Coletti Warlords: Reality Bites Read Online Free PDF Page B

shoved a cookie into my mouth. A groan broke from me as gourmet chocolate hit my taste buds. Yum.
    An explosion rocked the entire building, and pieces of ceiling rained down on me.
    “Your needs will get you killed.”
    “Death by chocolate? What a way to go.”
    “You are my mate, and you will obey me.”
    “Delusional much?”
    His roar reverberated around my skull. “Go back to your base, or chocolate will be forbidden to you.”
    “Well, that’s just mean. Could you live without blood?”
    “Taming you will not be easy.”
    I grinned. “Still think I’m the perfect mate?”
    “Yes. Colettis live for battle.”
    Yeah they did, and boy did that suck. A laser blast disintegrated the counter next to me. I dove behind a display of wedding cakes.
    “Is someone shooting at you?”
    The cakes glowed brightly and vanished.
    “That would be a yes. ” On my hands and knees, I scrambled among the aisles as laser bolts flew wildly.
    Jaylan hissed his displeasure. “Who is shooting at you?”
    Good question. I risked a quick peek.
    An elderly woman in full tactical gear had her laser rifle pointed at my head. “No one steals from me.”
    “I’m not a thief.” I dug a twenty out of my pocket and waved it in the air. “We good?”
    Granny snatched the twenty. “Get out of my shop.”
    Holy hell, that was one fine mustache she was growing. Menopause was definitely making her a tad grouchy. “Yes, ma’am.” Raising my hands, I stood. “You need to get to a shelter. The Tai-Kok are coming.”
    She jabbed me in the stomach with the rifle barrel. “Git.”
    My movements slow and careful, I backed out of the bakery. “Yes, ma’am.”
    A low metallic whine filled the air, and something large blotted out the sun.
    I looked up, and my stomach lurched in horrified recognition. Hovering overhead was a bulky Tai-Kok slaughter ship. A dozen small, onyx-hulled shuttles launched from the craft.
    Shit. Raiders.
    Wulf appeared beside me and clamped a powerful hand around my arm. “I will take you to safety.”
    My eyes began to water, and I fought down the urge to hurl. Lordy. Did he stink. “Ah, that’s not necessary.” I tried to pry his fingers off my arm. “Really. Shoo. Go far, far away.”
    An evil smile on his face, Wulf tugged me closer. “I am not to leave your side until I can deliver you to the Commander.”
    Just fucking terrific. I pulled out my gas mask.
    The sick, twisted bastard yanked it out of my hand and hurled it away.
    Giving him the one-fingered salute, I rummaged in my backpack until I found my jar of vapor rub. I popped the top off, and rubbed a bunch under my nose.
    Wulf stuck a big finger in the jar, scooped out a large wad of gel, and sniffed it. “What purpose does this serve?”
    “It dilutes the smell.”
    He smeared the vapor rub under his nose. “It is somewhat effective.”
    Wrinkling my nose, I stuffed the jar in my backpack. “What did you do? Roll in the stuff?”
    “I attempted to disarm your device.”
    A grin tugged at my mouth. “My gadgets are tamper proof.”
    “As I soon discovered. Who taught you to make bombs?”
    “Pops.” I winced as dozens of fire ants tromped across my mind. “Tai-Kok raiders are closing fast. We need to get to a shelter before they use their stun ray.”
    “Too late.” Wulf locked a big arm around me and pulled his laser pistol.
    A blinding red light flashed across the sky.
    The world went dark for a few seconds. I shook my head to clear my vision. “Why am I still upright?”
    “My battle suit projects an energy field that rapidly neutralizes the effects of the stun ray.”
    No wonder Jaylan didn’t stay down when I stunned him. “I’ve got to get me one of those.” I drew my pistol. “Bad guys at twelve o’clock.”
    An onyx-hulled shuttle landed in the bakery parking lot.
    I tensed as the hatch slid open. Eight Tai-Kok raiders dressed in their bloodred battle suits poured out of the ship.
    “Now would be a good time to teleport us