“We can see the volcano in the distance.We’ll start pushing.You and the dragon should carry on, but take your time finding the entrance.Maybe we can overwhelm them with numbers.”
“Who is with you?”Scarlett asked.
“Felix, Leo, Sly, and Joe.Sam came along with Casey.Some of Ransom’s feline friends too.”
Seven with Saber.“You all came,” Scarlett whispered.
The comm started to crackle and hiss, the sound dropping in and out.
“Of course…did.We’re…brothers.”
Another quake shook the ground, the surface bursting closer to them this time.Talon released a snarl as rocks rained down way too close for comfort.She leaped to her feet, as did Ransom.
“What…that?”Saber demanded, his bossiness coming through despite the dropped words.
Ransom would’ve laughed, but the pressure at his temples darted tendrils of discomfort down the back of his neck.
“Talon, the third in our party,” Scarlett said.“We’re going now.The quakes are getting worse here.”
Ransom groaned and fell to his knees, holding his head.Tendrils of pain speared from his temples, writhing deep—the prince exacting punishment for the delay.
“Frying fungus,” Scarlett muttered.“Talk to you soon.”
Ransom inhaled, exhaled, attempting to ride out the pain before the prince spoke.A groan squeezed from between his gritted teeth.This…agony.It had never been this bad.
Scarlett’s hand settled on his shoulder.“Build your fence again.Imagine a steel boot and try to kick him out.Tell him we can’t help him if he’s torturing you this way.”
“Where.Are.You?”the prince shrieked.
The element of the crazy in the prince had never been so noticeable.
“Coming.The volcano is creating problems.”
“You are not moving to my shelter.I caught the victory in your thoughts,”the prince thundered.“You delay so strangers can come to your aid.”
“The ground is shaking up here.You must get out of my head so I can function,”Ransom said.
“I will lose contact with you,”the prince said, his voice still accusing but not as loud.
“Your presence in my head makes me weak.If I'm exhausted, I cannot do the physical labor of digging you out of the rock mound.”
“You need not dig.Push the nose on the head statue and a door will open,”the prince ordered.
“Why didn’t you tell me that earlier?”Ransom asked, not bothering to hide his sarcasm.
“I am telling you now.You must come.”The prince pulled out of his mind with a force that had Ransom’s gorge rising.At the last second, he angled his head away from Scarlett and vomited, barely missing Talon.
The Trolleris gave a surprisedeep, and Scarlett laughed.Talon’s eep changed to a toothy growl.
“Don’t you snarl at me, you whippersnapper.”Scarlett shook her finger at him.
“Haw-haw-haw.”
“I’m glad the pair of you think this is funny,” Ransom said.“I feel like crap.”
Both Scarlett and Talon yanked their shoulders upright, their humor fading.
Scarlett approached him.“Can you stand?”
