjolnir finally let go of Ruby.

He rolled over the floor to get himself back up.

“Wow...You’re an eldiravan!” Sparrow exclaimed. “I’ve never seen one up close.”

“Heard you kicked some ass out there.” Ruby picked up a water bottle.

Yaaranam wasn’t quite sure what to say. She looked them all over, pretty shocked at their own reactions. When her eyes stopped on Fenris, they widened sharply. Her breath caught in her throat.

She could have sworn the room was well lit. Now it was engulfed in an endless void of shadow. Her feet planted into the floor, held down by the darkness. Crimson cracks pierced through the dark. Like eyes they watched her. Looked right through her to see what she hid on the inside. As the cracks grew bigger, the light that glowed from them washed over a metallic surface. Monstrous teeth splayed out, a hollow nose nearing her face. Hot breath washed over her. The creature’s growl vibrated through her bones.

Yaaranam swallowed hard. “You do not scare me, pet.” She bared her own sharp teeth.

Its jaw trembled, lowered as if it wanted to speak.

“I am not your enemy.” She told it.

She put her hand out to touch its nose despite it looking ready to bite.

A shout made the darkness disappear in the blink of an eye. The wolf was no longer in her reach. The light flooded back in. The others were standing there, watching her curiously. She had spaced out it seemed.

She rubbed the side of her head.

"Don't worry," Sparrow smiled. "It's normal."

"Did...you see it, too?"

"No one can see what you see." Mjolnir answered.

"Seems the Lieutenant is pissed." Ruby dried his face with a towel.

They quieted down to listen to the two of them yelling at each other just outside the door.

"You cannot just let a raven run around unsupervised on a Federation vessel!" Jackal shouted.

"Last I checked, I am the captain of this ship." Reaper retorted. "She isn't a bad guy. She's been misjudged."

"Where's the evidence? What proof could you possibly fucking have? She’s a liar! She's a fucking raven!"

"You're accusing her of utter bullshit just because she's an eldiravan! You have no proof of her crimes!"

"The word of our Admiral is all the proof I need to know that she is a traitor to her own people and she will betray us, too!"

"You were the first person to accept Fenris when everyone else wanted him off this ship. The moment it happens to be someone else you don't know, it's a fucking problem. You gave him a chance, now give her a chance. You don't know anything about her."

"Fenris didn't try to kill us."

"A group of soldiers comes after you when you're on the run, you'd kill them, too." Reaper paused. "Don't you fucking dare try to tell me differently. You are the first one to shoot every fucking time."

"Yeah, when it's the fucking enemy! I'm not going to work with the enemy! She's better off dead! She shouldn't be part of the security division. She should be locked up in that cell."

"Get fucking used to it, Liam." The end all tone. Reaper was done with this conversation. "This is a time for peace. We should be working towards ending any ill ties between humans and eldiravan. You will treat her like a part of the team. You don't have to like it, but if I catch any discrimination, I will pull rank."

"I haven't heard him yell like that before." Sparrow said.

"You haven't known him long enough," Ruby laughed.

"I remember when he transferred in a few years back," Mjolnir crossed his