“Now!” He bellowed at the women, waving a hand. “Behind me.”
The trio moved as a group, sprinting toward him.
But the dag’tar heard and charged at them.
Blaine leaped into the air, hit the ground, and rolled…right under the dag’tar. With a massive thrust, he jammed his sword up into the animal’s belly.
Orange blood splattered onto the sand, and the creature gave a shocked roar. Blaine rolled away.
Lore balanced on the edge of the pit, racking his brain. How could he help? And how could they drakking get them out without being mobbed by the guards? All while evading an enraged dag’tar?
Come on, Galen. Get down here, fast.
The dag’tar swung out a giant clawed arm. Blaine ducked and leaped to the side, tackling the black-haired woman out of the way. The brunette rolled through the dirt, pressing her belly flat to the ground.
But the small blonde woman wasn’t fast enough. The dag’tar caught her and she flew through the air. She hit the ground hard, tumbling through the sand several times before stopping.
The creature backed away from the others, and lumbered toward the fallen woman.
“Oh no,” Madeline said, her voice tight. “Get up.”
Lore watched, a knot in his belly, as the blonde struggled to push herself up. The woman was clearly dazed.
The dag’tar advanced. Madeline squeezed Lore’s hand tight. Grinding his teeth together, Lore readied himself to jump, even though he knew he was on the wrong side of the pit, and too far away.
There was a clanking sound and Lore turned his head to see the gate on another tunnel into the pit open.
Suddenly, another big shape rushed out of the dark tunnel mouth.
A big, blue-skinned, tattooed alien ran forward, long, matted hair flying out behind him.
It was the beast-man.
With a roar of his own, the man leaped at the dag’tar. He yanked out two giant fighting forks that gleamed in the lights. He hit the dag’tar, driving the three-pronged weapons deep into the creature’s side.
Then he leaped off, landing in a crouch right in front of the cornered woman.
The dag’tar spun in an unwieldy, frenzied circle, clearly in pain from its injuries. The beast-man approached the woman.
Drak. Lore’s muscled locked tight. Was this blue alien a friend or foe?
The woman looked up panicked, pressing against the rock wall. The beast-man moved closer, and grabbed her, pulling her up.
She was shaking her head. He pulled her closer and pressed his face against her neck.
“What’s he doing to her?” Madeline frowned. “It looks like he’s sniffing her.”
But then the dag’tar let out a roar, louder than before. The spectators all gasped, a wave of unease rippling through the crowd.
It lumbered across the pit, its burning gaze on Blaine and the two women with him. It came ever closer, and soon it would be directly below Lore and Madeline.
It was now or never. “I’m going to jump onto the creature’s back.”
“Are you crazy?” she snapped.
“I have to get down there and help them. Go and find Galen.” He didn’t want her running off alone, but he really didn’t want her in the pit.
But he also knew it had to be her choice. He knew his brave woman would do whatever she had to, in order to help the people below. Just as she’d sacrificed everything for her son.
Lore dragged in a breath. “Or you can come with me into the pit and help the women while I take down the dag’tar.” Their gazes met. “Your choice.”
He saw a smile flash on her lips, and something soft and bright flared in her eyes. Then her gaze zeroed back on the fighters and women trapped in the pit below, and her face hardened with resolve.
She gave a nod. “Don’t die, Lore. I can’t lose you, too.”
He yanked her in for a fast kiss. “You too. Stay alive.”
Then he grabbed her hand, spun, and leaped out onto the dag’tar’s back, pulling Madeline with him.
Chapter Fifteen
Lore slammed onto the dag’tar’s back, holding on tight to Madeline.
Her eyes were wide, but she was calm and focused. He leaned over and, holding her hand, lowered her down to the ground.
“Get to the women.” And stay safe.
She nodded, and a second later, she was sprinting toward Blaine and the other women.
Lore glanced at the blonde woman. She was still held protectively in the blue alien’s arms, and he was walking toward Madeline and the other women. They were safe for the moment. Lore had to focus on taking down the dag’tar.
The crowd’s wild shouts echoed in his ears, but he blocked them out. He lifted his sword, then brought it down, plunging it into the back of the animal’s neck.
Orange blood splattered, and the creature reared, throwing Lore off. He landed on the dirt and rolled. When he came up, he saw Blaine standing beside him.