"Thank God," I breathed, biting down so hard on my lip I tasted blood too.
I pulled her into me and held her close while lifting my head toward the two Hybrids again, my whole back screaming and the Beretta already coming up in my shaking hand.
Zakthar stepped out from the private room at last and stopped behind the two creatures.
They were both snarling now, low and ugly, not charging yet, just waiting. Watching me. Waiting for him.
"Shadelings have always been a dangerous species," Zakthar said.
His eyes stayed on me.
"But they become even worse when they are coupled with a host. A host gives them protection, lets them survive inside foreign worlds, lets them adapt to them. That is how they conquered worlds before." His mouth tightened faintly. "Including mine."
"Sydney, you okay?" I asked, glancing down.
Her eyes were blurry, face still red from the choking, but she forced herself upright with a cough and gave the smallest nod.
"Yeah," she rasped. "Somehow."
