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We all held our breath. If it twisted too far, it would plunge into the darkness, taking our hope for survival along with it.

Instead, it settled on the other side.

Kronk dusted his hands, grinning. “I did good, huh?” Then his gaze lowered to my stomach, and his grin turned to a dark glare.

I glanced down, finding the vampire’s arm around me, and jerked free. “Better than good. Let’s go before the others join us.”

It wasn't like we could keep our plan secret, what with the explosion of cracking wood and screaming birds.

Drazen caught my hand, holding me back. He narrowed his eyes on Custodis, offering a mocking bow. “Leeches first.”

“Very well,” Custodis said, climbing up on the broken stump. Arms out, he balanced, taking a few practice bounces. When the tree held, he took measured steps, inching further until he cleared the ledge, standing over the chasm, free of any handhold, net, nor safety rigging to keep him from plunging to his death.

“Perhaps we should go one at a time,” I suggested.

“No time for that.” Drazen glanced over his shoulder.

Shouts rang out. The others were coming.

With no further encouragement, I climbed up, following the vampire.

“Move your ass, blood sucker,” Drazen shouted.

We scrambled across the makeshift bridge, with Kronk bringing up the rear.

Heart pounding a frantic rhythm, I dodged branches, careful of each footstep. The fallen trunk wobbled, shimmying beneath our combined weight. Wood cracked, and I screamed, dropping to my hands and knees.

Frozen, I stared at the bark under my palms. Don’t look. Don’t look. Don’t…

My gaze shifted. Below me was a vast chasm of nothingness. Vertigo washed over me in a flood. My head swam, and I swallowed back bile. The panicked woman’s cries from earlier echoed in my ears.We’re going to die! We’re going to die!

“Runa!” a smoky voice called my name. “Runa, you have to go!” he repeated.

No. No. No. I was fine right where I was. What was the hurry?

Heat warmed my backside. Orange light erupted. “Damn it, Runa. Snap out of it. I can’t hold the bastards off forever.”

Smoke burned my nostrils. I blinked and peered out acrossthe fallen tree. Surely, Victor had reached the other side by now. Hell, he was probably already at the flag, feet kicked up, watching my brothers and me on one of those ridiculous floating screens. Like the dead woman, my mental breakdown would be broadcast for the world to ridicule.

Laugh it up, Custodis. Enjoying the show?

Beneath my nose, a hand appeared. I blinked, forcing my eyes from the relative safety of the trunk. The vampire’s silver-gray stare held me captive.

He really did have nice eyes. Something in his hypnotic gaze pulled me in. Warmth spread through my veins, my head growing foggy.

“Take my hand,” an angelic voice said.

I’d do anything for that voice. I swallowed, licking my dry lips.

“Take my hand. Your brothers are counting on you.”

What? My brothers?

I placed my palm into my savior’s grasp, and he helped me to my feet. “Eyes on me. One foot in front of the other.”

Someone screamed, the shriek fading as if they had fallen into a deep well. Cursing and the whoosh of fireballs roared behind me. Still, I did as the voice commanded, following in his path.

“Flark! It’s on fire!”