Page 48 of Birthright

THRUST!

The sand exploded out from around me, letting me move my feet. But the hole I had made with the spell was too large and I started to sink back in. Like water returning to the sea after a wave, the grungy sand was slipping back in around the cavity faster than I could climb. I was sliding farther in instead of getting out.

I grabbed for the last link of the iron chain. I almost lost my tenuous grip but held on and gritted my teeth as I pulled myself torturously away from the hole. By the time I reached the sanctuary of the rock pile, all had gone deathly quiet again. Even the sweltering breeze had stopped.

“Your magic worked here.” Twenty feet away from the rocks, Manus lay on his back, panting. I was holding my side and trying to stand.

“I guess it did,” I huffed and cringed at the pain.

He lifted himself to one elbow and looked at me. “That was Demon power.”

“It hurt.” I was still winded and trying to breathe shallow. “Demon power?”

“We didn’t know if you had inherited any of the Demon power from Coyle. I guess you did. Maybe he’s alive and feels your presence here, perhaps even did something to help.”

He grabbed his pack and rummaged to find a pain amulet, handing it to me when I approached and kneeled next to him. I slipped it over my head. “Bevin’s magic doesn’t work, though.”

“I figured. But I brought a few just in case.” He ran his hands through his hair and pushed it from his face, then pressed at my side to try to see how bad my ribs were. I cringed at each touch. “Sorry. Feels like only two are broken. Can you manage?”

“Yeah, just need a breath. We should probably move on before they come back.”

“I wouldn’t if I were them.” He shook his head. “You about threw me off the island. I think I was ten feet in the air. Were you directing that my way?”

“Uh-uh, I was pushing down,” I replied, trying to get all my hair behind my ears. The band had broken.

“Damn. You’re really that strong, even when it hurts?” He was shaking his head.

“Everything seems to be strongest when I need it to be.”

Translation: when I’m terrified.

“Maybe you should be my guardian.” I saw a change of expression cross his eyes.

“Who’ll sleep on my feet?” I laughed.

He didn’t. I had too much to worry about right now to soothe his ego. Evil sisters, fallen angels, the fate of the Kith, and lovesick Vampires were enough. He looked off toward the shacks.

“Manus,” I said softly. “I’ll always need you.” He looked back at me with some uncertainty but managed to smile.

“On we go. What’s the plan?” He stood and offered me his hand.

Pain shot through my side as I stood. I stretched and tried to see how much I could move. The screaming pain subsided to a sharp tightness as I shifted and moved around.

“Let’s check the shacks first…then we’ll get to the castle.”

“We’re running out of daylight. Should we split up?”

I was shocked that he even suggested it. I hadn’t thought he would ever allow it. But I guess my little show of power gave him a bit more confidence in me. “Not yet. We still don’t know what else is out here, and I want you at my side.”

CHAPTER 21

Nothing else jumped at us from the sand. Manus moved through it as though he didn’t expect anything to. I was a little more hesitant, watching for any movement or shifting in the smooth texture of the little desert. Nothing moved.

The shacks were larger than they had appeared through Howard’s vision. They stood fifteen feet or more high. There were twelve of them, standing in groups of four, each cluster arranged in a U-shape. They all faced the other direction. We were walking up to them blind.

I felt the salt spray from the ocean. We had made it almost all the way across the island. It was late afternoon, and I knew we wouldn’t be getting out of here before dark, no matter what happened from here on out. The thought of a night here with the Slaugh made my gut tighten. I had no idea what would happen to us after dark.

We moved quickly but cautiously, knees bent and ready for any attack. I had a dagger in each hand. We hit the back side of the first shack and put the wall to our backs. Manus used a hand signal to tell me to stay while he rounded the first corner.