Eva’s eyes widened at the sight of the mist bearing down on them like an avalanche and sucked in her breath to shout.
Pressure built in her head.
I couldn’t get us home by myself. The mist was too far out of reach and I was too weak to call it to me, let alone navigate it while carrying my young. If we ever meet again, I owe you and your fox much,the Kyren whispered.
Eva spun toward her even as the mare’s wings flared, the tips striking her. The pressure building in her head burst. Darkness reined as she collapsed to the ground in a faint.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Caden sunk his bladeinto a man's back, piercing his heart instantly. The man didn't even have time to realize what was happening before he was already dead.
Caden lowered him gently to the ground, not because he felt remorse for what he'd done, but rather he didn't want the sound announcing his death to the others in the cenote.
Caden moved through the trees, killing everything in his way.
It didn't take long for their quarry to be on to him, and soon Caden became the hunted. All according to plan.
There was the creak of wood and then spikes burst from the ground, skewering the ones chasing him. Caden raced to the next trap, letting the enemy see him and give chase as he led them right over the hasty pit he'd dug, rough pointed spears at the bottom.
Several fell, their screams echoing through the trees as they were impaled.
Those who survived were more wary, less inclined to chase blindly. They stepped over the next trap but missed the one lurking in the trees. Several paid for that oversight with their lives.
Caden caught his breath as he leaned against a tree, out of view for now.
He wasn't killing enough. Too many were escaping the traps that had been dug and set in haste. He was going to lose this battle. It was only a matter of time.
He pushed off the tree, blinking back sweat. Guess he'd just have to take as many of the bastards with him as he could. Every second he delayed gave Eva more of a chance.
*
Eva blinked dazedlyup at the leaves, the sun playing hide-and-seek behind them, the gray walls of the cenote stretching up to the cloudy sky above. She sat up with a groan, raising a hand to her head.
What happened?
She remembered the Kyren and the voice in her head right before the mother and foal had disappeared into the mist.
