“Why?” I ask. “What’s going on?”
No one has time to respond. It all happens so fast.
As soon as the last syllable rolls off my tongue, the ground shudders again, and the room is filled with a mightycrackas a deep crevice spreads along the center of Rhune’s bedroom, tearing through the ice-rock like a knife through softened butter.
“Look out Willow!” Nyx yells. There’s a sound like a whip cracking the air, and Nyx’s wing is fully outstretched, protectingmy head from the massive chunk of the ceiling hurtling toward me. There’s a loudthump,and the boulder slides off the slope of Nyx’s wing, crashing to the floor instead of where it was originally destined—my unprotected skull.
I’m barely able to register Nyx’s pained grunt before my feet leave the ground, and I’m thrust into Rhune’s chest. Without words, Rhune wraps his arms around me like a vise, crushing me against him as he shoots off the ground. There’s a deep whooshing sound as his wings beat the air, propelling us toward the exit like a rocket, and all I can do is cling to Rhune and hope for some kind of miracle as the rest of the ceiling crumbles around us.
Rhune soars through the winding tunnels at mind-breaking speed, twisting and contorting his body mid-flight to dodge the crumbling ice-rock. Every now and then, he lets out a pained grunt when one of the larger chunks manage to clip a part of his body, but he never lets it show, and he sure as hell doesn’t slow down.
Just before they make it to the main chamber, an eardrum-shattering roar explodes throughout the tunnels, so loud and powerful that I feel it shudder deep in the marrow of my bones.
Oh God. Oh God, we’re going to die.
“Don’t look!” Rhune screams over the roar, tightening his arms around my torso as we jerk to the side, flying close to the wall. “Close your eyes, Willow!”
But I couldn’t even if I wanted to.
As soon as Rhune speaks, a massive, white, worm-like head crashes through the surface of the ice, spraying demon-sized chunks of ice-rock through the air in a fantastic display of destruction and raw power. It releases another rattling scream, and my nervous system shutters, leaving me limp in Rhune’s grip, unable to move or do anything besides stare in horror.
Just like in my dream, the ice wyrm’s mouth is gaping, filled with rows of thousands of rotating, needle-like teeth. Its skin is pale and fleshy, with ridged segments that are reminiscent of earth worms. There are no eyes to be seen anywhere on its strangely curved head, but it doesn’t seem to need sight to track its prey.
With a screech, the ice wyrm’s body curves sideways, aiming its terrible gaping mouth right at us. A stomach-churning clicking sound emanates from its rotating jaws, piercing through the creature’s screams as it inches closer.
Rhune jerks to the side, dodging out of the way moments before the ice wyrm snaps us up. An angry screech rattles the walls as the creature tries to swoop around for another attack, but Rhune manages to drop and dodge at the last moment.
Using the creature’s disorientation to his advantage, he sails toward the exit tunnel, every one of his muscles taught and ready to defend me with his life.
“We’re going to be okay,” he promises—but I’m not sure if it’s for me or him. “We’re almost free.”
Just before we enter the tunnel, I look back, and my heart rises to my throat as I take in the silhouette of Nyx’s body at the other end of the room. He’s flying straight toward us, his eyes locked on me and his expression creased in effort as he dodges the falling chunks of ceiling.
And he doesn’t realize the wyrm has found a better meal.
Sensing a new target, the ice wyrm abandons me and Rhune, each of its powerful muscles shuddering as it repositions its head, aiming right for Nyx. My mouth opens in a silent scream as those gaping jaws draw closer, watching it play out in slow motion.Die. He’s going to die.
“Nyx!” I scream. “Nyx, look out!”
Nyx pauses mid-air, his eyes widening in shock as he catches sight of the gaping mouth heading right for him. Just before he’ssnapped up, Nyx pulls his wings tight to his body, dropping like a stone in the same way Rhune had moments ago. He halts his descent just before he touches the ground, his turquoise wings beautiful and defiant as they beat the air, holding him aloft in the face of the terrifying ice wyrm.
“Over here, ugly!” His expression twists in concentration as he holds his hands palm-out toward the creature, sending an invisible blast of magical energy directly at its fleshy underbelly.
The ice wyrm screams, its body writhing in pain while it swings its head around wildly, desperate to deliver some kind of blow. The scream pouring from the creature’s throat is heartbreaking, and I have to remind myself that it would have devoured Nyx if he did not attack it.
“Take Willow!” Nyx roars, sending another blast of magic at the wyrm. “I’m right behind you!”
Not needing to be told twice, Rhune tightens his grip and flies us into the mouth of the tunnel. Wings beating fast, we travel the natural curve toward the surface, Rhune’s heart beating rapidly against my ear.
We breach the surface, shooting skyward. I turn back, taking in the distinct figures of Nyx and a Kevin-wrangling Dravik following close at our heels, and I can finally take a breath.
I do have to close my eyes, though. Even with the raging storm, the light from the silver sun is far too jarring, and as much as I want, I can’t keep them open.
Suddenly, Rhune stops his ascent, his powerful wings holding him aloft high above any potential danger. Dravik glides through the air toward me and Rhune, Kevin clutched tightly in his arms. Kevin’s alpaca shirt is tattered in places, but it looks like both Dravik and Kevin are mostly unharmed—and that’s all that matters. The same can thankfully be said for Nyx, who only has a small gash on his wing from his battle with the ice wyrm.
“Anyone see Cin?” Dravik asks, looking at each of his brothers.
“You were the last one out. I didn’t see anyone ahead of me,” Rhune says, his face twisting with worry.
