Page 40 of Of Nightmares & Fire (Elusive Umbra #1)
“The king has been growing more paranoid recently and had more underground passages dug out that are big enough for even carriages to travel through.
It's been an ongoing, hushed project for nearly the last year.” Kellan says as he adjusts his asinine armor that the king requires his guards to wear.
“The only problem is that it leads to the Dead Sea…
and it's said that the soldiers that were in charge of locking the gates at the end of the passage were killed by the Scylia.”
“Lose the metal. You are dead with it.” I say, then turn to the princess. “Do you trust what he is saying?”
“Scylia? Like the pirates of the Dead Sea?” She questions Kellan.
“The passage, Shula. Do you trust that it is what he says? That it will lead us out?” I cut in before Kellan can answer. “I'm not worried about Scylia. I need to know if this passage that you say is there can get us away from the palace and closer to the dunes before Creshian.”
“You plan to take her back to Diemos through the Dead Sea, the dunes, and Creshian? This is a death mission.” Kellan balks, and my head whips in his direction.
“You are welcome to stay here. The only one with the possibility of death is you. The princess and I will make it Diemos one way or another…” I lean in closer to him and whisper menacingly.
“Even if we have to feed you to the manticore that roam the dunes and the eolian caves.” He scoffs, and I can’t help but smirk when Astraea gives me a pointed look .
“I trust him.” She finally says.
“Up on Khol then.” I shrug toward my horse, and I see the way she swallows, and fear takes prominence over her features. “Please tell me you know how to ride a horse.”
“I… Well, no. I haven’t a reas—” Her words are cut off by a shriek as I pick her up by the waist, but she quickly slaps a hand over her mouth as I place her on Khol’s back. We don’t have time for this.
“We will rectify that. You ride Eidola.” I point at Kellan. “If you treat her with anything other than the utmost respect, Mavros will take your balls, feed them to you, and then use your own entrails to string you up as an offering to the Cerkin when we reach the Creshian Forest.”
“Kyros! Great divine! Would you stop threatening Kellan? I told you he was helping, and I trust him. He is a friend.” Astraea’s brows gather between her eyes, and the annoyed look in her eyes causes my lip to tug up at the corner.
I've never felt the urge to call someone adorable, but the look on her face right now is just that.
It makes me want to frustrate her more… and in better ways.
“No.” I respond flatly.
“You’re insufferable.” She crosses her arms over her chest.
“So I’ve been told,” I laugh under my breath as I move to pull myself up behind her.
“What are you doing?” Her hands frantically look for anywhere to hold onto as my weight shifts the saddle.
“I’m riding my horse.”
“But I’m riding this one. Choose another one.” She argues .
“No.” I whisper in her face, and she gapes at me.
“Hold on, Shula. You are about to be free of the chains he keeps you in.” I don’t wait for her to listen, and I don’t warn Kellan when I lean down and throw open the wooden stable door.
Astraea gasps as the momentum of Khol’s takeoff thrusts her back into my lap, and I wrap one arm around her waist, securing her to my body.
If Kellan is lying and leading us to a slaughter, it will be his head that rolls first.
The sand under Khol’s hooves slows him only the briefest, but after just a few strides he is quickly adapting to the terrain, as is Eidola.
Soon after, a branching crack of lightning followed by the deafening call of the Thunderbird breaks overhead.
The sounds of battle and terror fade in the distance as we hastily make our way toward our escape.
After what feels like too long, we have made it to the passage entrance Kellan said was our exit.
“The guards that are usually stationed here must be trying to calm the people about the Thunderbirds.” He calls from behind me, and I gesture for him to lead the way.
“Must be,” I say as he passes, still not trusting the bastard guard, my hands reflexively tightening on Astraea’s waist. The movement pulls her even closer to my body, and I feel the way she relaxes into me.
I clear my throat, take a deep breath, and apologize.
“Sorry, I'm just trying to keep you seated.” I lie, relishing in the way she feels pressed against me. Wanting more.
“Thank you.” She says, trying to look back at me, and sways, falling off balance. Her hand shoots to where mine slides along her hip to her stomach, and she holds it fiercely.
“Stop thanking me. I don’t deserve thanks.” I say, looking down at her, at the color staining her cheeks just before Khol walks us into the shadows of the passage.
“You may not know it, but you are saving me from my death, Kyros Kahzal. You are giving me purpose.” She says as her hand loosens on mine; although she tries to pull it away, I instead thread my fingers through hers.
I can almost feel the deepening pink of her cheeks through the heat of her body, even if I cannot see her face, but the sinking feeling in my stomach causes my brows to furrow as I feel the weight of her hand in mine and hope that she's right.