He snapped back just in time to see one of theInfectedhad climbed around the underside of the platform, using the tower struts instead of the ladder.Itcame over the side nearCassie, mouth open wide, black drool dripping from its needle-sharp teeth.
Ravik lunged butSevwas moving too, abandoning the panel long enough to fire his plasma pistol.Theshot hit the creature in the shoulder, spinning it sideways, andRavikfinished it with a downward strike that split its skull.Thebody slid off the platform and vanished into the writhing mass below.
For half a second,RavikandSevstood shoulder to shoulder, breathing hard—just like old times.
The thought hitRavikbefore he could stop it and he sawSevglance at him, his blue eyes sharp and pale without the broken oculars.Therewas blood on his mouth and a bruise darkening along his jaw.Ravikknew he had put both of them there.Somethinglike regret twisted in his chest, but he shoved it away.
“Back to work,” he growled.
Sev’s expression hardened.
“I was working.Ionly stopped to save our lady.”
He turned back to the panel but his words rang inRavik’smind—our lady.AsthoughtCassiebelonged to both of them—as if she belongedbetweenthem.
“Fuck you,” he said toSev, shooting theBloodKindreda hard glare.
Sev didn’t answer with words but his shoulders bunched and he gaveRavika one finger salute, which he’d doubtless learned from the humans.
Cassie looked between them, her lips pressed tight.
“I swear toGod, if we survive this,I’mlocking both of you in a room and making you talk like adults.”
“Bad idea,”Raviksaid, cutting down anotherInfectedas it reached the platform.“Wemight kill each other.”
“No, you won’t,” she snapped.“You’llbe too busy remembering that you’re best friends and you’ve saved each others’ lives multiple times.”
Her words hit too close to home.Raviksnarled in response and kicked another creature off the ladder.
Below them, the herd surged harder—scaly, rotting bodies piling against the tower base.Themetal structure groaned with the weight being put on it.Sev’shands moved fast over the relay, reconnecting cables, stripping wires, and swearing under his breath in the nativeKindredtongue.
“Sev,”Ravikwarned as the platform shuddered again.“Ican’t fucking hold them off forever.”
“I’m almost there.”TheBloodKindred’svoice was tight.
“You said three minutes,”Ravikreminded him.
“It has been less than two,”Sevsnapped.
“Feels longer,”Raviksaid.
“It always does when one is waiting to die.”
The coldness in his voice sent an icy finger downRavik’sspine.
Behind him,Cassiemade a strangled noise.
“That’s not helpful,Severin,” she said.“Sonot helpful.”
Ravik almost smiled despite himself.Onething he loved about the little human was the way she handled herself—she had a smart mouth on her that wouldn’t quit, no matter the circumstances.
Then the tower shook so hard thatCassiestumbled.Ravikgrabbed her with one arm and hauled her against his side while still holding the shock blade in the other hand.Herbody pressed to his—soft and warm and alive—and her scent went through him like a drug.
Need.Fear.Honey.Cassie.
Mine,a voice inside him snarled.
But thenSev’sscent—which was still on her skin—reached his nose.Sharpand altered and golden, it was braided with the warm scent ofCassie’sskin and hair andRavik’sown scent too.
