Page 128 of Eldritch (The Eating Woods #2)

CHAPTER EIGHTY-THREE

ZEVANDER

D eath would’ve been easier, Zevander was certain of it.

Every muscle in his body screamed in pain as he stared up at the edge of the cliff, the memory of her face clinging to his thoughts.

He lay in the mouth of a black void, his life teetering on the edge of a jutting protrusion of rock.

An unlikely twist of fate, as he listened to the hissing and screeching of spiders and the human-like creatures who spilled over, slipping past him in the dark as they plummeted.

His legs dangled over the precipice, the width of the ledge only long enough to have captured his upper body.

One wrong move and he’d slip to his death.

Another hiss of a spider whizzed past his ear, but he didn’t dare turn to see its demise.

He was far too weak and battered. Instead, he turned his mind to Maevyth, recalled the relief he felt watching her return to Aethyria.

As he’d clung to Dravien’s arm, he’d seen her face, heard her voice calling out for him. Felt her once more.

That was all he needed.

He’d never believed in the gods but as he lay there, bleeding and broken, he prayed that she’d find Dolion.

Maybe the gods would be kind, and he’d slip into Caligorya. He’d see her one more time.

The screeching of creatures and whatever hell resided miles below him broke through the serenity of that thought, reminding him how cruel the gods could be.

The edge of the cliff must’ve been sixty meters above him, or more, with nothing to grasp. Impossible to climb.

Hand stiff and trembling, he forced it inside the pocket of his trousers, fingers fumbling in a frantic search for the necklace there. The moment he felt the chain, curled the jewelry into his grasp, he calmed. Careful not to drop it, he slid it out and held it to his chest.

He closed his eyes to memories of Maevyth. The first time he saw her—not in her bedroom, but in Caligorya as young girl. Her first smile. The way her hair danced in an errant breeze and light caught the silver in her eyes. He committed every detail of her face to memory, every moment with her.

Lunamiszka. His moon witch.

His heart slowed. A sense of peace washed over him. He began to ponder foolish things like attempting to climb the rock, even when he knew there was no chance of reaching the surface.

Death would be easier , he thought again.

A thunderous roar from above invaded his mind and Zevander peered up at two glowing eyes watching him from the edge of the cliff. How that damned thing had traversed the boundary was a mystery he didn’t have the energy to ponder.

Raivox roared again, flapping his wings and leapt into the air, hovering over the chasm.

A smiled tugged at Zevander’s mouth. “Hello, shitbag. Nice of you to show up.”