Page 18 of Bonded to the Fallen Shadow King (Of Fae and Wolf Trilogy #1)

Chapter Eighteen

Briar

I spun toward the scream, the blood thundering in my ears. My fingers curled into fists. Someone was in imminent danger.

Mist curled from below, obscuring the water. I had no doubt it would soon cover us whole and make us struggle to even see each other.

I gritted my teeth, the heavy sluggish feel of hatred oozing through me. I despised this place, and I hoped like hell each observer got what was coming to them. My chest tugged, and I glanced up, but I couldn’t see the royal family or the Council.

Thalira placed a hand on my arm, startling me.

“We’ll protect everyone here. We can use our magic and can hold out for an hour. You need to go help—you can move faster than all of us. Please . They said that every three women who complete the challenge will lessen the attacks here. You can make that happen for us.”

Yuki pointed to the filthy waters below, though we couldn’t see the creatures any longer as the mist was now filtering around us and thickening over the planks.

“Something lured them away, but we know they’ll be back. Do you hear the clicking?”

“It’s hard to hear.” Velessa adjusted her hold on her discs. Myantha and Calla Lily both huddled close to Velessa and Yuki. The others tightened their circle, eyes wide but determined.

“Yeah, I hear it.” I gripped a handful of my hair, fighting to process all this. “It’s a little faster now. And the creatures stopped for no reason. It’s like they were called away. This trial isn’t to test ruthlessness. It’s for intelligence. So there’s probably a pattern.”

Another loud click sounded over the clacking and slooshing below, a stark reminder that we were running out of time. Too many had already died, and I was being torn in two, wanting to stay here and protect my allies, but realizing that leaving them might be the best way to do that.

The mist had thickened around the walkways now, obscuring the others’ positions… if they were even there. Who knew anymore.

I bit my lip as the scream echoed in my head. Someone might be in danger, which made the decision for me.

I needed to leave. And this damn skirt was going to be a problem with all its layers and weight.

I hoisted the front of the green dress up past my knees. I needed to gird my loins. I gathered the skirt in front with the cold wind whipping under the backside to my butt. Not wanting to flash anyone behind, I pulled the front fabric I gathered between my legs and held with both in the back. Dividing the material equally in both hands, I wrapped it around my waist, tying it in a bow. Thank Fate, the pockets were still usable.

“What are you doing?” Quen raised an eyebrow.

“I girded my loins,” I replied. “It’ll prevent the skirt from tangling my legs as I jump.”

“Well, that’s gonna make things easier. Well played, beast girl.”

I drew in a deep breath and straightened my shoulders. “Don’t let anyone here die. As soon as I complete the trial, I’ll come back for you.”

Thalira nodded. “We’ll do what we can here. Hurry.”

Of the paths that were still available, the one with the gaps that angled to the right of the nearest platform was the best choice, even if jumping was going to be a bitch. My feet slapped the slick stone, causing my soles to sting. I could make out only a faint outline of the path, and I hoped to hell my wolf wouldn’t let me down.

I struck the first plank of the walkway and swung my arms for balance. The discs jerked me forward so that my weight went to my toes. My body tilted over the edge, but I thrust my arms back and caught myself before I could fall.

The world tilted, and my stomach swooped as the moldy wood groaned beneath me.

Another heavy, steady, mechanical click of the course followed. My muscles tightened, and the hairs on my body prickled.

Even though I couldn’t see the water, I could hear splashing, as if the creatures were moving closer.

The putrid smell of decay burned the insides of my nostrils as I squatted and studied the longer planked walkway ahead of me. All the planks were connected, but some of them had struts underneath with cross sections of wood or stone to help support them. Others did not. The farther I got from the original platform, the fewer supports there were. Kaylen had leaped over some spots. She must have known somehow.

Taking a shaky breath, I jumped onto the first reinforced plank. There were six more sections before the relative safety of that next square black platform.

Another click reminded me that each second I delayed made the trial riskier for my friends.

Gritting my teeth, I aimed for the next supported spot. My side ached, and the scratch on my leg burned, but things could be a lot worse. I had to remember that. I focused on the task ahead and jumped over the weakest portion of the walkway and hurried to the next one.

Another click , another leap.

My lungs burned, and my wolf surged forward with renewed energy, urging me on. If I could get to the next safe spot, then I could—

A deeper and more sinister click echoed throughout the space.

Down below, chaos surged. Glistening eyes peered up through the mist, stalking me just beneath the cracks in the boards.

“Shit!” I jumped to the next section, and as soon my foot touched, several of the boards cracked like ice. My heart dropped. I was about to fall.

Unable to see and definitely not wanting to fight on the planked bridge, I leaped the next gap, drawing the thin air into my lungs.

A massive leech, longer than my body, slithered onto the left side of the walkway slightly in front of me. It curled and snapped its teeth. The smell of rot and decay hit me hard. I swung my arm wide and hit its thick, fleshy body with the disc, the impact vibrating through my arm. The ridges of its mouth were already too close for comfort, and I swung the other disc, forcing the leech to slither back some, but not enough.

My leg screamed, but I had to move. More would be coming. I punched forward, aiming the disc at the leech’s mouth and smashing into it.

It shrieked, a high-pitched keening sound, and fell over the edge. I heard the splash, but before I could even take a deep breath, there was yet another click .

A swarm of black-green crabs, claws raised and shells clattering, swarmed over the spot in front of me and scrambled across the wood. One caught the toe of my shoe and pinched, the pain sharp and sudden. I gasped and yanked my foot back, then kicked it away, and faced the next platform. I made the last jump before the carbs could attack me again.

The board splintered beneath my feet, but I leaped. The discs slammed into my sides, bruising and striking me as I crashed onto the stone. I yelped as I rolled to the center of the black platform, gasping in relief.

I pressed my hand against my injured leg. Warmth blood had soaked through the material, but the bandage was still secure. My head was spinning, but I was alive. And all my limbs were still attached. For now.

The crabs and leeches fell back once more, and the smell of rot lessened. I strained my ears, and the clicks continued, steady and mechanical.

The mist thinned, and more screams from the starting platform filled the air, followed by a few in the distance within the mist.

I turned to see the faint misty silhouettes of my friends on the starting platform battling their asses off. The crabs and leeches were attacking them in full force, but the group held tight. Thalira’s water whips lashed out, wrapped around a leech, and flung it back. Velessa clutched her discs to her chest as she kicked at one of the crabs and drove it back, and Calla Lily delivered a powerful strike from a stone block straight into its head. Quen threw herself to the ground and sent a fiery blast out that hit three leeches at once. Their flesh sizzled, and they slid down the square platform. For now, they were holding their own.

Thank Fate. A sob built in my chest, but I held it back. I had to remain level-headed and survive.

More mist curled around the paths, and the maze shifted once more.

I turned my back to my friends and scanned the routes available.

Suddenly a massive claw slammed down on my stone platform, and I leaped back, barely avoiding the blow.

A bull-sized lobster hauled itself up over the edge and bore down on me with its claws snapping. Its shell was thick and black, and its beady eyes met mine.

I ducked and rolled as the sickening snap of its claw missed me by inches.

The maze shifted, and it was exactly as the old reaper had said. He was going to make sure as many of us died as possible.

My wolf growled, urging me on, but I was dizzy. I hit the edge of the stone platform, then turned to face the massive lobster. It lunged forward, claws open.

I dropped to my knees and rolled under it, then sprang onto the nearest wooden walkway without noting the direction. Blood dripped down my leg, and I staggered, but caught my balance once more. The damn discs kept throwing me off.

I peered as far along the walkway as I could, noting the points where it was reinforced and wasn’t.

The temperature dropped rapidly.

Another loud click . The creatures fell back, and the routes changed. The boards under my feet vibrated.

Panic surged through me. The next platform was several yards away. I sprang forward just as the boards started to lift and twist beneath me, and I lunged and swung my arms to create momentum. My feet clipped one of the boards, and I lurched ahead.

My breath ripped from me, and I fell.

My fingers caught the edge of the stone platform, and the harsh scent of rot and metal filled my lungs. The momentum of my fall nearly pulled me off, and I scrabbled for a hold. My legs kicked as I tried to swing them up, but I couldn’t get a foothold.

I refused to let go.

Taking a deep calming breath, I hauled myself up inch by inch, the discs making it even harder.

Finally I dragged myself onto the platform and rolled onto my back, chest heaving, pain flashing white-hot through my arms and fingers. The world narrowed to a dark blur, and I listened intently for signs of an attacker.

It was quiet. The huge lobster was gone.

My head spun, and I wasn’t sure if it was from blood loss or the ever-changing maze.

I staggered upright do. My body ached, and I felt woozy, but I couldn’t stay here. I had to keep moving and reach the end. I had to make sure the others survived.

The cold air burned my throat, but it helped me focus on something other than the agony in my leg. The boards moved into a new position and the thick mist obscured my path, but the tower loomed above it, closer than before.

A little bit of hope blossomed in my chest.

The stinking mist coiled around me like it was trying to choke me, and another piercing shriek echoed in the distance.

Rhielle. She had to be in trouble.

Pushing all discomfort from my mind, I forced myself to continue. The loudest clicks signaled transitions to the monster attacks and the shifting of the platforms. I was sure of it.

The route twisted and turned, and more boards rose and fell around me, but I could see the pattern. I could hear it. I could feel it.

The sound pulsed under my skin as I leaped to the next section, pushing myself harder. I had to find Rhielle.

Two more platforms, and I’d reach the tower, if I could make it that far. No. No if. I had to.

I sprang to the next plank, and the wood splintered beneath my feet. I swung my arms to keep my balance, and once again the discs nearly pulled me over. Just as I regained my balance, a massive leech, bigger than a wolf, struck from below. Its body slicked the wood as it wriggled toward me. A huge ring of teeth flashed in its open mouth.

I nearly froze, but I had no time to waste. I needed it to leave me alone.

“Fuck you, get back!” I threw both arms forward, the discs vibrating as they struck its body. I swung again, and the leech shrieked out a high-pitched wail. One disc squelched through its mouth, and teeth scattered across the wood as the leech fell.

I leaped past it, heart pounding. Adrenaline pumped through my body, helping keep the pain at bay, though my legs were becoming increasingly weighed down. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could push myself this way. My hips and thighs ached, but I tightened my core and launched myself onto the next platform, and then kept going down yet another path toward the tower.

Landing on stone, I rolled to the center of the final black platform. My breath came in ragged, shallow pants, but I forced myself to stand and stagger forward. I adjusted the straps on my wrists where the leather had bit in deep, and noticed my skin had been chafed raw. Beneath the sheer sleeves of the dress, numerous bruises marked my arms, but I’d made it. The cold gray tower stretched above me, massive and daunting. I didn’t see any enemies or threats.

I dragged myself through a massive archway and into the tower. The air was somehow more damp, cold, thick, and horrid inside.

Eight columns took up the circular path to the roof. Kaylen had climbed the column straight across from me in front of another archway. She was about five feet from the top but seemed to be stuck and struggling. Ceana and Deallan were on columns flanking her, Deallan about a foot shy of Kaylen, and Ceana only halfway up.

Someone groaned, and I jerked around and found a pale Rhielle, leaning against the stone wall, clutching her ankle and breathing with rapid gasps. Her ankle was swollen and purple with an odd series of bloody grooves down one side. Dark veins snaked up from the wounds toward her thigh. Clearly she couldn’t climb.

My heart skipped a beat.

“What are you doing?” Rhielle’s rasped. The bright pink of her eyes had dimmed, and her beautiful hair was snarled and matted with slime and ichor, as if one of the leeches had rolled over her.

She lifted her chin toward the ceiling. “Get your ass up there, Briar! Don’t let that bitch be the first to win.”