Page 141 of The Keeper of the Kingdoms

“Let me take it. You go with Emrys to the tunnel and wait.”

“It’s coded to me. You can’t.” I was running out of time. Jaxus’ breaths got more shallow with every second that passed. His panic and claustrophobia pulsing through our bond, nearly making my knees weak.

Drystan looked at Emrys like he didn’t believe me.

“She’s right. That’s why she had to be the one to let us through. They bind the key to the healer’s magic and log them. The key won’t work for anyone else. It’s how they protect the stores and artifacts.” Emrys chewed his cheek, thinking.

“I have to go.” My magic pulled towards him and he was draining it fast. It kept his life-force thrumming, but I knew it wouldn’t last. Fear choked my throat.

“She doesn’t know where to go. You’ll have to go back with her. Or one of us has to, but she has the map. How else will we get out of here?” Drystan snapped.

“We don’t have time to consider this.” My hands shook and I almost dropped the key.

“We can’t. We had an agreement—you know that. Two of us stay with the vessel at all times.” Emrys’ eyes flashed with worry. “If we are found, we can each go a different direction. We promised Jaxus, Drys. Kiera and this vessel has to make it out, one way or another.”

“What about Faolan? Surely he can help?” Drystan seemed to show little concern for his own brother, and it shocked me.

“I have to go to him. We are wasting time. I can feel his heartslowing down. One of you take me, or I will go myself.” I reached out to him again.“Jaxus?”

“I’m so sorry,”he said breathily, trailing off.

“No!” I cried.

Drystan finally reacted. He grabbed my arm. “What happened?”

“I don’t know. Tell me how to get back to him and then take the map and go.”

Emrys roughly gave me directions in a hurry, and I ran, leaving my basket and not caring about my cover. I felt Jaxus’ breaths getting slower and slower. I repeated the directions to myself as I ran, leaving them to do as they will.

“Kiera!”Jaxus’ voice cried weakly in the back of my mind, curdling my blood with fear.

“I’m coming.”

I don’t know if he meant me to see, but awful images flashed into my mind of sand pouring in around him. It felt like I was there.

Like I was the one getting buried alive in the sand.

It was around his chin, compressing his chest and coming faster.

He wasn’t so much sinking as the chamber was filling with it. Or maybe it was both.

“I love you. I’m sorry we didn’t have more time.”

“Don’t you fucking say that to me.”Tears streamed down my face.

I came upon Faolan in a passageway but part of it looked like it had given way, a large hole before him, half filled with sand.

“What happened?”

“We must have triggered a trap. I don’t know how. But he dove at me, and it was enough to jolt me free from the sand but not to carry himself out.” Faolan’s voice shook. His face was drained from color, and he hyperventilated.

“Did you find anything we can reach him with?”

Faolan shook his head. “The chamber behind sealed off. We are trapped here unless we can get past him.”

I turned scanning the room. “Give me your dagger.”

He handed it over without question. I ran over to one of the glass cases and struck it as hard as I could with the pommel of the knife. I took out the woven bag displayed within and cut the top row of its weave open.