Page 122 of Bull Moon Rising

It’s not true, of course. I’m certain teams are rescued from dire cave-ins regularly but after a certain amount of time passes, it’s generally assumed that all are lost. I’ve read plenty of dramatic stories about such tragedies but I keep that to myself.

Kipp nods and points at the rocks, then heads into the jumble, squeezing between a few precariously perched stones even as the stub of the candle flickers and wavers. The rope around him slithers, and Lark hastily unties it from her waist, wincing the entire time. He’s a hero, Kipp. When we get out of here, I’m making sure that everyone knows how amazing he is. He’s kept his cool all this time, and I need to do the same. So I take the flickering stub of the candle and light the taller one. “Everyone untie and give Kipp some slack to explore. Gwenna?”

“Yes?” Her voice sounds shaky even as she unties the rope at her waist.

“Do you think you can dowse for us if Kipp isn’t successful?”

She makes another hysterical sound in her throat. “Dowse for what?”

“For whatever tugs you,” I say, keeping my tone even and soothing. “If you can dowse for a way out, that’s perfect. If not, just dowse for an artifact and we’ll see where that takes us. We’re just considering our options.”

“Options. Right. Okay.” She sniffs and another line of blood drips from her nose. “Shit.”

“You’re all right. We’re all a mess right now.” I reach over and give her hand a squeeze.

The rope at my waist jumps. I’ve been so busy coaching the others that I’ve forgotten to untie myself. “Sorry Kipp,” I call out. “Hang on!”

It jerks out of my hands and snags against the rocks. Pebbles rain down on us. Gwenna screams and holds on to me, and just then, the entire ceiling overhead seems to shift and groan.

Oh, Lady Asteria, we’re going to die. “Under the shield,” I call out. “Everyone, try to get your head under the shield—”

The largest of rocks sinks inward, tumbling down, and I scream, waiting for the rest of Old Prell to collapse over us. Instead, Kipp bounces down and brushes dust and pebbles out of my hair, and I look up into a yawning cavern of darkness.

We’re out.

Sort of.

THIRTY-SEVEN

HAWK

The Conquest Moon

Outside, I cansee the rounded body of the Conquest Moon looming in the early dawn skies. The hand of the god will be fully upon me tonight. There’s no more time to waste. I need to find Aspeth and prepare her for our mating. There’s still time for me to get a charm for her, still time to find a cream to ease my way into her tight, virginal body….

But when I find Magpie seated in the dormitory kitchen, sharing drinks with a well-dressed stranger, all logic vanishes. I think of the frustrating night I just spent digging in a tunnel, and for some mucking reason, it looks like she’s celebrating.

Something’s wrong.

“Who the fuck is this?” I demand as I storm in. “Why are you drinking again?”

She stares at me in open-mouthed surprise. “What are you doing back so early?”

A hot, hostile anger comes over me. “Early, am I? Exactly who am I supposed to be digging out, Magpie?”

“How would I know?”

She feigns ignorance, but it only makes me angrier. I recognize the full-throttle anger churning in my gut, but I’m helpless to stop it. I storm over to my quarters, but Squeaker is waiting there by her empty bowl. She howls at the sight of me, plaintive, and circles around her empty food dish. There’s no sign of Aspeth.

I return to the kitchen, where Magpie is fighting back a smirk. “Where are the others? Where is my wife?”

“Your wife,” the man sneers. “Your marriage has been annulled, bull-man. Not that it should have happened in the first place.”

Red floods my vision. “Aspeth wouldn’t do that.”

“She’s not here, though, is she?” He sounds so very confident.

“And where is she?” I demand again.

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