Page 27

Dex

E verything had gone to hell. From the moment the other teams descended, I’d been trying to keep Odessa safe, while still carrying out my original plan. But I was failing epically on both fronts.

Not only had two other powers slipped right through my fingers, but it seemed Odessa and I were destined to fall to an early death. The ground was cracking apart faster than we could run.

While the alcove was close, it wasn’t close enough.

There were no bones nearby to manipulate into something I could use here. The light was useless, and the spider and strength powers wouldn’t get me anywhere. If only I’d killed that Reed and taken his power of flight, before he fucked off leaving us to this fate.

Maybe the water could do something?

I took another step and when I did, I felt my entire body plummet. My stomach lurched into my throat as air whipped around me.

I’d still had hold of Odessa’s hand and one look at her broke me.

She was screaming, and that one haunting sound burrowed deep into my chest along with regret that I hadn’t kept her safe like I promised.

Suddenly, it felt like an arm was wrapping itself around my middle, hauling me up.

Shadows, I realized.

Odessa had tapped into her power and was wielding enough magick to pull us both out of the depths. The shadows placed us into a small crack in the wall where Nat was looking at us in disbelief.

“I thought you were goners,” she said.

“So did I,” Odessa replied.

“Thank you. For saving me,” I managed to say.

Odessa turned to me. “You lied. You said you wouldn’t let me fall.”

I felt a small smile pull on my lips. “Have to keep you guessing. Wouldn’t want to be boring.”

“Can’t have that.”

It took a moment for my breathing to return to a normal rhythm.

“Does this go anywhere do you think?” Odessa asked.

“It’s narrow, but maybe. There’s nowhere else for us to go. The ledge is gone,” Nat said.

“We’ll have to crawl on our bellies to fit through,” I remarked, eyeing the tiny space. Fucking small spaces.

“Alright, well, why don’t we get some rest here and then we can continue on. I don’t know about you, but I’m fucking wiped, “Odessa said.

“Almost dying a bunch of times can do that to you,” Nat said, looking every bit as tired as I felt.

“We should take turns as lookout, don’t you think?” I responded, not wanting to be caught unaware. While I knew I needed to rest, I also knew that the other teams were still out there.

“I guess,” Nat said, dropping down to the ground.

There was just enough room for the three of us to sit. We’d have to sleep sitting straight up, but it would have to do.

“You both rest. I’ll keep an eye out,” I said, sitting on the ground and crossing my arms in front of my chest.

“Fine with me. I can’t keep my eyes open for another second,” Odessa said.

She must have used a significant amount of power to get us both out of there safely. She could have let me fall, but she didn’t. She chose to save me.

And then she surprised the hell out of me. When she sat down next to me, Odessa laid her head against my shoulder, and it felt like she fit there, with me. It was an odd feeling to have and it made my insides squeeze with a feeling I didn’t know how to name.

Sure, I’d been interested in her, and felt drawn to her.

She was beautiful. No, beautiful wasn’t the right word.

She was breathtaking. But I’d been attracted to plenty of women in my life.

I was no stranger to taking women to my bed and fucking them all night long, but I was never one for settling down.

I liked the thrill of the hunt. The chase. The banter.

But somewhere along the way, Odessa had clawed her way past my defenses and settled deep into my soul.

Maybe it was this place, or maybe it was the way her small breaths felt fluttering against my neck as she slept, trusting me implicitly though she shouldn’t, but I realized now that I was falling for her.

I was here to steal her power, but she’d stolen my heart instead.

Resting my head back, I kept an eye out, listening for any incoming threats, but the only sounds I could hear were of Nat and Odessa gently breathing in their sleep.

A stray strand of hair had fallen across Odessa’s face, and I moved it, tucking it behind her ear, careful not to wake her.

She seemed so peaceful like this.

“Dex,” she breathed out in a whisper making my heart squeeze. I loved the way she said my name— like I belonged to her.

“Go to sleep,” I said, planting a small kiss to her forehead. She nuzzled against me, snaking her small arm around my middle. I pulled her against me, letting her use me like a pillow.

Nat’s eyes opened briefly, looking between Odessa and me with a small knowing smile on her lips, before she closed her eyes again.

I didn’t care if anyone else approved or not.

And I knew that there was still that ring on Odessa’s finger.

She technically belonged to another man.

But then how could she feel so wholly mine, despite that fact?

I was determined to keep her for myself.

And maybe that was selfish, but I was a selfish prick. I’d never pretended to be otherwise.

For as long as I could remember, I’ve always gone after what I wanted, consequences be damned. If I wanted something, I found a way to get it. And if my plans fell through, I still found a way to make it work for me.

The way Odessa held me, let me know I at least had a chance to win her heart, like she’d won mine. I’d fight for it if I had to. I’d fight for her.

After a few hours, Nat took over the watch, having me get some much-needed sleep. It claimed me quickly, though my dreams were fitful, making me feel like I was falling all over again. I jolted awake, afraid it was really happening, only to find Odessa’s hand on my shoulder gently shaking me.

“We should get moving,” she said.

I had no idea how long I’d been out, but I wiped the dried drool from the corners of my mouth, and dug out the canteen full of water, swishing the cool liquid around. There was a pack of gum hidden in one of the pockets that I popped in my mouth, delighting in the minty flavor on my tongue.

“You should eat something,” Odessa said while nibbling on her meager rations.

“I’m good.” I’d always been able to get by on little to no food. Not knowing how long we would be down here, had me wanting to save what I could for when I really needed it.

Odessa’s mouth turned down as she looked at me with a hint of worry, but let it drop, finishing her food.

Having her next to me all night was something that I wanted more of. While the situation wasn’t ideal, I relished cradling her in my arms. She fit so well against me.

“You two lovebirds done eye-fucking each other so we can get the hell out of here?”

Odessa’s mouth dropped open and her cheeks flushed red, but she didn’t protest. Interesting. Maybe I was growing on her. A guy could hope.

To get through the slim opening, we had to drag our backpacks behind us. Honestly, I was doubtful I would be able to squeeze my broad shoulders through, but that was the only way out. Behind us, the ledge had crumpled into the cavernous abyss. So, on my stomach I went, right behind Nat and Odessa.

Nat was able to shimmy through, doing an army crawl with the pack tied around her ankle. Next, was Odessa, doing the same.

When it was my turn, I had to take several steadying breaths, reassuring myself that I’d get through this, even though I didn’t know if I would.

My shoulders brushed up against both sides of the walls with each inch forward. Gravel dug into my forearms and knees as we crawled.

The further we went— I began to realize that the sides of the tunnel were changing from limestone to bones. Skulls, ribs, femurs, all began to line the walls.

“Nat. You see anything?” I asked, desperate to get out of here.

“No,” she grunted back.

I pressed my forehead into the floor, feeling the mask on my face press into my skin as I worked to steady my breathing.

“You okay back there?” Odessa asked.

“Yep, just fine.”

Another inch forward and the wall full of bones was pressing in tighter. My ribs were tightening as my breathing began to come in faster. I was hyperventilating and I was too far gone to get a handle on it.

Odessa turned her head as far as she could, looking back at me.

“Dex, just take a deep breath, we’re okay.”

I nodded, trying to get my body to listen, breathing in and shuddering, only the motion made me feel stuck as my chest expanded hitting the top and sides of the tunnel.

“Just keep moving. Follow my voice,” Odessa instructed.

For her I could. For her I did.

I listened and pushed on. Following her into the dark tunnel, fighting against the instinct that was clawing inside of me to panic. To shut down.

Dark, tight places reminded me of before. And I swore I’d never go back there. Never even talk about it. Or even let myself think about it. I had to focus on the plan. No— I had to focus on my future. On Odessa.

“I think I can feel something,” Nat called from ahead. “It feels like– like a button.”

“Don’t push it—” I said, but a moment too late.

The entire area around us began to shake and then everything collapsed.