Page 112 of Wraithwound

Even through the leather gloves, she could feel his energy seeping into her hand. She took in the features of his face, committing them to memory. Wyn chittered and took her place at Lena’s side as the two headed for the gate. As she stepped under it, she turned, hoping for one last glance at her friends.

At first, nothing happened, and then Wyn was flung from her side by an invisible force and landed in a tangled heap near Laney. Lena only just managed to catch sight of the eleuth popping up from the ground and scampering back toward the gate when Cross was shoved toward Lena so forcefully that he crashed into her. Time slowed as their bodies spun into a fall revealing Taya’s muscled form, arms outstretched before her.

Noooooo!

Cross would die; he wasn’t meant to enter the arch.

Chapter

Sixty

Cross wrapped his arms around her as they fell, tumbling through the air in a terrifying freefall. And then they were sucked into a stiff barrier. Lena’s boot got caught on something solid, which sent them tumbling backwards. When she opened her eyes, only blinding white filled her vision.

“Are you all right?” Cross asked, lifting himself off her, the contact between them ending too quickly.

She felt his hand grasp hers as he pulled her up to a seated position. Remembering the visual of Taya standing before the arch, arms outstretched, made anger flare bright and hot in her chest.

“I can’t believe Taya pushed you through! Why would she do that? She’ll be lucky if all I do is push her when we get back! I⁠—”

“Lena. Lena,” Cross said calmly. “I’m glad she did. Now I get to accompany you.”

Lena couldn’t quite make out his face, but she heard the smirk in his tone.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so exasperated,” he said, helping her up.

“I once poisoned an entire unit of the Commander’s men after they nearly got my friends killed. They soiled themselves for weeks. I’ll be looking for some bitter root powder when we get out of here . . .” A sudden ache pierced her heart the moment the words left her mouth.

Had she really lost so much of herself, so much of her fire and passion to grief? The Lena she’d just spoken of seemed like a distant memory, alive only in the stories shared between friends on a rainy afternoon.

She was shocked to learn that the answer to that question was yes. She wasn’t that girl anymore. She didn’t know who or even what she was now. Lena inhaled deeply. Perhaps it didn’t matter; she had discovered a new purpose.

“That sounds like a story I’d love to hear some time,” Cross said chuckling. “Are you ready?”

“Yes,” she replied, blinking rapidly as she waited for her vision to adjust.

White made up the entirety of her surroundings, and her eyes strained to make out any details. It was only then that she noticed the change in temperature. It was hot. Very hot. Discomfort seeped through her clothing and settled onto her skin.

“Where are we?” she asked.

“What do you mean?” he asked. “We’re on the mountain, just past the threshold. The gate is right there.”

Slowly, shapes and figures came into focus. Lush trees and rocks emerged from the blinding brightness.

“Oh, yes, I see it now,” Lena replied in his general direction.

She made it several steps before she tripped, extending her arms in front of her to regain her balance. Her heart hammered in her throat, and she squeezed her eyes shut as if that would keep the heat from sinking deeper into her skin. Suddenly, her clothes felt too tight, her pack too heavy.

She felt Cross’s presence before he spoke: “Did your vision change after the attack?”

She nodded. “Increased sensitivity during the day, improved vision at night.”

Saying it out loud was like adding another nail to the coffin that contained her humanity.

“And the heat?” he asked.

“I’m fine,” she answered quickly but then amended, “Not fine.”

EverGods, how was she going to get through this? Already she’d been incapacitated by the blinding light and now the temperature. Her mind went back to Taryk’s warning. He’d been right.