They continue to study me as if they’ll sense a lie. I’m telling the truth. I mean, yes, I’m losing a bit of energy and stamina every door, but I’m not close to being drained.
That last door…we’ll see.
“Don’t let go of her,” Creed grunts.
I peer over my shoulder as the four of them grab a handful of my shirt when I stand in front of the eighth door.
The gesture brings a small smile to my lips.
It instantly melts away when this door rejects me so completely, I slide a step back.
“Shit,” I groan. “Looks like you all are pushing. Not pulling.”
I grip the key with both hands and shove against this invisible resistance with every ounce of strength I have. My men push against me, and grunts of effort rip from each of our lips. I swear it’s like we’re trying to move a solid marble wall.
The key finally slams into the hole, and I throw my entire body weight into forcing it to turn. There is no gradual disappearanceof this door. My men and I are flung back as it crashes into the ground, then whisks through the air at the speed of light.
“Damn, that little fucker did not want to come down,” Riven says, huffing as he puts his hand on his hips and takes a couple of deep, ragged breaths.
The four of us aren’t faring any better.
I hang my head and place my hands on my knees as I fill my lungs.
“The glow isn’t fading now,” Yemi says, and I peek behind me.
Sure enough, the door is still giving off a faint light.
I huff as I stand straight.
“One more.”
I bounce my shoulders up and down and shake my hands out as I mentally prepare myself for whatever may be next. I raise my palm, attempting to get a sense of anything that may come from it.
There’s a low, deep hum, but other than that, it doesn’t feel any different than the others.
“Ready?” I ask as my men prepare themselves behind me.
This time, they have their fingers tangled in my shirt and light grips on my arms. They’re ready to push or pull depending on what’s needed.
“Ready,” they echo and I breathe.
Unease hits me in my chest as the key slides right in. I hold still, waiting for the ground beneath my feet to cave in or something.
A tense, silent moment passes and nothing happens.
“I suppose it’s given up its figh—”
A hiss takes over my words as the key burns in my grip, searing my skin. My fingers curl tighter around it and my arm trembles as heat crawls up my vein.
“Fuck!” I shout. “It’s burning me.”
“Let the fucking key go, Thayla,” Creed growls, gripping and pulling my arm.
“It won’t let me!”
I curl in on myself as blistering pain rushes through my whole side. It feels like I’m burning from the inside out.
Sevryn, without warning, puts my damn wrist in a death grip.
