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“Ruby, lead them inside!”
Either the woman didn’t hear her or was too busy handling the mess of creatures attacking each other. Frustration simmered until she caught sight of the lizard-like creature poking its head around the door to peer at her. She crouched, using its body to block the sun until she spotted movement. Then she reached out and yanked, ignoring the rays hitting her other arm.
A screech splintered the air before the creature she held was dragged in by sheer force. That was enough to have the others following as they spilled back into the prison area, scrambling on top of each other. All eyes were on her, some curious and others glinting with intent. One of the fluffy creatures that could have fit in her palm started growing, including its sharp, serrated teeth.
“Ruby—”
“I’m here!” Ruby gasped, wrestling a snake-like creature from around her neck and heaving it to the ground. She slammed the door shut and leaned against it. “Catching my breath. Hold on.”
“I don’t think there’s time.”
“What do you mean—oh, damn it!”
The fluffy creature focused on Ruby at the sound and started approaching her. Nicole repeatedly hissed until the creature shifted its focus on her.
“That’s right. I’m here. A tasty meal. Or something you just want to rip up. Hurry and catch me.”
“You are crazy,” Ruby declared but was smart enough to keep her voice down.
Nicola jumped over cages but slowed down enough to keep the creature interested. When the cage she was on top of shook violently, she rolled to the side to avoid the head slamming on the spot where she was.
“Stop that. Everyone will hear. You will get us caught!”
More cages were destroyed, and she did her best to avoid the area where the other creatures were still caged. A voice flitted in her ears, faint but clear, before a whistle struck the air.
“Come back!”
Nicola sidestepped another attack, noting the purple bruise forming on the creature’s head at its repeated use. She lured it back to where Ruby was, counted the other small creatures, and made her way toward the lizard-like one.
“Hey, there. You don’t have to fight it. You are safe with her, too. Everything will be all right when you wake up.”
She met the small, uncertain gaze and felt her heart catch when the creature crawled to her lap. She watched as the creature finally gave in to sleep, curled so vulnerably and tugging at every heartstring she had in her body. Reluctantly, she set it on the ground and rushed to Ruby, who looked so beaten up as she knelt in front of the other sleeping creatures.
“Enchanting creatures to sleep isnotmy forte. I feel like my whole body is going to melt from all that energy release.”
“Well, you can’t melt. You need to use your invisible shield thing and get them out of here.”
Ruby’s head snapped up, gaze connecting with hers. The woman groaned.
“I can’t. I’m halfway emptied.”
Nicola knelt before her. “Then use the other half. That will get you to Isaiah’s ship. You can’t let them down, Ruby.”
That got to the woman, her back straightening as a new surge of determination filled her. Ruby nodded.
“You, too. I might be able to find a way to get you covered from the sun—”
“Don’t waste extra energy on me. I’m not coming.”
“What?”
“I have to make sure we left no traces behind with that debacle. Butyouhave to go.”
“Nic—”
“I can handle myself. They can’t. You need to get them to safety. Now.”
Ruby looked like she was bursting to argue but changed her mind at the last second.
