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Sloane grabbed the Siblet’s gun from his holster and pointed it at his head. “Brutus, release him.”

Brutus growled, before loosening his grip on the Siblet’s collar. He stepped back, but hovered in the Siblet’s personal space, looking like he was waiting for an excuse to give him a nip.

The Siblet slowly rolled over, and his gray eyes widened as he stared at Sloane. “You’re human.”

“And you’re an asshole. Where’s the staff area?”

“Who the hell are you?” His fear-filled gaze shot to Brutus. “And what the hell is that?”

“That’s the adorable killer angel who will rip off your head if you don’t tell me where the staff area is so I can find my Apexian.”

Brutus growled in the Siblet’s face.

His expression tightened. “You won’t be able to get to it. The center of the mine collapsed, along with most of the corridors. The staffing area has been destroyed.”

Sloane wasn’t prepared to believe that, not if Dallin was still in there. “You need to show me where it is. Now!”

The Siblet whimpered as Brutus clamped his teeth onto the alien’s arm. “There could be more explosions. And the air is toxic.”

“From the salnite?”

He muttered something under his breath.

“Was that a curse word?” Sloane stroked Brutus. “You shouldn’t cuss a lady.”

The Siblet’s gaze went to Brutus. “No, ma’am. But you shouldn’t go into the mine. It’s too dangerous.”

“Take me in, anyway.”

“You’re crazy.”

“No, I’m in love. Is there a back way in?”

He shook his head. “The only entrance is over there.”

“Then that’s the way we go.” Sloane’s gaze ran over the Siblet. “Give me your jacket.”

He hesitated a second too long, and Brutus grabbed him and gave him a shake. He pulled off his jacket and threw it at Sloane.

It was too big for her, but would help avoid drawing too much attention. With a bit of luck, the chaos caused by the explosion would mean the Siblet were too panicked to pay her much attention. But she could only rely on luck for so long. She had to get Dallin out fast.

“If you yell for help when we go in there, or do anything dumb, Brutus will bite you. And he won’t stop biting you until you’re no longer moving,” Sloane said.

The Siblet nodded as he rolled onto his feet. “This way. I need my breathing mask.”

“I need it more.” Sloane stared inside the grimy mask. It stank. She really didn’t want to put this thing anywhere near her face.

She paused at the entrance of the mine and saw some breathing masks hanging on pegs. She grabbed one, shook out the dust, and clamped it over her face. She handed the other one to the Siblet, then gestured for him to move with the gun.

Sloane kept the weapon on his back as they entered the smoky, dusty mine. They hadn’t gone far before the air heated and smoke filled the cave. Walls had collapsed, and there were piles of jagged rocks everywhere.

“It looks like you’ll have to find another place to mine the ingredients for your poison,” Sloane said.

“We can’t. This was the only place with a salnite source,” he grumbled.

“Is that so?” No wonder Dallin had blown it up. Destroy the source, and no more poison.

“Brutus! This way.” Sloane grabbed the back of the Siblet’s shirt and yanked him along an empty corridor as footsteps approached. She pressed the gun to the alien’s head and glared at him, while Brutus gave a menacing growl and slid his teeth over the Siblet’s arm.