“This is different,” she said and stepped onto the first stone slab cautiously.
It gave way.
Her stomach plummeted, her body following. She heard a strangled scream – her own – she was falling–
A strong arm locked around her waist, yanking her back. The sound of stone crashing into the darkness below echoed across the tunnel. Sienna shrieked. Gregor swore loudly.
“I’ve got you,” Sebastian murmured into her ear, his breath warm against her neck.
The blood rushed to Kara’s ears. She stared in horror at the chasm where she had been standing. She was shaking. Sebastian wasn’t. He was solid, steady. And he hadn’t let go. She became very aware of his arm wrapped around her waist, her back crushed against the heat of his chest. There wasn’t an inch of space between them. She tilted her head, but couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes, instead staring at the jagged scar on his chin. She was close enough now that she could tell a blade had done it. Her cheeks flushed.
“You can let go now,” she muttered.
“Looks like I was useful after all,” he said quietly as he released her.
Kara opened her mouth to speak but Sienna hurried to her side, pulling her attention away. “Are you alright, Kara?”
“Yeah.” But her hands were still trembling.
“What the fuck was that?” Jax demanded.
“They told us these trials would be different,” Sebastian said, putting himself between the chasm and the rest of the team. “Looks like this maze could bury us.”
Why in the hells has my father allowed this?
Morra went pale. “The Arcalon isn’t meant to kill–”
“This isn’t what we signed up for,” Oryen said, outraged.
“Is this what your father meant, Healer?” Jax asked her.
“I had no idea about this,” Kara said honestly.
“And what about you, Thorne?” Oryen demanded. “Your father’s Council too.”
Sebastian’s expression hardened. “I’m just as in the dark as the rest of you.”
All of a sudden, Gregor grunted, “Pressure plate,” pointing to a small square inset on a ledge above them.
He threw out his arms. Amber light bloomed between Gregor’s palms which snaked out and wrapped around a nearby boulder. The ground shuddered as his magic raised it, scraping against the stone walls, before settling atop the plate.
The reaction was immediate.
The slabs along the tunnel floor glowed the same rich amber as his magic, shifted, then locked into place with a low, satisfying thud. Gregor moved forward, standing on the slabs without checking them, and Kara watched, breath held, until he reached the other side.
“Glad he’s on our team,” Kara muttered.
Sienna grabbed her hand, her own still trembling. “Come on, we will go together.” The other six of them moved across.
“We’re making good time,” Morra called from behind.
They took several more turns, until all the passages began to blur together. Same stone, same sound of their boot steps. They hadn’t seen any sign of the other teams. Their path grew darker, narrower, as they travelled deeper. As they took a fork to the right and entered a square clearing, Jax’s hand brushed the wall. A low rumble sounded in response. They all turned. The stone wall itself opened, and amber light poured from it. The rumble became a grinding sound that filled the whole tunnel as something massive erupted from the stone. It took one stride forward and stared down at them. It was roughly the shape of a person, but made entirely of solid rock, and taller and broader than any man Kara had ever seen. Its face held nothing but empty eye sockets that glowed with that amber light.
What in the hells is that?
Jax stepped back unsteadily. The creature swung its stone fists. Brutal force. Aiming straight for Jax’s chest. He reached for his sword – but not quick enough. The creature’s stone arm slammed into him,and the blow sent him flying. He hit the wall with a sickening crack, blood immediately trickling down his temple. Kara surged forward on instinct – but froze when the creature’s massive head turned towards her.
“Gods,” Oryen stuttered, panic breaking through.
