Page 19 of The Great and Terrible

Nope. No adjusting took place. With ragged inhalations, I spun left, right. Zero visibility. Not a flicker of light in any direction. A near hysterical laugh bubbled up.

This is fine. Absolutely fine. I just needed to think, to weigh my options. Which were…what? What!? Stay here, out in the open where anyone or thing could stumble upon me, or try to swim to the other side with who knew what kind of creatures lurking below the surface?

Both were abysmal ideas, but one was worse than the other. I knew it. I did. But my frantic thoughts supplied a good reason for doing it anyway. Yes, I might be killed by repeated collisions with those rocks, but the more distance I put between West and me, the better.

I wrapped my arms around my middle. No, I should opt for the semi-smart thing and stay here, awaiting sunrise. Hogg hadn’t given chase. Of course, there’d been no need. He’d comprehended what I hadn’t: the darkness well and truly trapped me.

If I wasn’t careful, what I didn’t know was going to get me killed.

Most likely, Hogg planned to set out bright and early in the morning. If not him, those bounty hunters. They would drag me back, and Henry would do something dastardly to hurt or scare me until I caved to his demands. I’d have to remain awake and ready to go at the first hint of light.

A ferocious roar erupted from the darkness, a sound half starvation, half rage and pure menace. Fear punched me. Did a monstra approach? But there was no rain. So what else was out here?

Twigs snapped, and I jolted, my heart pounding like a war drum. How close was that?

A slight whoosh of air caressed my cheek. I only had a split second to stiffen before a soft snick of pounding footsteps registered.Boom!A hard body slammed into me. Down I tumbled, crashing into the ground. The attacker accompanied me, wrapping strong arms around me and absorbing the worst of the impact.

Despite the courtesy, I sprang to my feet, hands fisted and already swinging. Jasher! I clocked his identity too late. My fist of fury connected with his face, pain exploding in my knuckles.

Even as his head whipped to the side, he caught both my wrists, preventing a second blow.

Barely recovered from my shock, I wrenched free. Wait. I could see him. Could see everything around us, too. Somehow, we stood inside a sphere of hazy light. And he looked good. Fierce determination hardened every line of his powerful frame. But, um, he stood statue-still. Very reminiscent of the Tinman. The blood-stained ax hung rested in a white-knuckled grip. He wore a breastplate carved with swirling symbols, plus matching arm and shin guards. With his dark hair askew, dirt and blood-streaked skin, and a busted lip, he was a warrior grimed up to the max.

Henry might be more handsome, classically speaking, but the governor’s son exuded carnality and indulgence. Jasher possessed a far more potent magnetism. Pure strength and total control.

A deadly force of nature, he took a step closer to me. Panic seized my good sense, all admiration for him shattering. Was he here to render my deathblow?

I prepared to take another swing at him, but he merely peered beyond my shoulder and pressed a finger to his lips.

Be quiet? Seriously?

Heartbeat, heartbeat. Indecision played tug of war with my good sense. Should I trust him or run? Screech? Fight him, though weaponless?

With a grunt, he lunged, but not at me. He tackled a pouncing boar type beast behind me, taking the sphere of light with him. I shrieked, but quickly pressed my hand over my mouth.

Darkness swooped in, and I lost sight of the combatants. My lungs emptied. I darted my gaze, trying to see something, anything. Terrifying sounds taunted my ears. Sharper grunts, furious huffs, and savage snarls.

For a blink-and-miss-it-moment, the sphere of light buzzed past me, chasing away the gloom. I saw Jasher wrestling the boar, and the brutality of the battle astounded me. Then the darkness covered me once more. But the light returned again and again, every time the grappling pair neared.

Oh! A weapon. I swooped down and grabbed a fallen ax. Goodness gracious! The weight of it strained my biceps.

Darkness.

Light.

“Behind you,” I screamed as the creature attempted to sneak up on him. Should I swing the ax? What if I harmed Jasher?

Darkness.

Light. Another scream burst from me when I realized the beast was mere inches from my face, its open mouth, its razor-sharp fangs soon to sink into my throat. I did it. I swung. The sharp edge grazed Jasher’s shoulder as he crashed into my would-be killer, taking it to the ground.

Darkness.

Tremors rocked me on my feet. The ax shook in my grip.More grunting and snarling preceded a high-pitched squeal and two heavy thumps.

I froze, unsure what to do, what to say.

Jasher reappeared directly in front of me, bringing the sphere of light with him. Fresh blood smeared his face and trickled from gashes in his cheeks. The same crimson splattered his armor, soaked his hands, and dripped from his ax blade.

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