Page 113 of Wraithwound

“It might be wise to shed some layers so you don’t overheat too quickly.”

“Are you asking me to take my clothes off?” she asked, a smirk playing on her face as she pulled off her gloves and reached for her cloak.

When had she become so comfortable around him?

But soon it was his turn to laugh when she had difficulty removing her vest and blouse, her fingertips sore from when she’d aided Taryk.

“May I?” he asked.

Lena nodded, and her stomach dipped at the anticipation of his touch. Cross unbuttoned her vest and blouse with deft hands before sweeping the fabric down and off her arms, leaving only her undershirt. The places his hands had touched her bare skin felt charged, the tiny zaps of energy giving her goosebumps, despite the heat.

“How well can you see in here?” she asked, trying to fight the shiver that threatened to expose her.

“Well enough to avoid small boulders directly in front of me,” he said.

She could hear the smirk in his voice. Lena had the intense urge to smack him, but she wouldn’t risk missing.

She heard some faint rustling directly in front of her and then the warmth of his hand enveloped hers. She found she didn’t mind the heat that came from him.

“My vision might be better than yours in here, but visibility isn’t great. We’ll keep moving as long as we can and make camp once we find some suitable shelter,” he said.

They moved through the trees slowly, making their way up the mountain. The blanket of white was unrelenting, and Lena found it was easier on her senses to keep her eyes closed. Cross was diligent about communicating the details about the surrounding landscape, but that didn’t prevent Lena from tripping on smaller roots and rocks entirely. It wasn’t long before her ankles were sore. She felt weak and sluggish, the heat sapping her energy.

After what felt like hours slogging through the heat, she could barely stand. The idea of taking another step seemed unfathomable. She pulled her sweaty hand out of his and let her pack slip off, her shoulders sighing with relief at the absence of the weight she carried. She reached for her water skein, fumbling with the lid, each attempt draining the last of her energy.

“Here, let—” but the rest of his words were drowned out by an ear-splitting shriek.

Lena’s hands froze on her skein. Despite what appeared to be imminent danger, her mind struggled to clear. She felt like she was submerged underwater, her senses dull. Cross gripped her forearm, the pressure of his touch conveying alarm. The sound of steel singing as it was freed confirmed her suspicions.

Chapter

Sixty-One

Another shriek from above pierced the air, seemingly closer this time. Cross yanked on her arm, pulling her down. It didn’t take much for her legs to comply with his request. Lena fell into a crouch next to him when a rush of wind blasted past from above.

“Stay down!” Cross shouted, dragging her forward until her hand met something rough and scratchy.

Tree bark. Distantly, she knew she should be more alarmed but couldn’t summon the feeling of panic or fear. The heat continued to accost her, the world seeming impossibly brighter.

“What is it?” she asked, trying to think past the fog in her mind.

“I’m not sure, but it has claw-tipped wings and several protrusions on what I think is the head,” he said.

Sand and gravel crunched nearby, and Lena reached out.

“Wait, where are you going?” she asked dumbly, but Cross was already gone.

The whoosh of flames a second later answered her question. The urge to help him was a vague sensation at the back of her mind, but she couldn’t get her body to heed it.

She could hear Cross moving about in the periphery, grunting with exertion. A distortion in the white landscape gave her the impression of a body leaping through the air. The creature shrieked again, but this time it was full of fury and pain. Lena waited crouched at what she could only imagine was the base of a tree, the seconds dripping by as slowly as tree sap.

A grunt of pain from Cross cut through the fog a little bit, allowing a small wave of panic and fear to get through. The roar of pain that she heard next broke the dam. The sensations and emotions that had been held back by the effects of the heat slammed into her all at once. Terror filled her veins. Lena stood and looked around frantically, failing to capture the details of her surroundings. She groped around with her hands outstretched until she couldn’t contain her fear any longer.

“Cross!” she screamed.

Lena stumbled along, eyes and ears straining to pick up any indication of where he might be. What state he might be in. Just as she was about to scream his name again, she was tackled by a wall of muscle.

“Get down!” Cross’s frustrated demand came from behind. Despite the evident irritation in his voice, relief poured through her.