“Apparently, he lied.” Is all Bastian says and it fills me with rage.
“If Nyx dies - “
“If we don't get him proper treatment, he will die,” he cuts me off. “Youdon’thave to trust me, but ifwe’reall going to get out of here alive, you will have to work with me.”
I grind my back teeth, clinging to my knees pressed to my chest. “Fine.”
He looks relieved, as if hewasexpecting me to refuse.We may be enemies, but if the three of us are going tosurvive, we have no choice but to work together.
“Wewillhave tobe quick.” He tosses one last long look over his shoulder toward the celebration beyond the castle. “I’ve been keeping watch and there is no one guarding the square, meaning no one is guarding us.” He holds his hand out and it transforms into a claw. Ilurch backward.
“I’m going to break the lock. Once I’m out of the cage, I’ll fully transform. I’ll put Nyx over my back. You’ll need to get up there, too.”
We've already wasted enough time bickering, so I just nod in agreement.
Bastian makes quick work crushing the lock before dragging Nyx out with him. Watching him transform into his beast form makes my stomach flip, but this time,he’snot here for me.He’sgoing to get us out of here. With Nyx draped over Bastian’s furry back, he motions for me to get on.
For a split second,I’mnotsuremy body is going to move. Flashes ofDrogon’shands all over me, the thousands of eyes pinned on my naked body, the invasion of my humanity.
I will not die here.
AlthoughI’mflooded with pain with each limb I move, I scramble out of the cage with Bastian’s shirt hanging looselyatmy thighs. As quickly as I can, I hoist myself up onto Bastian’s back, cling to Nyx’s limp body, and tap my bare foot against Bastian’s furry side to give him a nonverbal clueI’mready.
Bastian takes off.It’snot far to get to the portal, but thedreada demon or creature will notice usattemptingto escape – or worse, are already on the other side in our realm and waiting for us – crosses my mind. But I try to keep positive, lying as flat as I can to keep from being seen. Not that demonscoutswouldn’tnotice a giganticbear-like creature sprinting for freedom.
Luck must finally be on our side, or the demons and creatures of this realm are all too drunk on debauchery to noticewe’vebroken out, but Bastian bounds through the portal anddoesn’tstop.We’rein the middle of the desert. I have no idea how far Midori is from here, but that can be our only hope to save Nyx.
Anxiety of seeing Garren and Keres pools in the pit of my stomach. For Nyx, I will do whatever it takes to save him.
Even when we are up and over several sand dunes and the portal is no longer in sight, Bastiandoesn’tlet up. He keeps pushing as if something sinister was nipping at his heels. Idon’tsay a word to stop him. The farther we get from the portal – from Malvolio – the better.
The moon is high in the night sky, lighting our path brightly. At least we have that in our favor. Andit’scoolout. The light crisp breeze dances across myrosyflesh,and I welcomethe relief.
But my relief is short-lived. Bastian’s ears twitch and suddenly he breaks off into a faster sprint, giving it all he has left.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“They know.”
I furrow my brow. “How do you - ”
An arrow pierces into the sand beside us. I whip around. A group of at least twenty or thirtycreatureschase afterus.
Shit.
We had quite the headstart, andthey’restill managing to catch up. At this rate, Bastian will tire. He is carrying two people on his back and running through unforgiving sand. His muscles will be aching and eventually, whether he wants to or not, his body will giveoutand we will be recaptured.
I’ll die first. I internally promise myself.
Bastian dodges three morearrows,a few close calls zing by. I shield Nyx with my body, prayinghe’snot struck.
But I should have been praying for Bastian’s safety becausehe’sthe one who is struck twice. One in his right shoulder, the second in his left leg.We’regoing down.
Bastian roars in pain. He tumbles to the ground with a great thud. Nyx and I fly off. Nyx groans the second he crumples in the sand, the only sign he's still alive.
Screamserupt fromme when the sand rubs my burns. It clings to me, to my sweat, and I bite my back teeth to compose myself. I look up atBastian,there’s blood seeping into the sand beneath him. I crawl to him, despite the agony.
"Bas,” I stroke his snout, “are you ok?"
