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Sloane felt like her heart was about to explode, but she wasn’t giving up. And slowly, the rock lifted a couple of inches.

“That’s it!” Dallin shuffled back until his leg was free.

“Brutus, let go.” Sloane waited until he’d moved back, her muscles straining, before dropping the rock and falling to her knees.

Dallin’s large, warm hand landed on her shoulder. “You saved me.”

Sloane threw herself into his arms, and they toppled over and landed on the floor. She kissed him, not caring that she could taste blood, until they were both breathless and her panicked thoughts had settled.

His warm smile melted her, but she leaned back and glared at him. “I’m still cross with you.”

“I’m amazed by you. I always am. Cleo said I always underestimate you.”

She gave a soft snort. “You do. And that changes from today. I’m done being your assistant and your caregiver. I want to be your partner in everything. I want to work alongside you. I want to spend my nights in your bed, and I want to be yours.”

“I want all of that, too.” He pressed a soft kiss to her lips, but Sloane saw doubt marring his expression.

“I’m sensing there’s a but behind that statement. What’s worrying you? If it’s your injuries, you’ll heal. I’ve seen Apexians have much worse than a broken leg.”

“My injuries aren’t the problem.” Dallin stroked hair off her face. “Sloane, the Siblet gave me a lethal dose of their poison.”

Her breath lodged in her throat. She dashed a tear off her cheek and shook her head. “No! You don’t get to die. It’s not fair.”

“I might not have a choice.”

“Yes, you do. We’ll get you the antidote, and you’ll be fine. We both will.”

“The antidote we need is being cooked up back on the Apocalypse,” he said.

“Then that’s where we need to be.”

Dallin’s gaze dropped. “Are you planning on carrying me out of this mine?”

“Yes! And I won’t do it on my own.” Sloane caught hold of Brutus and drew him over. “Our furry friend here has a secret. His former owner used to ride him. That’s how I got here. Brutus let me ride on his back.”

Dallin’s mouth twisted to the side as his gaze ran over Brutus. “I’m a lot bigger than you.”

“Then we’ll carry you between us.” She caught his face in her hands. “I’m not giving up on you. I’m getting you out of this mine, back to the ship, and pumping you full of antidote.”

“You too,” he said. “You’re still poisoned.”

“A hundred percent, me too. We’re both surviving this. After all, I have some punishment I need to administer.”

Dallin sucked in a breath, a smile wavering on his lips. “Then let’s see what it’s like to ride a grimlin.”

Sloane wrapped an arm around Dallin’s waist, and after a few fumbled attempts, got him to his feet. He tried to settle on Brutus’s back, but his injured leg hung awkwardly and kept hitting the ground.

Dallin cursed and rolled off Brutus. “This won’t work.”

“Yes, it will. If you can’t ride Brutus, you can use him as a support, so you don’t put any weight on that leg. Brutus, stay on Dallin’s right side. He needs to lean on you.”

Brutus got into position, and Dallin placed his hand on the grimlin’s back.

“He’s strong. Brutus can take more of your weight.” Sloane clamped an arm around Dallin’s waist. “Put my breathing mask on.”

“You take it. I can breathe okay.”

She didn’t believe him, but there was no time to argue. “Are you ready to move?”