The wolf peered up at her, then at the door, and finally he stalked a little distance away and turned to watch. Callum and Devlin moved to stand beside him as Skylar aimed her laser at the locking device.
The air filled with the acrid scent of burning metal, and above their heads, the high-pitched pulse of an alarm sounded. Callum cursed—they didn’t have long—someone would be sure to investigate.
Skylar pressed her fingers to the door and pushed it open as Jon leaped forward and was through the door before anyone else could move.
“Stay here and keep watch,” Callum told Devlin, and the other man nodded.
By the time Callum stepped into the small cell, Jon was on the cot. Alex sat with her arms around his neck, her face burrowed in his thick fur.
“We have to move,” Callum said.
She raised her head, her huge gray eyes brimming with tears. “Thank you.”
“Our pleasure. Now let’s go.”
Alex lifted her arm, to reveal the cuff around her right wrist. It was attached to a metal loop built into the stone wall.
“We’ll have to shoot it off,” Skylar said. “Stand as far away from the cot as you can.”
Alex extricated herself from the wolf’s embrace with difficulty. When she finally managed to stand, she kept one hand on the shaggy head, her fingers digging into his fur. She moved until her arm was outstretched, then closed her eyes against the glare of the laser. The chain gave in seconds, and she fell to her knees and hugged Jon. The cuff was still attached to her wrist, but she was free.
“We need to be out of here,” Callum said.
Alex raised her head and nodded. She got to her feet and looked past him as though searching for someone.
“Have you got Rico?”
“Rico’s dead.” Skylar tone was harsh.
Alex’s gaze flew to her face, her brows drawing together. “No, he isn’t. Skylar, really he isn’t. He’s alive.”
“What are you talking about? Hatcher told us he’d been executed, his body burned.”
“If he told you that, he lied. That’s what they plan to do, but they’re going to have a public execution. I know because they want me to light the pyre as proof that I’m loyal. I told them to go to hell, which is why I’m down in the dungeons.”
Skylar stepped up close to her. “Where is he?”
“Here somewhere. There’s nowhere else secure enough to keep him. He has to be close.”
Skylar was shaking. She chewed on her lower lip and Callum could see her consciously pulling herself together. “Jon, can you find him?”
The wolf lowered his head.
“I’ll shift as well,” Alex said. “Just give me a second.”
“Quickly, then.”
Callum turned away as she stripped off her clothes. When he looked back two wolves stood side by side. The smaller lifted one foot and the cuff slid off easily. Then she headed for the door.
He followed them out and watched as they crisscrossed the corridor, noses to the ground as they tried to pick up the scent. He was hardly daring to hope. Could Rico still be alive? And why had Hatcher lied? It had to be some effort to preempt a rescue mission. He didn’t care. All he cared about was there was a chance.
He prayed Tannis was still clinging to life. She was tenacious; she wouldn’t give in until she knew Alex was safe. Should he call her? But he didn’t want to raise her hopes if this came to nothing. And would Rico be able to change her? Would he agree?
The alarm had stopped. Devlin was at the corner watching. He glanced at Callum and shook his head. Nothing yet.
Alex gave out a low yip, and then she was loping down the corridor. Skylar raced after her with Callum close behind. The red wolf skidded to a halt in front of one of the cells and went up on her hind legs so she could see through the small window. She turned to Skylar and yipped again, then dropped down to all fours and backed away.
This time Skylar didn’t hesitate. She blasted the door, kicked it down in seconds, and rushed inside. For a second, Callum hovered outside, unwilling to let his hope die so soon. Then he stepped into the cell.
Rico was chained with both arms fastened to loops in the wall. Skylar had stopped just inside the door and was staring at him as though she couldn’t convince herself he was real.
“About fucking time,” Rico said, but he was grinning.
Skylar dove toward him, wrapped her arms around his middle, and held on tight.
“Oh, God. Oh, God.” Then she raised her head. “I thought you were goddamned dead,” she snarled.
“Why the hell would you think that?”
“Because that bastard Hatcher told us he’d executed you.”
“Well, he was a little premature, but I’m sure he would have gotten around to it, given time.”
Rico looked a mess. He was naked from the waist up, his chest a mass of bruises, burns, and cuts. Callum knew he healed quickly, so the wounds must be recent.
Rico met his gaze. “Where’s Tannis?”
“She’s dying. Of the Meridian poisoning.”
Shock flared on the vampire’s face. “What? You were on planet. Why didn’t she get the treatment?”