He paused and glanced at her with his slit-eyes.Intelligent and sexy.The inappropriate thought bloomed and tempted her.Scarlett wished they had time for her to touch his scales and study him at her leisure.Instead, she lifted his pack onto his outstretched claws and followed him as he edged around the courtyard to a path she hadn’t noticed.
The Trolleris chattered amongst themselves, and again, the larger aliens took the lead.One of them glowered at Scarlett with flashing red eyes.It snarled in a display of jagged teeth and charged before pulling up so fast that it fell.Seconds later, the creature exploded.
Scarlett gritted her teeth and searched her peripheral vision.Sorrow filled her along with anger.If this prince had caused this pain and suffering, she’d gut his royal personage herself.
No one should have such power.
No one.
There had to be something they could do to stop the prince from waking and taking over this planet.Some way to halt this despot in his tracks.
Ransom let out another blast of flames.A younger Trolleris stepped forward instead of retreating.The flames licked his fur.He shrieked, and several others raced to him to pat out the fire on his shaggy coat.
“He’s okay,” Scarlett shouted when Ransom hesitated.“They’ve put out the fire.Keep moving.”
In answer, Ransom sidled past the biggest group with Scarlett scurrying behind him.The Trolleris remained in position, although another one disintegrated, spitting chunks of chestnut fur and flesh everywhere.
Scarlett swallowed hard as the Trolleris fell upon the flesh.Horror filled her as she realized they were contagious.Each Trolleris that shoved tissue into its mouth shrieked, and their eyes shifted from nutmeg-brown to a glowing red.
A smaller creature made a break.It carried something in its arms and ran toward them.Desperation filled the Trolleris.It darted around a lumbering giant and burst between two other infected creatures before he or she tripped.The thing it had been carrying moved.
A baby?
Frying fungus.
Scarlett was running before she even issued the command to her brain.She didn’t measure pros and cons.She didn’t hesitate.The Trolleris child was in danger.
She sprinted for the youngster, determined to save it.Several creatures had already grabbed at the fallen Trolleris who’d been carrying the child.They snapped and snarled at each other, grasped her limbs, and…
Scarlett ripped her gaze away, not having the stomach to watch this barbarity.She reached the child just as another Trolleris grabbed it.Scarlett snarled, letting her feline sound in her voice.The Trolleris—a male, since he was so big— growled at her, froth splattering from his mouth.
Somehow, she had to get the child off him.His eyes were glowing traffic-light-red, and this did not bode well.Committed now, she grabbed the child and yanked.Yes!She glimpsed big brown eyes when she glanced at the child, yet he or she didn’t make a sound.Scarlett retreated as Ransom breathed out some of his fire and stopped another group of foaming, snarling Trolleris creatures from cutting off her retreat.
In the instant she took her attention off the big, male Trolleris, he grabbed her and hauled her close.
The fetid stink of him churned her stomach.She swallowed convulsively, kicked, and snarled.Bloody hell, he was strong.For a moment, she thought she’d make it because she landed her boot in his groin.He let out a bellow.Oh!Seemed they didn’t enjoy that.She kicked out again, but he grasped one arm, his sharp black claws snagging on her tunic.Scarlett almost dropped the child, but he or she clung like a vine, leaving her free to punch and strike the Trolleris.
In retaliation, the creature bit down on her biceps.Scarlett released a shriek of pain.
“I’m not your friggin’ chew toy,” she snarled, slapping and struggling.
Somehow, she kicked the Trolleris in the balls again.He fell to his shaggy knees with a pained groan, and several other creatures were on him instantly.Scarlett backpedaled, part of her amazed she still had the child.
“Run,” Ransom shouted.
8.A Rescue and a Big Freakin’ Disaster
Scarlettsprintedtosafety,barely flinching when a blaster went off to her right.
“Hurry.”Ransom was naked, and he wore his pack on his back.He scooped up hers from where she’d dropped it.“Follow that trail.Don’t worry about your pack.I’ve got it.”
She followed his order without hesitation, adrenaline propelling her up the rise.Ransom ran up the path behind her, his exhalations emerging in bellowslike pants.Once the level flattened out, she slowed to catch her breath.
“They’re not following,” Ransom confirmed even as she scanned the area for pursuers.“I doubt they have the energy for the climb.It’s not far to the top.We’ll stop there for a breather, and I’ll dress.Is the youngling well?”
Scarlett studied the clinging child and smoothed her hand over its head.Its eyes opened, and they stared at each other.“He or she seems to be fine.It’s a youngster rather than a baby.The mother wanted us to take the child.”
“Yes.”That was all Ransom said.
