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Cleo kept her fear from overwhelming her, but only just. “It’s not dead. You’re just badly injured. We both need help to get fixed up.”

He nodded. “It’s been a while since I’ve been this beat up. Maybe I’m feeling friendlier toward a life of paperwork and meetings right about now.”

“I promise you, it’s all waiting for when you get back to the Apocalypse.” Cleo’s side burned from the slash-punch the creature had hit her with, and the skin across one cheek ached.

“I can’t wait.” His breath rasped out of him.

“We should rest awhile,” she said. “You need more time to let the healing kick in.”

Hunter shook his head. “I have to get you out of here. I didn’t realize how badly you’d been hurt.”

“Neither did I until I stopped fighting. I think I was running on adrenaline. I wish it wasn’t wearing off. Everything’s starting to hurt.”

Hunter sucked in a breath, and a crackling sound came out when he exhaled. “I need a minute. But you should go. I’ll catch up with you.”

“Nice try, but I’m going nowhere without you. Even if we crawl out of here, we’re leaving together.”

“My beautiful, stubborn human.” He kissed the top of her head. “Where the hell are Georgia and Ash? They must have killed that thing by now.”

“I haven’t seen them since Ash chased after Georgia. They’ll be okay.” She really hoped they would be fine. They were fighters, but the creature she’d tackled was something else. All it wanted to do was maim and destroy.

Hunter pulled himself upright, keeping his arms wrapped around her. “Let’s move.”

She bit back her protests as he struggled to stay on his feet. “You can put me down. I can walk, so long as we take it slow.”

His lack of protest showed Cleo just how injured he was, and her heart ached for Hunter. Her powerful, protective warrior was struggling.

He lowered her to the ground, being careful not to touch the injury on her side.

Black dots colored Cleo’s vision, but she stayed standing and wrapped her arms tightly around Hunter’s waist. “Are we ready to take on the world?”

“Always, when I’ve got you by my side.”

They made it ten steps before Hunter fell and sank to his knees. Cleo went down too and landed face first in the dirt.

Tears of frustration ran down her cheeks, stinging the cuts on her skin. Everything felt lost. Her body throbbed with pain, her heart stuttered with fear, and her love was dying, and she couldn’t help him.

Cleo was furious with the Siblet, angry with High Command, but most of all she was mad with herself. She’d wasted so much time keeping this wonderful alien at arms’ length, and all because she was scared of getting mistreated again. It hadn’t been worth it. She’d missed out on so much, and now they were going to die below ground in a Siblet hellhole.

“Something’s coming,” Hunter mumbled, remaining on the ground, his breath wheezing out of him.

Cleo pulled herself to her feet and balled her hands into fists. She stood in front of Hunter. She’d protect her alien with her very last breath.

“Georgia!” She sagged with relief as Georgia raced around the corner. She was limping, but she had a medical kit in her hand.

“I figured you might need this.” She dropped down beside Hunter.

“You killed the other beast?” Cleo said.

“Of course. Ash went all alpha Apexian on it and it didn’t stand a chance.” Her gaze ran over Cleo. “You don’t look too hot.”

“I’ll be okay. Help Hunter. He’s... I think he’s dying.”

He shook his head but didn’t speak.

Georgia eased the pack off his back, handed it to Cleo, and then rolled him over. She checked his pulse and grimaced. “This is bad.”

“You have to keep him alive!”

“That’s the plan.” Georgia jabbed Hunter with a needle.

He gasped, and his eyes flicked open.

She tapped his cheek. “That was just a temporary boost. Don’t think you’re all healed. Push yourself, and you’re dead.”

He nodded. “Got it.”

Cleo knelt and pressed a kiss to his bloody lips. “Don’t you dare go dying on me.”

“We need to move,” Georgia said. “Ash found us an escape route, but the Siblet are on the move, so we won’t have long before we’re cut off.”

Cleo hauled Hunter up with Georgia’s help. “Are you ready to get out of here?”

“Drag me to safety, beautiful. I’m right with you.”