Page 116 of Shielded Heart

Drakkal’s expression hardened. “Can’t feel my arm. How bad did he get me?”

“The good news is that your arm looks fine,” Arcanthus said from behind Samantha. “It just happens to be separated from your body.”

Samantha turned her head to look at Arcanthus with disbelieving eyes. “Arc!”

The azhera’s nostrils flared with a heavy exhalation, and he opened his eyes again; they were clearer, this time, more alert and determined. “Still three limbs ahead of you, sedhi.”

Arcanthus moved to Drakkal’s side and crouched, slipping a hand beneath the azhera’s uninjured arm. “Let’s get you on your feet, old friend. We need to leave before any moreguestsshow up.”

Samantha stood up. “The others?”

“They made it into the escape tunnel,” Arcanthus said as he helped Drakkal up, taking the azhera’s weight on his shoulder. “Anyone who didn’t is probably already dead.”

Her heart seized at the thought of losing any of her new friends—her newfamily. She’d only just found the place she belonged, and they’d taken her into their fold so readily, had treated her as one of their own from the start. She couldn’t bear to lose any of them.

Arcanthus used the tip of his tail to activate his holocom and opened the workshop blast door fully, revealing the destruction within. The couches were charred, the floor scorched with blast marks, and bodies—or at least pieces of bodies—were scattered everywhere, blasted into ash. The air was thick with the stench of burned flesh.

Sam walked beside Arc as he and Drakkal entered the workshop. Neither of the males seemed affected by the carnage around them. She tried to emulate their indifference, telling herself that thoseweren’tcorpses, that the blackened piles of ashhadn’tbeen people a few minutes ago. Her stomach churned and twisted; she pressed her lips together and clutched Arcanthus. He slid his tail around her waist, offering wordless comfort.

They mounted the steps to the platform. His desk was in pieces, and much of the equipment against the surrounding walls was damaged or destroyed, though several of the screens were still operational. One of the entrances had been blasted open, and the door lay in several large, deformed chunks nearby.

Arc input a command on one of the surviving holo screens; a hatch slid open at the center of the platform, revealing to a set of steep, illuminated steps. The opening was too narrow for them to descend side-by-side. Arcanthus directed Samantha down first.

Her gaze lingered on Arcanthus and Drakkal for a few seconds before she took in a deep breath, turned, and descended into the narrow tunnel.

She was greeted by several blasters pointed at her. Her eyes widened and her heart stopped.

“Samantha,” Sekk’thi gasped. Razi, Kiloq, Koroq, Thargen, and Urgand stood near her, blocking the tunnel with their bodies. Several other people Samantha didn’t know were behind them; they must’ve been more members of the security team.

They all lowered their weapons, looks of relief softening their expressions.

Sekk’thi shoved her way forward and pulled Samantha into a tight, one-armed embrace. “You tough, stupid little terran. I am glad you are safe.”

Samantha pulled away from Sekk’thi and glanced at the ilthurii’s right arm, which was tucked tight against her side. “You’re hurt!”

“I will be fine, Samantha. I have had worse.”

“You were supposed to be with us, terran,” Kiloq said, scowling.

“I had to help Drakkal,” Sam replied.

“Is he…”

“I’m not dead,” Drakkal growled from behind Samantha.

She looked back to see him moving down the stairs, supporting himself with his uninjured arm against the wall. Arc was just in front of him, keeping close. As soon as Drakkal was low enough, Arcanthus closed the hatch overhead.

“You lost an arm,” Koroq said.

“Kraasz ka’val,do you think I didn’t notice that?” Drakkal replied through his bared teeth.

“To be fair, you didn’t,” Arcanthus said. “But we can talk about all that later. We need to move. We’ll get a clean-up crew in as soon as possible once we’re out.”

The tunnel shook with an explosion from overhead, the force of which resonated through the walls and floor.

“What’s happening now?” Kiloq asked.

“Just destroying some evidence,” Arcanthus replied. “Now, if you’d all be so kind as tomove, it would be greatly appreciated.”

---