Breath punched past my lips, his shoulder driving into my stomach. The world spun, and then I was over Thorne’s back, his pounding feet racing down the steps, threatening to expel my breakfast.
“Toe fungus,” I shouted.
“Harpy!”
A firm slap cracked against my butt cheek, and I bellowed a shriek of outrage. Oh, he was going to pay for that one.
The remarkably revitalized Sebastian raced behind us, easily keeping up. Little faker.
Finally, Thorne blasted through the last door and out into the sun. The moment we were free of the manor, my world upended, and my feet hit the ground. I stumbled backward as my head spun. My ass struck the dirt, and I peered up to find Thorne staring down at me, smirk on his face.
Jerk. He could have caught me.
I patted the satchel I’d held onto and exhaled a sigh. Everything seemed to be in there. Sebastian rubbed against my legs, having arrived in far better shape than I did. Blessed sunshine blazed down on our heads. I raised my hand, noting the long shadow I made and peered at the horizon. The sun sank into the trees, its light a fading glow.
“Oh no,” I groaned.
“What?” Thorne swiveled his head as well. “Flark. We’ve lingered too long.”
I rushed to regain my feet. “We’ll never make it back before sunset. Do you think Alaric could pick us up?”
“Even if he was strong enough, it wouldn’t be wise. Every time he makes an appearance, we risk drawing the attention of the hunters.”
“It may be a risk we have to take.”
“You’d see him further injure himself?”
“No.” No, I wouldn’t. I’d not wish to harm the dragon, despite the fact that he insisted he was my new master.
Thorne headed for the horses. “If we leave now, we can make it before sunset. Come on.”
I made to follow him when the ground trembled again. My legs wobbled, and I splayed my arms for balance. “On no. Not now.” Beneath my feet, the soil churned and bucked, the earth writhing like a storm-tossed sea. My boots sank into the loosened dirt.
I glanced up to find Thorne in a similar predicament.
Heart thundering, I yanked my leg back. To no avail. “I’m stuck!” I held my knee and heaved only to sink further, up to my calf.
“Same,” Thorne yelled.
The harder I pulled, the further I sank. Beneath the dirt, something clamped around my ankle. Was that a hand? The grip tightened like iron and tugged, wrenching a scream from my lips. “Something has my leg!”
“Since the wendigos can’t emerge into the sun, they’re pulling us under.”
Down I sank, soil covering my thighs, then my hips. Up to my waist. I set my hand upon the churning ground to push back, only for it to become stuck as well. “Do something,” I cried out.
Whereas I continued to sink, Thorne remained buried to his knees.
“Why aren’t you sinking? How do I make it stop?”
“They don’t want me. It’s you they’re after,” he bit out, accusation in his tone. “Why are they after you, Serafina?”
“How the hell should I know, Thorne?” Another icy hand joined the first, clamping around my calf and tugging. Dirt surrounded me up to my chest.
“Hold on.” Thorne clenched his fists and drew back his shoulders. At the center of his chest, a fiery light glowed. Deep within me, a similar warmth spread through my bones. Despitethe danger, I stared at him, transfixed. Whoever this man of mystery was, he had magic. Beautiful, fascinating magic.
Smoke rolled from his nostrils, he bared his elongated canines and roared. Flames erupted from his mouth, and he aimed the inferno at the churning soil that encased his legs.
Steam rose from the ground, the dirt smoking. The soil that trapped him blackened, blistered, then splintered. Once the flames extinguished, Thorn slammed his fist into the earth, breaking it further. Fractures splintered outward, the surface like smashed pottery. And then he was loose, pulling his legs free of the trap.
