The other alien released a scream of utter rage, as if even without sight it knew exactly what had happened. It leaped for Cage with unerring accuracy, and he barely managed to propel himself out of the way. He must have swung his sword as he did so, because a moment later he tumbled to the floor, leaving the cutlass buried in the alien’s arm.

He’d missed.

Cage flipped onto his elbows and froze as the creature screamed again. It ignored the sword protruding from its arm, pivoting back and forth in search of him.

Somewhere in the distance, another alien howled.

“What are you waiting for?” I shouted at the hunters. “Kill it!” I raised Liam’s musket and targeted as best I could. I knew how to operate a laser rifle, but Omnistellar didn’t use them much; traditional weapons and stun guns were more effective. The weird design of the weapon didn’t help my limited experience, either. And then of course there were my trembling hands. I hesitated too long, making sure I had a clear shot before I pulled the trigger. By then the alien had slid out of my way.

Rune hovered helplessly behind me as Bian and Priya opened fire on the creature. I lowered the gun, more than happy to leave the shooting to them. The alien moved with bizarre speed and elegance, faster than I remembered the creatures on Sanctuary, its claws slashing for anyone within reach. I lunged out of its way, grabbing Rune and tucking her beneath me, rolling to my side and sheltering us against the wall.

Priya and Bian dove too, but Bian was too slow, and the alien caught her again. She screamed in agony as its claws tore through her neck. “Bian!” Priya roared, and the two women collided on the floor in a messy, bloody heap as she fumbled at Bian’s throat, trying to stanch the blood.

The creature targeted them, but Cage launched to his feet, whipping past it. He grabbed the cutlass as he passed and wrenched it free, and the alien gave another shrill scream.

Two more answered.

Close.

Very close.

“We have to get out of here!” I shouted.

Priya straightened, her face pale, and Bian stopped choking, stopped moving. Slowly, Priya passed her hands over the other woman’s eyes. Then she raised her arm and fired.

The bullet caught the alien in its left eye. Its head jerked, and its howl echoed through the halls. “Move!” she ordered.

None of us argued. I grabbed Rune, dragged her to her feet, and hauled her the way we’d come. Cage followed at a regular speed, and Priya brought up the rear, running backward with her weapon aimed at the hall behind us.

We returned to where we’d left Liam only to find, unsurprisingly, that he’d vanished. “I thought he’d at least wait for his weapons,” I said in disgust.

“Who?” Priya demanded sharply.

I shook my head. “Never mind. You don’t . . .”