Page 79 of A Tempest of Intrigue (Tempest of Shadows #4)

CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE

Ellery

From what I’d seen, the path wound around the cavernous space as it spiraled toward the door. The cavern, circular in structure, had to have at least a five-hundred-foot radius.

It would take a while to make it to the doorway, and that would only happen if we didn’t get eaten first.

I shuddered at the possibility and grasped Mouse’s shoulder to keep him between me and Ryker. Thankfully, my legs and head had completely healed and wouldn’t hinder me if I had to run.

My energy level wasn’t where it should be, but I was sure I’d have enough adrenaline and lightning to fight them off if these things tried to eat us. I just hoped lightning worked against them.

When Ryker’s light revealed the start of the path, I held my breath as he stepped onto the hardpacked dirt. Would his presence on the pathway be the thing that woke these creatures?

We’d agreed to this, but everything in me screamed against Ryker moving further onto the path. When nothing stirred as Ryker progressed a few more feet, my breath rushed out. He kept moving, getting further away as Mouse remained before me.

Then I realized he wasn’t moving because I had a death grip on his shoulder and was holding him in place. When Mouse gazed up at me, I forced a smile and guided him forward.

Tension thrummed through me when we caught up to Ryker. As we walked, I held my light high to illuminate as much space as possible.

I didn’t look at the monstrosities tucked into the alcoves carved into the dirt and rocks surrounding us, but I felt like they were watching us. Maybe they were waiting until we were higher in the cavern and more vulnerable to an attack.

I gulped at the possibility as the adrenaline thrumming through my system sent little tingles throughout me. The sensation made my skin feel almost uncomfortable.

After we’d moved a hundred feet without them attacking, I couldn’t keep my eyes away from them anymore. With a growing sense of dread, my head turned toward the creature tucked beneath the stone archway carved into the side of the cavern.

I couldn’t see how far back the alcove went, but the monster was tucked a couple of feet away from the opening. And it wasn’t the only one, as five feet beyond that alcove was another one, and so it went, all the way to the top of the cavern.

The archways and spaces between them were set up the same, creating a perfect pattern of dirt, opening, and more dirt to the top of what was beginning to feel like some underground lost city. I wondered if the alcoves were all connected in the space beyond the creatures.

If these things awaken to eat us, could they scurry from one alcove to another?

The idea of them moving through tunnels we couldn’t see unnerved me further. I tried telling myself not to worry about it, that they weren’t moving or alive, but I winced at every crunch of our boots on stone or scrape of arms against the wall.

No matter that they showed no signs of coming alive, I was certain the gargoyles watched our every move.