The Soul Eaters (The Thin Hex Line Book 1) by Gwyndolyn Russell (100 best novels of all time .txt) 📗

Then it fell limp.

Fenris leaned against its nose, panting softly. Its wingarms hung down at its sides.

The other serpent released itself from its guarded state and slithered back into the ocean for safety. It no longer wanted to fight. Seeing its partner go down, it knew it would be next.

“There’s no more, right?” Yaaranam asked.

“Let’s hope not.” Mjolnir leaned against his hammer. “We need to tell the Captain.”

She frowned. “I know.”

Reaper was still on his knees attempting to resuscitate Jackal. Even during all of that chaos, he stood strong and determined.

“Humans never give up, do they?” She asked softly.

“No. Even when they have no chance at all, they still fight.” Mjolnir almost smiled.

“Stupid.”

Fenris slumped its way over to Reaper and Jackal and sat down across from the Captain. Its wingarms dragged across the dirt, keeping itself body upright. Even as a wolf, they could see the pain in its face.

The medic had sat himself back, rubbing his face with both of his hands.

“Captain,” Yaaranam said, stepping over to them.

He didn’t say a word. He kept repeatedly pushing down on Jackal’s chest.

“Captain.” She said it more sternly.

Vactubstein grabbed her shoulder.

The lights on Fenris’ armor dimmed until finally blacking out. Its body stiffened, locked in place like a statue.

Reaper cursed under his breath. Prayed. Begged. His entire world was crumbling around him. Like glass, it all shattered and fell to the floor. All of his walls, nothing more than dust on the wind. His scars tore open as hope faded. The memories, suppressed somewhere deep in the confines of his mind, returned to the forefront where he was forced to relive each agonizing second. Each pump of Jackal’s chest reminded him of another soldier dying in his arms. Another one gunned down. Another one with the parts of his body strewn across the potted field. The gunfire roaring overhead, and the cracks of rounds smacking into the surfaces next to him. His only solace wasn’t the fact that he survived, but one of them did. Liam pushed through the ash and corpses with him. Gave him the strength to get up again.

He was the wall that kept the memories out. Kept him strong and pushing forward. The reason he kept going. What was he without anyone else? What could Reaper do with no one standing by him?

“Liam, goddamn it! Come back!” Reaper shouted. “You can’t...You…” He bit down on his lip, giving one good push and holding it there. He held his breath. Pushed the pain back down the best he could.

Something brushed over his chest. Nicked his jaw.

He opened his eyes. A hand was barely holding itself up, pushed against his shoulder. Jackal coughed and sputtered with salt water pouring out of his mouth.

Reaper stuttered and stammered random syllables, pulling his hands from Jackal.

When he had gotten all of the water out of his lungs, Jackal took a wheezing breath. Squeezed Reaper’s shoulder. His face twisted up into a grin.

“Thank God. Thank God.” Reaper wrapped his arms around Jackal’s shoulders and squeezed him tight.

Jackal coughed, wrapping one arm around him.

“It was…” Jackal took a sharp breath. “Beautiful. It was so beautiful.”

“What was?” Reaper slowly let go of him so he could balance himself upright.

“The other side. Bright, peaceful. Family. Everybody. It was beautiful.”

Reaper stared at him, blue eyes shimmering. He wrapped his arms around his friend once more.

“Don’t you fucking do that again.”

Jackal laughed.

“It’s good to have you back, Lieutenant Jackal.” Vactubstein smiled.

Jackal coughed into his hand and leaned forward. “Where’s Fenris?” He gave a look around to find the wolf sitting right next to him. Its lights were off, so it had the appearance of a blackened metal statue. Black blood was still dripping from its open wounds.

“Fen?” Jackal touched his arm.

The valkyrie sparked to life. Each light lit brightly, before flashing down into a normal flow. It leaned its head down into Jackal’s hand.

The Thin Hex Line

The Black Wolves

Alpha hunters are the Order of the Hunter's most elite soldiers. Nameless and treated as tools, they handle suicidal missions routinely. Some of these alpha hunters have decided enough is enough, and they have banded together to fight for not just their freedom, but their humanity. These AWOL soldiers have been deemed the Black Wolves, and their threat to the Order has warranted the need for an anti-alpha weapon. Can the Black Wolves succeed against the most powerful leaders of the human species, or will they fall?