Fear snaked through Taurian, not for himself, but for Dena. Had he saved her life to have theirs both end now? His mouth dried thinking how this was his war…his enemy…and he’d brought both to her doorstep.

The empty hallway behind the scorpions was just out of reach. He had to get Dena to safety. His fault that she was endangered from these monsters. She had no defense against them. If she got hurt, he would never be able to forgive himself. It had been suicide to come here and murder to bring her here. He deserved to die and would be happy to do so if he knew she’d be safe.

“Climb into my arms.”

She balked, “Why? What good would that do? I knew I should've grabbed a knife when we got here.” Her gaze swept over the approaching scorpions. There jaws making a chattering sound. “I hate bugs.”

“Human weapons won't hurt them.” The creatures covered the floor from the bedroom and blocked off their exit the other direction too. If he could throw her far enough back down the hallway, she should clear the swarm and be able to escape. He grabbed her around the waist and hefted her up.

She dug her fingers into his shoulders. “What are you doing?”

“When you land, don't look back, just run.”

“No, what the hell?” She frowned, her body trembling against him. “There’s nowhere to go.”

“I'm going to throw you clear.”

“Like hell, you will.” She wrapped her legs around his torso. “We stay together.”

They might have a chance if he could get her to safety first. “Luv, I can't use dragonfire with you in harm's way.”

Her pout made him want to kiss her again, but a scorpion stabbed his foot and he grunted from the pain shooting up his leg. He kicked aside the bug and wobbled on his feet. He had to get her out of there now.

“All right.” She untangled herself from him despite her brow pinching and her mouth drawn into a tight, thin line. “But don't do anything brave and stupid.”

He kicked aside another scorpion and two more took its place. “Go!” He threw her as hard as he could over the swarming bugs.

She fell and skidded on her side to the open hall. One of the scorpions scrambled after her, its claws tapping along the wood. Dena tore away.

Good gir—

A strike hit him in the back of the leg, then another on his lower back. He swung, knocking a few of the insects back, but they were starting to swarm him. His Renjerian form pressed forward, but he had to wait. Ensure that Dena had enough time to make it outside. Then he’d turn this entire place into an inferno and fry these vermin.

Above him, scorpions scurried across the ceiling and up the walls. Was Dena out and safe now? He couldn't wait any longer. He called his fire deep within him.

Two scorpions leaped onto his back stinging him. He wrenched them off by their tails, ripping both open with his palms. He opened his mouth for the fire to incinerate everything in his path, but a strike to his neck had his throat closing up.

He fell to his knees, clawing at his throat to try and draw in air. The insects clamored over him. Their stingers hitting him everywhere. He punched and shoved them to stop their assault, but there was too many.

His vision blurred. He couldn't lift his arms because they were swollen. Everywhere, aching pain buried him. He crashed to the ground, the bugs leaping on him and stabbing him. His life and all the partying he’d done even when his people’s war started slammed into him. Regret burned from his throat to his gut. And what of Dena? Was she safe or had the bugs gotten her? He missed her more than he missed breathing and she’d only been gone a few minutes. Now he’d never be able to tell her how he felt about her.

A sputtering sound broke through the air. Next was a hissing noise that he couldn't place. Was that coming from the scorpions or somewhere else?

He shook as more stings hit his back, then the hissing grew louder. The bugs scurried across his back as though to get away from something.

“Come on, get up,” Dena shouted.

He pushed up and weaved where he stood, leaning against the wall to keep standing. “What are you doing? I told you to get out of here.”

“And I thought you were coming right behind me.” She shook a can in her hand, then clicked a small item.

Fire shot out toward the scorpions. The insects scrambled away making clicking sounds. Relief washed over him. Dena was alive and she’d saved him. Did she care about him more than he hoped?

“Hurry, there's not much hairspray left in this thing.”

He dragged himself forward using the wall as support.

“Here lean on me.” She hauled his arm across her shoulder.

The scorpions scurried closer, braving the range of her fire. She sprayed them again, turning many to smoldering blobs, but more took their place, climbing over the charred remains.

“Why did you come back? It's too dangerous.” His legs and arms felt as if they were full of lead. Joy filled him that she was alive, but why had the silly woman returned to him? She should’ve stayed where it was safe.

“Lecture me when we get out of here.” She backed up and took him with her. “This isn't even the half of it.”

He paused in his steps. “What do you mean?”

“This whole building is crawling with these things.” She stifled a sob. “All of the tenants in this cluster of townhomes have been...been mutilated.”

That meant that there were more of the serpent things too. They couldn't let any of these things escape. His dragonfire couldn't get past his swollen throat, but fire was their best bet. “Got any more of those sprays of hair cans?”

Her eyes widened. “Why? What about your fire?”

“Not until you and everyone in this complex are safe. We have to end this now. If these things get out, a thousand will become ten thousand then a hundred thousand and so on.” He kicked one of the scorpions that got too close to them.

Dena shook her can again, but the fire spurted out and didn’t reach as far. “Time to get the hell out of here.”

The insects scurried after them. Taurian gritted past the pain and took large, fast steps with Dena, holding onto her far more than he would’ve liked.

“How can we make a fire large and long enough to destroy them?” he asked.

“I’ve got an idea.” She led him into the kitchen, then grasped a metal box and tugged. “Help me move the stove out. Then we’ll have to rip the gas line open.”

More of the scorpions drew closer, Taurian grabbed a broom and smashed at them.

“Here, let me do that,” Dena snatched it from him, “you get the stove out.”

Taurian grabbed the metal appliance and heaved. Cords and metal snapped revealing a dusty wall with grease stains.

At the sound, Dena glanced over her shoulder. “Wow. Now rip the tubing from the wall. Then we get out and toss a match inside. This whole place will be blasted.”

He examined the wires hanging from the stove. “Which one?”

“The gas one…” a scorpion stabbed her foot and she yelped. “Son of a bitch that fucking hurts! She smashed the broom onto the insect with such force its insides squished out. “Gross.”

“To your left.” Another swarm was breaking through the ceiling.

“Break the big tube.” She grunted, swinging at the pests. “You’ll know it ‘cause it’ll smell like rotten eggs in here soon.”

He ripped the pipe in half and fumes erupted into the kitchen. “Done.”

“Good—” Half the ceiling caved in bringing mounds of scorpions with it.

They were blocked in on all sides.

Dena backed up until she bumped into him. “How fast can you fly us out of here?”