Thadd grabbed two scientists and knocked their heads together. He released them and they dropped to the floor.
A female opened her mouth and Poppy held her claws to the woman’s neck. “Quiet.”
The woman froze.
Brodin glared at the male, until the man’s gaze dropped to the floor.
“You’ll answer my questions, or I’ll gut you and leave you bleeding. Understand?”
The man nodded rapidly.
“What does this machine do?”
The Zhylaw swallowed and stayed silent. Brodin shook him.
“I-I it’s a disperser. When the ship is airborne, it will pump poison into the planet’s atmosphere.”
Poppy went still. “What poison?”
The man swallowed rapidly.
“What poison?” Brodin growled.
“The poison Candela developed that drives the Damari wild,” the man said in a rush.
Poppy’s insides froze. Oh, no.
Chapter Sixteen
Brodin tried to control the molten rage inside him.
Candela wanted to drive every single one of his people—man, woman, and child—mad. She wanted them to kill each other, blindly murder their own loved ones.
And this worm was helping her.
His claws tightened. The scientist whimpered.
“How do you deactivate it?” Poppy asked.
“I don’t know—”
Brodin shook the man.
“I don’t, I swear. All I know is that there is a panel at the very top that Candela doesn’t let anyone near.”
“Brodin!” Thadd yelled.
Snarls and hisses filled the dome.
Brodin turned his head, and spotted several Zhylaw cats entering the room.
The one in the lead was huge, with pure-black fur—the alpha.
“Lock the scientists in a cage,” Brodin ordered.
Thadd nodded and yanked the scientist in front of him closer.
“Brodin, I need to get to the top of the machine and take a closer look,” Poppy said. “I need to find a way to deactivate and destroy it.”
If anyone could do it, it was Poppy.
He tugged her close for a quick kiss. “Do it. Stay safe.”
“You, too.” She kissed him back. “Give me a boost?”
He gripped her waist and tossed her upward.
She flew through the air and grabbed the side of the machine, scrambling up onto one of its many ledges.
Brodin turned to face the cats.
The stench of rot and decay wafted from them. Time to put them down. His claws lengthened and his body semi-shifted. He felt his muscles and bones growing.
Across the space, he saw Annora had three of the kids out of the stasis fields, but the cats were coming. Brodin had to buy her more time.
With a roar, he sprinted toward the cats. He leaped over a crate, and a cat ran at him.
They both went airborne. Brodin slashed, catching the cat’s face. Black blood sprayed.
As soon as he hit the floor, he spun and thrust his claws into its side, cutting it open. It fell, and he kicked it aside.
Two more cats were slinking close. “Come on, then.” He lifted his claws.
The beasts dashed at him. He swung his claws, gouging deep. One cat let out a sharp cry.
The second beast hit Brodin’s back, its claws biting deep into his armor.
He felt the sting of poison. Gorr. These ones had poison on their claws. He reached over his shoulder and yanked the cat off him. He threw it to the floor.
It tried to right itself, but Brodin jumped. He landed on top of it. He gripped one of its legs and crushed it with a crunch of bone.
The cat’s screech was deafening.
Turning, he headed toward the cats attacking Annora’s team.
He slashed until the floor was slick with black blood.
His claws stuck in the rib cage of one cat, and when another one leaped, Brodin threw out his other arm and grabbed the animal.
It hissed. He threw it with all his strength, and it crashed into the wall. He heard bones crunch. It slid down the wall and didn’t get up.
He glanced at the machine and his heart stopped.
Poppy was climbing higher. Where the gorr was she going?
That’s when he saw Candela was climbing after her.
There you are. Rage contracted to a hard point in his gut. The Zhylaw witch would not hurt his woman.
Brodin started across the space.
The alpha cat leaped into his path and snarled. Its lips lifted to show razor-sharp fangs.
Brodin scowled, raised his claws, and howled. He launched at the cat.
The cat darted to the side, fast. Impossibly fast.
As the cat leaped, Brodin jumped to meet it.
They crashed into each other. He felt the slash of claws as he rammed his into black fur.
They hit the floor and rolled.
Brodin’s back smashed against a crate, and it splintered with the crunch. He released the cat and rolled onto his feet.
This one was faster and stronger than the others.
He risked a quick glance at Poppy. He saw her kicking at Candela.
Brodin growled.
He needed to help her.
Quickly, he pulled the quick-release bindings on his armor. He ripped it off, then shucked his shirt and pants. The cat snarled at him, watching him cautiously, readying to attack.
He let the change flow over him. His muscles stretched and lengthened. Fur formed.
His senses shifted to damar-wolf. His large paws slapped the floor.
The alpha cat snarled, and Brodin howled.
They sprinted at each other, and leaped.
They tore into each other, claws slashing and jaws snapping.
Brodin felt the sting of claws and poison, but he ignored it. The fight turned brutal.
He pivoted, his fangs bared, and darted in again. His jaws closed on the cat’s back leg. Something snapped.
With a yelp, the cat leaped back, holding one leg off the ground. Its eyes glowed bright green.
They circled each other.
Brodin went in for the kill.
This time he closed his jaws on the cat’s neck. It twisted and struggled, but Brodin kept his tight grip on the beast. He bit down harder. Claws raked his gut, but he doggedly held on.
The cat stilled and Brodin jerked his head, tearing flesh. Blood splattered, and the alpha cat slumped.
With a shake of his head, Brodin tossed the body aside.
Then he started toward the machine and shifted back. The change flowed over him, and he straightened, his body back to that of a man. He stopped to yank on his discarded pants, but there was no time for his armor. He ran to the machine.
Candela and Poppy were facing off right at the top.
He saw Candela swipe out with her claw-tipped hands.
Poppy jumped back and lost her balance. She teetered on the edge.
No.
She windmilled her arms and caught herself.
Brodin pressed his hands to the machine and started climbing.
He had to reach Poppy.
He had to stop Candela.
Poppy gritted her teeth and faced Candela.
The woman had an eyepatch over the eye Poppy had injured.
Poppy needed the warlord out of the way, so she could deactivate the machine. There was no time to look down, but she knew the fight was still raging below.
“You will die here,” Candela drawled.
“How’s that eye doing?” Poppy asked. “I might cut out your other one next.”
The warlord’s face twisted. “I’ll make sure you die painfully. I’m sorry you won’t get to see this savage planet tear itself apart.” She flung her arm out. “These animals will get what they deserve.”