Something living.
But even within its quiet breathing, I hear the armor of its voice. As loud as a shove pushing me away.
Whatever it is, glowing so brightly, it is not for me to disturb. Of that, I’m certain.
Then we’re past it, and the promise of darkness beckons, the shadows growing around us once more, and now Nara surges ahead of me, her eyes opening, a predator in control of her responses once more.
She doesn’t know the danger that the Oracle’s facing, but her determination is as strong as mine.
We must reach the Oracle before it’s too late.
Chapter Three
Thyra
Sharp pain strikes through my neck, shooting down my spine as Antony’s fangs drive deep.
My knees buckle and my head swims, the fight draining out of me along with my blood, a raging torrent emptying me of all hope.
An endless moment.
My heartbeats push my blood to his mouth. A betrayal of my heart against my body and my life.
Just as I’m about to black out, a sudden tearing sensation leaves me unanchored, teetering on the spot.
Antony jolts away from me, his arms flying wide, releasing me, his breath seething, but his eyes…
Draining of darkness and returning to savage green, widening behind the strands of his black hair.
His whisper crashes through my hearing. “Thyra?—”
A second later, with a ferocious shriek, Azul crashes into him, knocking Antony away from me in a frenzy of feathers and talons.
I’m left standing free and clear of restraint, mentally screaming at myself to move. To run.
But blood now flows down my neck from what must be open puncture wounds, a strong enough stream that my legs are giving way.
Slapping my hand against my throat, pressing as hard as I can, andwillingmy weakened arms and legs to work, I fight to stay lucid, fight to stumble to the other side of the tunnel, where I can brace against the rock and keep myself upright.
Now behind me, Antony gives a furious shout, but he’s obscured behind Azul’s attacking body, the sounds of their struggle turning my stomach. The tearing. Ripping. Of skin or feathers or maybe both.
I take three stumbling steps before I collapse against the rock wall, nearly sliding down it before I force my legs to straighten.
Lurching forward, I set one foot in front of the other, somehow stumbling ten more steps, all while it’s impossible to stop the blood flowing down my neck, the warm liquid continuing to flow, seeping through my fingers, leaving me barely able to think.
Azul shrieks. And then?—
Thud.
I shouldn’t risk looking back, but fear turns my head, my focus dragged to the giant eagle.
One of Azul’s wings spreads across the tunnel floor while his body slumps to the ground, his head lowering to the rock.
I want to run to him, help him, but through the darkness, his gleaming, red eyes are still open, and he glares at me. Glaring even as his eyelids begin closing.
Azul…
He’s fallen between Antony and me, his body creating an obstruction that will give me a few more seconds to get away.
