Page 81 of Chosen By the Fae King

Another blast, this time much closer.

“It's either this or we retrace our steps. Personally, I don't want to see what's making those sounds,” Astrid said. “Get through the tunnels and hopefully we can find each other on the other side. If not, get your asses to the center.”

A scream cannoned down the path, sharp and quick. It came from just around the bend.

“Go!” Astrid yelled.

Sofiya and I sprinted through the emerald entrance, risking the unknown danger that lay in front of us instead of facing the unknown peril that chased our backs.

Our feet pounded against the earth, ricocheting off the ground. The tunnel twisted and turned, eventually rising higher in elevation.

Thin rays of sunlight filtered through vines and foliage above and I breathed a sigh of relief at no longer being underground.

Ahead was another split. This time there were only three choices.

Sofiya slowed, trailing her fingers over the stone walls and creeping greenery, sensing the path.

I gripped her arm. “We need to hurry.”

“Patience,” Sofiya whispered almost trancelike. “The earth will guide us true.”

Which I guessed meant turn left. We were good and winded when the tunnel opened into a clearing of sorts and the ceiling of greenery ended.

I blinked against the bright light. A vast chasm stretched before us, at least thirty yards across, filled with mist.

Though the tunnel had ended, the stone walls of the labyrinth continued right up to the edge and picked up on the other side. There was no way around.

Sofiya gasped. “We can't cross that.”

“If this is where your magic brought us, I don't think we have a choice.”

I searched the area, spying a small pile of equipment stacked haphazardly near the tunnel's exit behind us. Urgently, we opened boxes and trunks, finding rope and climbing things I didn't have names for.

Sofiya held up the rope. “This isn't long enough. Even if it were, how do we attach it to the other side? What were they thinking?”

“It's a test.”

“I'm aware, Aeryn. It's still not a very nice test.”

She was flustered, something only one of us could be at a time. There had to be a solution.

“The passageways were specifically created for specific powers, which you used. Which led us here. I doubt the not-very-nice-fae who created the labyrinth did that only to leave us stranded here. They want us to think and problem solve.”

“You're very annoying when you're being reasonable.”

I laughed. “Don't get used to it, but please trust your magic. Do you sense anything in the ravine?”

“Like what?”

“Vegetation.”

She pursed her lips and pointed at me. “Good thinking.”

With eyes closed and hands open, she concentrated while I continued looking through the supplies. Carabiners, harnesses, and rope, seemed to be the only things with potential.

“Ugh!” she grouched. “I can't sense anything except the vines behind us.”

Her eyes widened. “I'm an idiot.”

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