I dropped like a rock at a speed so fast I had no chance to scream. My back hit the soggy ground hard, the impact slamming the air from my lungs. Excruciating pain racked its way down my spine as I sucked in a sharp breath. My head went light, and little black spots danced before my eyes.
Voices yelled down at me, but they seemed so tinny and faraway that I couldn’t make out any words. I blinked hard, trying to bring the world back into focus; trying to fight my way out of my daze.
Gradually, my hearing went back to normal and the dots cleared from my vision. I didn’t move, though. Feeling battered, I stayed still, my breaths mere rasps.
Several faces cautiously hovered over the pit—Talon, Quillen, Bevan, and Ajax. I was grateful they were careful not to walk to the edge, where they’d be sure to dislodge more of themuddy earth. I’d much prefer not to have mounds of it dropping down on me.
“Talk to us, Anara,” Quillen called out.
“I’m fine,” I gritted out.
The Lykaon exhaled a long breath.
Talon eyed the width of the pit … as if looking for a good spot to land. If he jumped down here I would belivid.It would be the same as saying that he had no faith in my ability to help myself.
And it would mean that I’d failed Xalbia.
While candidates were allowed to help each other to some degree, no one from the Order could interfere unless a person was calling it quits. I hadn’t gone this far to fuck it up now.
“Just feeling a little winded, that’s all,” I added. “I’ll be up and out of here soon.”
A new face appeared.Atticus. I smashed my lips together, my nostrils flaring as I glared at the bastard.
“It’s a relief that you’re okay,” Atticus commented, the image of concerned.
I flexed my fingers, my temper stirring; heating; frothing.
He’d likely thought that the fall would kill me. Itcouldhave done.
Anger latched onto me with razor-sharp nails; nails that raked and dug deep. I’d always had a wicked temper, but theichorhad somehow fed it—made it hotter, more intense, easier to trigger.
Spitting a dozen curses beneath my breath, I put a chokehold on my temper. I couldn’t afford tofeelright now. I needed to think.
I needed to get out of this damn pit.
I tried to rise, but such awful pain lanced down my back that my stomach heaved and my head swam. I closed my eyes forlong moments, pulling in steadying breaths. I wouldnotblack out. No way.
Opening my eyes, I gritted my teeth as I forced myself to slowly sit up. My eyes watered with the strain, and a long hiss slid through my clenched teeth. I gave myself a few seconds, waiting for the pain to dim. Then, powering past the burning throb in the base of my spine, I somehow managed to drag myself upright. My legs nearly crumpled beneath me, and I had to plant my feet to steady myself.
“You good?” asked Quillen.
I knew what he wasreallyasking was if I needed rescuing. “No broken bones,” I assured him. “I’ll be with you in a sec.”
Flitting my gaze around, I rubbed at the small of my back with a wince. The pit was blessedly empty of any creatures, thank the gods. But stable?ThatI didn’t know.
Icy cold fingers dragged their way down my spine as a thought struck me. Would the mud walls collapse? Could I find myself buried beneath them?
Refusing to let that horrid idea spread in my mind like a rot, I shoved it aside, using the anger still roaring in my gut to distract me from the fear.
“We’d lower a branch,” began Bevan, “but there aren’t any here that are long enough to reach that far down. If you can climb at least halfway …”
“I can manage that.” My knees shook as I took a tentative step. The sharp twinge in my back tore a whimper from my throat.
You’re fine, you can do this.
I pretty much hobbled to the wall as I rubbed my sweaty, dirty palms on my tunic. I could get out of here. I could. It wasn’t the first time I’d fallen into a ditch at Deimos. I’d gotten out ofthe last one. Though … it hadn’t been this deep. Or dirty. And I hadn’t hurt my back during the fall.
I ground my teeth so hard a shooting pain lanced my jaw. I wasn’t sure I’d ever truly loathed Atticus until this very moment.
