When Volethos reaches out for me, still coming at full speed, Treto wraps his arms around my waist as he pivots me out of the airlock. My teeth sink into my bottom lip, and I try not to cry when he pins me, shielding my body with his, against the wall.
“Don’t let him get away—Vittu!”Rovos… or maybe it’s Brox, I can’t be sure, shouts.
My arm is screaming in pain, and when I whimper, Treto softly hushes me. My vision goes spotty for a moment. When everything comes back into focus, it takes me a moment to realize what is happening.
There’s a male I’ve never seen before standing on the other side of the airlock, just inside the cruiser. He’s big; his skin’s a mottled green color, and he’s got a beard of wriggling tentacles. This must be the Davy Jones Skylar mentioned.
One side of his shirt is soaked with dark blue blood, and he looks like he’s supporting Volethos, who is leaning heavily on him.
“Tenir?” Rovos looks just as surprised to see him. “Where did you come from?”
“Whose fucking ship do you think this is?” Tenir snaps.
That’s when I realize the reason Volethos is leaning on him is because Tenir has a knife buried to the hilt in his gut. “Now, I’ve had just about enough of all of you. Get out of here, and I’ll take care of his piece of shit.”
Not needing to be told twice, Treto turns away from him and starts leading me further into theShade.
“Will he kill Volethos?” I ask, craning to look at what is happening behind us.
“If we’re lucky,” Treto snorts. “Come away,Sorsa.”
No sooner are we inside, I hear the whine of engines.
“He’s going to blow from the shuttle!” I hear Igid shout.
Treto curses and then sets me against the wall before turning and racing back to help secure the airlock. A shudder ripples up through my feet as the engine whine turns into a roar.
“Hurry,” Igid pants, adding her weight to the door as Rovos starts the sequence to engage it.
Oh, shit. How much pressure does it take to keep a door shut in space if there’s a breach? Cold chills run down my spine because I’m pretty sure even the four of us wouldn’t be enough against the vacuum of space—not that I’d be any help right now.
There is a loud explosion, and I watch the door rattle just before the red light above it switches to green, and the lock seals.
