I rolled onto my side, and the world tipped beneath me.
“Ana! I’m coming!”
Drayven? I blinked to clear my vision as he bounded toward me.
I pushed up on my palms, arms trembling—a sure sign that my body was in shock. Wait, the tremble wasn’tinside me, it was shootingthroughme from the ground.
The ground was shaking.
Shit!
I fell back on my ass as the earth split before me, cutting me off from Drayven. The worm shot into the air, its massive frame creating a wall between me and sanctuary.
Pressure filled my head, setting my teeth on edge as the beast arched its body, ready to slam down and swallow me.
There was no time to evade. No time to run, I waited for terror to claim me, but a cold, steel-edged conviction filled my veins instead.
As the worm hurtled toward me, horrific maw wide and pulsing with thousands of teeth, I stopped thinking and allowed instinct to guide me. Primal conviction snapped into place, bringing a surge of heat that spread across my chest, drawing from a place buried deep inside me.
“Stop!” I threw up my arms, body rocking as energy rushed through me and outward.
The worm halted mid-attack, its monolithic frame quivering as it fought my command.
Arms wrapped around my waist, and the scent of pine filled my head. “Fuck. Ana, how?”
I shook my head. Every ounce of will focused on the worm, afraid that if I took my eyes off it, I’d lose control.
My blood burned hot, then cold. I wasn’t going to be able to hold the beast much longer.
A gust of air smacked me in the face, and a figure landed on the worm—silver hair flying like a flag behind him.
Sterling.
He climbed up the worm, using its scales as handholds.
“Hold it, Ana,” Drayven said, “I don’t know how you’re doing this but don’t fucking let go.”
I blinked cold sweat from my eyes, gritting my teeth as my chest vibrated with power that seemed to come from everywhere at once, using my body as a conduit.
My stomach quaked. A warning that I was running out of time. My fear was confirmed a moment later when the worm jerked to the left, almost breaking free of my hold. Sterling cried out, barely holding on.
Heat sizzled behind my eyes, spread across my palms—then the worm went still once more.
Sterling reached the worm's head, clambering higher, until he balanced precariously atop the beast.
The edges of my vision darkened, and I pushed out one desperate plea. “Please…”
“Hurry!” Drayven bellowed. “She can’t hold it much longer.”
My gaze flicked up to the dhampir, locking with his cold and unreadable stare. He dropped his chin in a nod, then brought his sword down, impaling the beast’s brain.
The worm toppled, and Sterling leapt off it, somersaulting in the air and landing on his feet, light as a cat.
The ground shook as the worm made impact, and I fell back against Drayven, free of the power that had saved me.
Other Hunters rushed onto the scene, yelling words that were swallowed by the thunder of blood in my ears.
“Ana?” Drayven’s grip tightened. “Ana, can you hear me?”
