“Is that it?”
Morgan gave it a glance. “Keep trying.”
I shot a look back to where the men had been, and saw to my relief that another big cat, a lioness, had stopped their progress, buying me a few seconds.
I pushed harder.
Silver, pink, green, blue, and white strands popped into existence one after another. My eyes scanned them, not seeing any discernible difference. And because it was so loud in our immediate surroundings, I couldn’t hear anything coming from them, either.
My teeth gnashed together. “Morgan! Look!”
She swiped at the lion, forcing him to back up. Once she had a little space, her attention snapped to me. “It’s not there. Dig deeper. Or those men will end us.”
Another glance over my shoulder revealed that one of the gladiators had just slammed his sword into the side of the lioness. Her golden body dropped to the dirt, and they spared her a single victory cry before turning once more to me and Morgan. Their swords lifted and their eyes glinted as they stalked our way.
My fists clenched so hard that my fingernails drew blood from my palms. I closed my eyes and pushed my magic harder than ever.
Although I couldn’t see them, I could feel more strands of time popping into existence. There was a faint difference between their energy and that of the warphole. And then, as sure as I was that the sky was blue, the right one popped into existence. I opened my eyes and saw it shining, a deep green that reminded me of Hunter’s magic.
“I have it! Morgan, I think I have it!”
Again she swiped at the lion with her sword, and then twisted to look my way. A smile bloomed on her face. “So you do. I’ll be right there.”
A few more strokes of her weapon kept the predator at bay while she backed up. Once she was close enough, she grabbed my hand.
The beast crouched, ready to pounce.
“Grab the strand and pull the warphole our way!” Morgan commanded.
I grasped onto the hunter green strand of time and yanked the warphole over our heads just as the lion leapt through the air, his paws reaching out for us.
CHAPTERSIX
The scent of damp leaves and mud filled my nose as a chill rippled across the bare skin of my arms.
We made it.
I collapsed onto the ground. Salt dug painfully into my forearms, and then the shaking began.
My entire body trembled like I was buried in snow. My teeth chattered so hard, I feared they might crack. Even my ribs shook.
“It’s okay, love.” Morgan’s hands landed on my arms. She rubbed me gently from shoulder to elbow, trying to calm the tremors that wracked my body. “We’re back. We’re safe. You did marvelously.”
I couldn’t respond. Words wouldn’t form, my limbs were out of control. My brain was barely functioning. All I could do was replay what had happened. The gladiator ring, the men coming for us, the goddamnlionthat had nearly swiped my head off.
How could Morgan say that I’d done well? I had timewalked us into the middle of a gladiator event. We’d almost died.
Realizing that I wasn’t able to speak, she helped me up and assisted me into a cottage. When she opened the doors, everyone else was at the table. Bowls of hearty stew, sprinkled liberally with fragrant thyme and rosemary, and accompanied by a loaf of fresh baked bread, sat before them. The savory aromas made my mouth water, and suddenly, through the tremors, I became aware that my stomach was aching.
When the others caught sight of us, they leapt up, and taking in my expression, Eva and Alex sprinted toward me.
“Odie! What happened!” Alex asked. “Are you—cold?”
“What’s going on?” Eva squeaked, her hands over her mouth. “What’s wrong with her?”
“She’s in shock. She needs to sit, and eat to replenish her energy. The food will help ground her.” Morgan gestured for them to move aside.
Alex’s lips flattened, but he listened, going to the table and pulling out a chair for me.
