Page 166 of Vasmora

A grip of his forearms confirmed the tension in his muscles.

I understood, though. My nerves felt like they’d been pulled through my skin, raw and exposed. “It’s okay.” With a lick of my lips, I kissed him again.

“Seeing you wield that whip …” He shook his head and smiled. “Just about brought me to my knees.”

“I suppose it’s easier to hit the target when there’s a swarm.”

“Don’t underestimate yourself. They had the advantage in there.”

A distant roar steeled my muscles, and I noticed the wolves turned in the direction of the sound also.

“Dragon,” Zevander said.

“Should we be seeking shelter?” Again, I glanced around, wondering where the hell we might find shelter in the middle of nowhere.

He pointed toward the distant mountains, far enough away that I could hardly make out their caps. “They don’t venture far from their nests, unless they’re sick or wounded.”

“Or starving,” Daelan added, and Zevander shot him an unamused glance.

A shiver rippled through me, my nerves still rattled from the creatures we’d just fought. Curses, it felt like every monster in the world was out to get us. “It was so loud, though.”

Zevander snorted, twisting his hand as the scorpion on his palm skittered up his sleeve. “Yes, you can imagine what they sound like up close.”

“I suppose I shouldn’t attempt to call for Raivox?”

“I wouldn’t,” he said, lowering his arm. “Dragons are territorial creatures. They’ll kill outside of their own.”

Lothare strode up to us, his body marred by a few gashes he’d apparently suffered in the caves himself. “I’ll lead us to the stable. From there, we part ways temporarily. My men and I will head to Costelwick, while you secure Maevyth in Eidolon.” He briefly nodded toward me. “You’ll bring this mage who might know about the amulet to Costelwick. And from there, we’ll infiltrate the castle, steal the amulet, and trap the god of disease with my blood. Sound about right?”

Frowning, I turned to Zevander. “When did this plan materialize?”

“At this very moment. And it’s a good one, if it ensures your safety first.”

“I will not stand idly by during a plague, when I am perfectly capable of joining the fight. What happened to don’t underestimate yourself and you were incredible,” I said, mocking him.

“I’m not discounting your abilities. I’ve seen firsthand what you’re capable of, and if this plague persists, your power will be as essential as everyone else’s. For the time being, though, I will not subject you to unnecessary danger.”

“But you’ll fling yourself toward it with no regard?” Not giving him the opportunity to respond, I sprang to my feet and crossed my arms. “I thought we established that it’s better to stay together, hmmm?”

His brows lowered, jaw shifting, before his gaze caught on something behind me, and I turned to see sand swirling in a vortex. Teeth bared, the wolves standing nearby prowled closer, growling, and the vortex grew wider, whipping the white sand around like a small tornado. Faster and faster.

“What is it?” I asked, rubbing the errant grains that stung my arms.

Zevander spared only a second or two to examine. “Move back.”

Arm outstretched, he urged me backward, but the vortex expanded, snapping outward, forming a tight perimeter around the group.

Taking my hand in his, Zevander stepped toward the slowly-rising wall of sand. The grains dispersed into the center where we stood, and as an unbearable sting, like hundreds of bees had been unleashed, prickled across my skin, I raised my arm to shield my eyes from it.

Cries rang out, and I fought against the excruciating burn to turn toward the sound. Through the white haze, the mercenaries and wolves seemed to be sinking, as if they’d stepped in quicksand. I snapped my head in the other direction, and terror stalled my heart as the sand rose to Zevander’s waist, his upper half clawing at the soft ground.

Somehow, I remained unhindered.

I dove forward, gripping his wrist, my arms trembling as I tugged, digging my feet in the sand, fighting to yank him free. The sand held him tethered, as though his feet were set in granite.

Panic exploded inside of me, and I cried out, shaking and pulling at his arms. “No!”

Deeper, he sank, the loose granules spilling into the gaps around his body, until he was up to his chest.