Neon green flared to life in his eyes. “I’ve got it.”
“Can you find the source?”
“Working on it.”
Her canine moved forward, his gaze glued to the approaching robots.
“There.” Xander pointed. Up.
She stared up and two platforms over. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
“Sorry, no.”
There was a long slim pole that rose into the air. A red light blinked at the top.
Looked like she was going climbing.
But first, they had to get there.
The dog went first,then Xander, and Malin followed behind.
“Stars, I want this over with,” she muttered.
Xander agreed with her.
They hurried over a bridge, ignoring it as it swayed. On the first platform, the canine bounded forward and engaged the robot coming at them. They clashed with a clang of metal.
“Come on.” Xander dragged her around the fighting robots.
To get to the transmitter platform there was only a long, slim piece of metal crossing the void.
“I’m going to be sick.”
“No, you’re not.” Xander gave her his back. “Jump up. I have good balance. You just hang on.”
With a gulp, she climbed on his back, her arms and legs holding on tight.
He moved across the strip of metal, keeping his steps slow and easy, using his enhancements to maintain perfect balance—even while missing an arm and with Malin’s slight, but added, weight.
He stepped onto the platform and let her down.
“Thank the stars,” she mumbled.
But he was looking beyond their platform. At the robots moving quickly toward them.
“Go. Get up there and work your magic.” He tugged her close for a quick, hard kiss.
She gave him a nod, then gripped the pole. He helped her jump up and wrap her legs around it. She shot him a narrow glance. “Don’t lose any more limbs, okay?”
“Would you care if I was all mechanical limbs?”
She poked her tongue out. “Dumb question, tough guy.” Then she grinned. “Although there is one appendage of yours I like just the way it is.”
Xander laughed. Jesus, here they were, robots bearing down on them to kill them and he was laughing. Malin Phoenix brought out the best in him.
With another saucy smile, she shimmied up the pole, hampered a little by her sore feet. But she didn’t let it stop her.
Xander turned to face the oncoming attackers.
