He thought she wouldn’t shoot.
Idiot gratason.
The ship listed in the opposite direction, flinging everyone off their feet, just as she fired her blaster.Malasses bellowed in pain.Gweneth struck the wall but retained her weapon.
His stomach.Good shot, kitten.
Malasses didn’t try to stand again.Instead, the massive beast fumbled for something in his pocket.A small control, it fit in the center of his palm.He rolled, giving a pained snort.His jaw set in a determined line and pointed it at Sheera and Leeam.“Shimmer us to the ship’s tender.In the hold.”
“No,” Leeam said, his voice defiant.
Immediately, his collar sparked a fiery blue.Leeam screamed, the sound high and freaky.A chill rippled over Ellard’s fur.Where was Niran?Why couldn’t he grab the control?
“Shimmer us now,” Malasses bellowed as the ship leveled.
Ellard skidded into Malasses and swiped him with his claws.
Malasses bellowed like a male bull-deer in rut.He lowered his head and shoved his horns against Ellard’s ribs.Without room to move, he didn’t do much damage, but it still phrullin’ hurt, the force enough to separate their straining bodies.
Gweneth fired at Malasses, the shot so close that Ellard smelled the charge.
Malasses pushed on the control clutched in his hand.Blue sparks shot from Sheera’s and Leeam’s collars.
“Shimmer,” Malasses ordered.
Gweneth fired a third time, and Malasses groaned, his big body slumping against the wall while Leeam and Sheera shuddered, blue sparks spitting from their collars, pain racking their bodies.
“Not…going…to…lose.”His trembling hand rose, still grasping the control.“Shimmer.”
Sheera collapsed against a wall while Leeam fell to his hands and knees, his breath coming in hoarse pants.
“Can’t,” Sheera pushed out.“No power.”
Malasses pressed his free hand against his belly, and Ellard saw fluid seeping from his wounds.Malasses’s big shoulders drooped, but a crafty expression filled his eyes.He lifted the hand with the control to his mouth, shoved it inside, and swallowed it.
“No!”Gweneth shouted.
Malasses grunted, struggling to keep his head upright, his eyes open.“Not lose.”
Ellard snarled and leaped at him, claws swiping, but it was too late.
“Ellard,” Gweneth said.“Ellard!I think he’s dead.”
Some of his fury subsided, and Ellard backed away from the Kiraxes male.
“Leeam.”Gweneth crouched beside the Incorporeals.“Are you all right?”
“Not dead,” Leeam said in a faint voice.
“Sheera?”Gweneth checked on her next.
Sheera lifted her weighty head, her face shaded a delicate blue.“Hurts.Everything hurts.”
“Where is Niran?”
“F-floor.”Sheera had difficulty pushing the word out.“Hit head.”Her chest rose and fell.“Not m-moving.”
Ellard turned and couldn’t see a thing.
