I slapped a hand over the bite, drew in a shuddering breath, and let the golden haze flicker beneath my skin—just enough to force the venom out and seal the lacerations.
A wave of searing heat shot through my calf—then vanished.
The pain dulled, and I could breathe again.
Somewhere above us, a Radical shouted.
“They fell,” a voice called. “The LiaPrism didn’t pick up any translation. They’re gone.”
“Leave them,” said another. “If the fall didn’t kill them, the pit will.”
That was my cue.
Get out. Now.
Focusing every shred of strength I had left, I lunged for the nearest rock ledge, boots slipping, hands scraping stone as I hauled myself up—anything to get away from the living carpet below.
A sob clawed at my throat, but I swallowed it down, my limbs trembling like crazy. “Don’t let go!” I called up, voice hoarse. “I’ve got you, okay?Climb!”
Above, Saoirse moved fast, panic sharpening her grip as she pulled herself hand over hand up the flickering strand or crimson light. Her boots scraped against the wall; her breath ragged.
I held the tether steady, gritting my teeth through the fear, coursing through me.
She reached the ledge and collapsed in a heap, safe.
The filament snapped a second later, gone with a sharp jolt.
I dropped my hands, chest heaving, heart still racing like it hadn’t decided if I was alive or not. Then I shifted my focus inward, called up the golden current, and pushed it through my limbs.
One ledge at a time, I climbed—shaky, scraped, but driven. My golden magic steadied me, kept my muscles from locking up. Below, the snakes hissed, probably sulking they didn’t get to feast on my yummy bones. Horrible creatures.
The Radicals were gone, thank the gods—they’d seen us fall and hadn’t bothered to confirm the kill.
“Emma!” Saoirse’s voice cut through the dark. “How the hell did you survive that?”
I hesitated. My pulse was still hammering. My leg ached where the bite had been—but the venom was gone.
“Lucky, I guess,” I called back. “But let’s not push it. Let’s get out of here.”
She stared down at me, squinting like she didn’t quite buy it—but after a beat, she nodded.
By the time I hauled myself out of the sea of horrors, my hands were raw and my limbs shaking. Saoirse offered me a hand, and I took it without hesitation.
“Did you hear what they said?” she asked, her voice low and urgent. “They have a LiaPrism.”
I blinked, finally registering where we’d ended up—we’d climbed out on the other side of the abyss.
My gaze met hers. “We might as well check out the rest of the cave.”
She nodded and started toward a narrow hallway, her steps slow, deliberate.
“You could’ve saved yourself instead of me,” she said quietly.
I could’ve told her. I could’ve explained I had a healing haze as well as my red one—but something stopped me. Even with everything we’d survived together a moment ago, it still remained a truth I wasn’t ready to share.
So I shrugged. “No big deal.”
Her eyes found mine, steady and unflinching. “It is to me. Thank you.”
