The faint rush of water greets my ears, and I pick up my steps. “We’re getting close!” I shout. “There’s a waterfall just a little farther.”
A sense of urgency overtakes me, and I push forward. Passing Kian, I start running through the woods. My feet are light as air as I speed ahead.
“Rae! Wait up!” Kian calls out, but I can’t stop. I’m so close, I can taste it. The roar of the waterfall increases in volume as I race toward it, to what feels like my destiny.
Someone is crashing through the underbrush behind me, and shouts from my party try to reach me, but all I can think about is my destination.
Out of nowhere, the density of the trees breaks, and I almost go flying off a cliff. Despite my improved reflexes, my arms pinwheel as I catch my balance and barely stop myself from going over.
“Hells, woman,” Kian growls, pulling me away from the edge so quickly, I fall back into him and we tumble to the ground. “Would you mind saying something before you go racing off through an unknown jungle?” He sucks in a breath and lays his head back on the ground.
“My body took over. I don’t know what came over me,” I breathe, feeling oddly rejuvenated. “It’s like something is pulling me.”
Alex and Sera break through the trees, and she collapses to her knees, panting heavily. “What the hells, Rae?” she cries out.
“Damn, I didn’t know you could run that fast,” Alex gasps as he leans forward, his hands on his thighs.
I sit up, smiling. “Oops.”
Kian drags me onto his lap, holding me close. “You need to stop scaring me like that, love.”
A bone-chilling growl breaks through the rushing roar of the waterfall, and we fall silent. For a moment, I was almostdistracted from my goal. I can’t allow that to happen again, not when we are so close.
“It’s time,” I say, not meaning for the words to sound nearly as ominous as they do.
Chapter Fifty
KIAN
Rae chews on her lip as she looks at the waterfall. A pit of dread forms in my stomach, but giving up is not in my nature, and this is the culmination of years of searching. Nervous anticipation buzzes through my veins.
We follow Rae as she skirts the edge of the cliff, traversing a nearly invisible path that leads down to the waterfall. I remember her telling me about the screaming she heard in her dream, and I’m grateful that the occasional menacing roar is all we have to accompany us.
“I think there’s something behind the waterfall. The lion led me here over and over; he’s got to be here,” Rae explains as we approach the thundering water. The pool below looks surprisingly peaceful.
Sera stares at the depths and shudders. I don’t blame her. For all we know, there could be more dangerous creatures lying in wait beneath the surface.
Rae looks back at us, the furrow of her brow giving me pause. “I think I need to do this next part alone,” she says.
“Like hells you will.” I almost explode before reeling it back in. “I’m sorry, love. I just can’t bear the thought of something happening to you.”
Rae places her hands on her hips defiantly. “You can’t tell me how to do this.”
I palm my face, holding back a groan. “I know that.” I try to soften my voice. “I just really don’t think you should go alone.”
Her shoulders go up to her ears as she takes me in. Her gaze is calculating, considering her options. She blows out a breath, her shoulders lowering in acceptance. “Fine, but just you.”
I’ll take it. Even though I wish she actually wanted me with her.
“We’ll wait out here then,” Alex says. “Call if you need us.”
Gods willing we won’t. I give Alex a look that I hope he interprets askeep an eye on Seraand trail Raelyn toward the waterfall.
The water is so loud, there’s no use trying to talk. I’m surprised she was able to hear anything in her dream, but then I suppose it was a magical dream after all.
Misty spray from the falls is refreshing as the path down brings us closer. I grab her waist when she slips on the wet rocks, and she looks back at me, mouthing a thank you. We slow our pace, and the slim path that leads behind the thunderous falls comes into view.
The falls’ roar dims as we enter the cave, and faint light shimmers through the wall of rushing water. The cavern is damp and reeks of mold. I just hope we don’t have to go far—enclosed spaces make my skin crawl.
