“Lúi-ahn url … nariliá la náh mi?”
Though the words come out choked, torn from somewhere deep and raw, Rayne immediately responds, rushing for the other side like she’s leaping into the open arms of a much-anticipated hug. Making the anthe’s cage bigger, giving the moon-sized creature more space to fill.
And bringing her uncomfortably close.
Sharp limbs scythe through the air just inches from my face as I scramble back through the graveyard of bones, each crunching step a fragile win. Certain I’m one popping skull away from losing concentration, becoming just another skeleton left without a soul to scream.
I could handle that, so long as Kaan makes it out that damn exit.
The beast thrusts her limbs back, membranes ballooning, propelling her forward. That fierce, pale beak pierces free of the water’s ruffled surface, opening to reveal a cavernous maw that looks like a doorway to …nothing.
She releases a terrible screech that makes me want to fold forward andclap my hands over my ears—somehow worse than a pissed-off Clode or heartbroken Rayne.
Truly.
Fucking.
Horrible.
Warmth leaks down the sides of my neck as I hasten my steps, singing louder, harder. Each word torn from a bleeding heart and lashed past trembling lips.
I always thought I’d die laughing. A maniacalscrew youto the world that had so much potential, blown on power-hungry assholes. To think my last breath might be a morbid sob is a cruel twist of fate.
And something I desperately want to avoid.
Glancing back, I see I’ve managed to tear a hole in the wall of water large enough that the pier’s punching through, and not far behind me. Which would be great, except Kaan’s charging toward the end like an angry god, looking like he’s about to drop a knee and punch a hole in the world.
Not sure how helpful that would be right now, honestly. Though I’m also not sure how I’m going to climb onto the thing from all the way down here. I could call on Bulder, but chances are I’d crush us all by accident—
“RAEVE, WATCH OUT!”
I jerk back on instinct, but not fast enough.
A sharp limb whips forward and slits my cheekbone.
I glare at the assaulting anthe, feral determination uncoiling from somewhere beneath my diaphragm.
The bitch cut me.
Although she woundedme, all I can picture is that same honed tip gutting the warmhearted king who won’t take his gallant rescuing with a smile and a wave. He has a territory to consider. Folk who love him. I have a few blades, a bad attitude, and a bloodlusting itch that won’t piss off.
I snarl, lift my chin. The creature pushes her angular head further free of the water, reminding me of a Moltenmaw skull, but with a shorter beak. More hooked.
Kaan roars my name with renewed ferocity as the anthe dips her head, exposing me to the slow horizon of her wide-open eyes.
I should look away. That’s the wise and clever thing to do, given Utris’s warning about losing senses and whatnot.
But I’m not going to do that.
The bitch can have my ability to taste, smell, and hear. She can have my fucking eyes and obliterate every nerve ending until I’m numb to the core. I don’t need any of it …so long as Kaan’s safe.
“YOU—CAN’T—HAVE—HIM!”
My back hits the pier’s column, and our gazes collide. Like two worlds smashing together.
Splintering.
In those dark eyes, I see the end of everything, part of me tumbling like a star tossed through the vast black sky in The Shade. The rest of me stands strong, tethered to something bigger.
