Cassie planted a hand on her hip.
“Don’t say ‘no’ me.Someonehas to go up there and send a message or we’re never getting off this stupid planet!”
“Cassie—” he began.
“No.Imean it.”Hervoice shook, but she kept going.“Iamnotluggage.Iamnotbait.AndI’mdamn sure not your fragile little human package to carry around while you two argue over who gets to protect me the hardest.Ifclimbing that horrible tower gets us off this planet, thenI’mclimbing.”
Severin gave her a look of approval andRavik’sface showed reluctant admiration.
“Tough little thing, aren’t you, baby?”he rumbled.
Cassie lifted her chin.
“I have to be.Lookat where we are.”
“We get you to the ladder,” he said, nodding.“SevandIwill stay below.Ifanything comes near you,I’llkill it.”Hepatted the blaster in his belt.
“That sounds fair,”Cassiesaid, though nothing about this whole desperate journey felt remotely fair at all.
They crossed the last stretch of ravine in a crouched run.Severinled, pulse pistol in one hand and the med-kit bouncing against his side.Cassiefollowed, gripping the charge baton, whileRavikstayed behind her with his shock blade drawn.
The open ground made her skin prickle.Therewere too many shadows between the broken equipment and too many places for something to hide and jump out at them.
Then something did.
AnInfectedlunged from behind a collapsed support beam, moving so fastCassiebarely saw it before it was on her.Itsmouth opened impossibly wide, teeth slick and black, and a scream tore out of her throat as it sprang straight for her glowing arm.
Ravik hit it like a thunderbolt.
He slammed into the creature and drove it into the ground with enough force to crack stone.Theshock blade flashed once, twice, and theInfectedshrieked, clawing at his arms.Cassandrastumbled backward, nearly falling, butSeverincaught her around the waist and hauled her behind him.
“Stay back!”he barked.
Ravik fought like a wild animal—all coiled muscle and deadly fury.
For a few seconds, allCassiecould see was muscle and blade and snapping teeth.Ravik’sbody blocked theInfectedfrom her completely, his broad shoulders hunched, his growls tearing through the mist.Hedrove the blade into the creature’s throat and pinned it down, but anotherInfectedburst from the shadows behind him.
“Ravik!”Cassiescreamed.
He turned too late.
The second creature hit his side, claws raking across his ribs as its mouth snapped for his shoulder.Ravikroared and grabbed it by the throat, but not beforeCassiesaw its teeth sink into the meat of his upper arm.
The world seemed to stop and time slowed to a crawl.
“Nooo!”Severinshouted, reaching for his friend.
Ravik ripped theInfectedaway and crushed its skull against the stone.Thefirst one was still twitching, so he brought the shock blade down again and again until it stopped moving.Thenhe stood there, chest heaving, black blood spattered across his bare skin, while the mist curled around him.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Cassie stared at his arm in horror—the bite was deep.Toodeep.
Dark blood welled from the punctures, and beneathRavik’sskin, a milky white sheen began spreading through the veins around the wound.
Severin went pale.
“Ravik,” he said, reaching out to his friend.“OhGoddess…”
