“I’m not following...”
“You’re going to walk... out there.”
She blinked, following his pointed finger toward the sinkhole. “I am?”
“You are. Using your shadows to support your weight beneath your feet. Like forming your own path.”
“Is this a grand scheme to get me to plummet to my death? I know I irritate you, but I thought we were past all that.”
His lip twitched, almost a smile.
“That’s what the rope is for.” He tied his final knot. “I’ll catch you if you fall.”
Why did that last part leave her a bit breathless?
Helaina got to her feet. Oddly enough, in these weeks, as hard as Theo pushed, as bizarrely brutal as he was, it was always what she needed to get past the mental barriers that had been crippling her for far too long.
She didn’t say another word. She just threw him the bracelet that had offered her so much security. She used to dread parting with it. Now every time it left her skin, it was like being set free.
Her boots ground in the dry dirt and rocks as she slowly stepped forward, the distance between her and the edge growing slim.
“Find that burn, and don’t let it go. It listens to you, not you to it.” His words offered her surprising comfort.
Another step. Her toes were on the earth’s edge. Tiny pebbles broke free and tumbled into the pit of black.
Her exhale was deep and prolonged. Then her foot stepped out into the air.
A gust of wind erupted from below, like all of a sudden there was a tunnel letting the outside air through the endless trench. The instant breeze brought her power with it, forming a swirling black bridge.
Where her next step landed, her foot was greeted by the solid presence of her magic.
Sweat dripped from her forehead. Her hands shook at the energy she was using.
“I knew you could do it.” She could hear his pride. “Now come back.” Theo gave a gentle tug on the rope, indicating she should turn around.
“I can keep going.” She wanted to show him she was giving it her all. She wanted his approval, needed his approval.
“If you stay out there, you’ll drain. We’ve been at this for weeks. Listen to your body and come back.” There was concern in his voice now.
She took another step as her long hair blew in all directions, the gust of shadows creating an upward flow of air. She wondered how far it was to the other side; she couldn’t see it from here.
Her head began to fog. She suddenly wanted her bed.
“Theo,” she gasped, as her shadows disappeared with her wavering concentration.
Her body fell. Her heart ascended into her throat.
But she didn’t fall far. Muscular arms enveloped her, bringing her back to safety.
When she opened her eyes, there he was, the snaking veins bulging from his milky skin, the razor canines, the horns, the wings.
She didn’t pull away. She let him carry her, placing her back against a nearby boulder. He tried readjusting her position. She didn’t mean to flinch the way she did. It was purely instinctual. But the minor movement altered his face into somber disappointment. She had to say something.
“Sit with me?”
He looked like he was going to march in the other direction despite her invitation. To her surprise he collapsed at her side.
“You’re almost ready. You can take the rest of the day to relax, probably tomorrow too.”
