Then another.
Energy filled the air.
Carvia and her team had attacked. Shouts cut through the darkness. The hexids on the wall dashed off.
“Clear,” Rhain said. “Let’s move.”
He moved forward. They picked their way over the rocks. He leaped onto a wall and landed in a crouch. The others followed.
There was a bright glow ahead, deeper into the ruins.
As they approached, he heard a low groan. The hairs on his arms raised. That was Thadd.
They crept forward, and Rhain paused and looked down.
The ruins moved deeper into a natural rock bowl. Mal sucked in a breath. Herris muttered a near-silent curse.
There were creatures in cages. Mostly hexids, but a few others. Some were native Zhalton animals that had been desecrated by the Zhylaw.
Several hexids slammed against the bars—wild and aggressive.
Zhylaw in black uniforms walked between the cages. Some were studying projections, and others held pieces of tech.
There were several benches laid out. Most had animals or people strapped to them.
Rhain’s gut curdled.
He heard that deep groan again.
He turned his head and ground his teeth together. Thadd was strapped down to a bench. A Zhylaw scientist poked into his chest, which was cracked open.
Thadd had an implant embedded at his temple, and he thrashed against his bindings.
“I see our latest subject is being stubborn,” a sharp voice said.
Krastin stepped into view.
Rhain hadn’t realized he’d started to move until Mal grabbed his arm.
“Wait,” she whispered urgently.
He saw anger burning in her gaze, and he blew out a breath.
“He is very strong-willed,” the scientist said.
“Good. I like breaking strong wills. They make very loyal followers after.” Krastin smiled.
“I’ll kill him,” Rhain whispered.
“And I’ll help you. But first, we need a plan.”
“Can you see Poppy?”
Mal shook her head and bit her lip.
“There’s fighting at the entrance, Krastin,” someone said.
“The guards will handle it.” Krastin’s smile turned icy cold. “Overlord Sarkany cannot win this fight. He will die tonight trying to save his man.”
“His father wants him alive,” the scientist said nervously.
Krastin lifted one shoulder. “And how is our very special test subject?”
“I’m not sure she’ll survive the transition, but she’s still alive.”
“I wish we had access to our full facilities. I hate having to make do.” Krastin cast an unhappy look around the ruins.
Then the warlord’s gaze swiveled and lifted. Rhain followed it and felt Mal go rigid.
A cage hung from an archway. It was partly blocked by a pillar, so they hadn’t noticed it before.
A small, blonde woman lay on the floor of it. Unmoving.
“Poppy,” Mal whispered.
Rhain saw the woman jerk, like she was having a seizure.
“She’s alive,” he said. “We’ll get her out.”
“What’s the plan, Overlord?” Herris asked from behind him.
Rhain studied the area. The hexids were caged, and the scientists were unlikely to be too much of a danger.
“Our priority is freeing Thadd and Poppy.” Rhain turned to his fighters. “I’ll confront Krastin—”
“Rhain, no.” Mal grabbed his hand.
“He’s the most dangerous. I’ll keep him busy. Mal, you free Thadd. Herris and Zand, find a way to lower Poppy’s cage and get her out.”
Mal looked away, her lips pressed into a flat line.
Rhain pressed a finger under her chin. “It will be fine. We have to save our friends.”
“I worry what risks you’ll take to beat Krastin.”
He pulled her closer. “Mal—”
She yanked him close and kissed him. “Stay alive, Rhain. We have a conversation to have, remember?”
Love flared inside him. “Stay safe, Mal.”
“You too, your Overlordness, or I will find a way to make you very sorry.”
He believed her. He dropped another kiss to her mouth, then rose. Silently, he moved away from Mal and the others.
“Krastin.” Rhain let his voice echo through the ruins.
The scientists spun.
Krastin stepped forward. “Ah, Overlord, finally.”
“It’s you who will die here tonight,” Rhain said.
They walked toward each other.
“We’ll see,” Krastin fired back.
Mal’s heart was thumping like a bass drum as she crept toward Thadd.
She couldn’t drag her eyes off Rhain and Krastin.
Krastin was much shorter than Rhain, and looked like he was no match for him.
Then the Zhylaw warlord stepped forward. Suddenly, six tentacle-like appendages burst from the man’s back.
Mal gasped, horror gripping her. They looked like snakes, splaying out behind him. Each one had teeth on the end.
Of course, the Zhylaw would depend on their horrible enhancements, even on themselves.
Rhain drew his wicked swords and they lit up as he charged them with energy.
The men ran at each other.
Tentacles snapped at Rhain, biting and ripping his flesh. His swords slashed, and he sliced one tentacle off. But it instantly started to regrow.
No.
Rhain didn’t look worried. He whirled and slashed. Krastin leaped out of the way, and they danced across the space.
Thadd. She had to get to Thadd.
Pulling her gaze off Rhain, she darted forward. She got closer and saw the terrible wounds on Thadd’s chest.
Movement made her whip her sword up.
A female Zhylaw scientist froze, dark eyes wide. Mal glared at the woman, then the Zhylaw spun and raced away.
The woman wasn’t Mal’s priority. She hurried past the cages, and the hexids inside snarled and growled.
Their eyes were inky black and they threw themselves at the bars, mindless and hungry.
All these creatures wanted to do was tear and kill.
For a second, Mal wondered if these creatures remembered what they’d been, if who they once were was still inside them. Did they have any awareness of what they’d become?
She looked up at the hanging cage and Poppy’s motionless form.
Mal’s chest hitched. Almost there, Poppy.
She saw Herris and Zand under the cage. She trusted the fighters to get her friend down.
Mal circled the benches and saw other animals strapped down. She couldn’t leave them. One was a dog-like creature with matted curly fur and large liquid eyes filled with pain. Mal sliced the bindings.
With a yip, the animal rolled off.
Oh boy, he was bigger than she’d guessed and reached above her waist.
It moved forward and she froze.
Then it licked her hand before it turned and bounded away into the darkness.
Right. She rubbed the slobber on her pants and kept moving. As she checked the other animals, she realized all of them were dead.
She finally reached Thadd and swallowed the bile in her throat.
“I’m here, Thadd,” she whispered.
He turned his head. His gaze was hot and feverish, but she wasn’t sure if he saw her or recognized her.
She untied the heavy bindings and unclipped the medical equipment attached to him. His chest was a raw, gaping wound. She swallowed hard. She couldn’t move him like this.