Page 150 of Of Blood & Stone

Distrathrus still hadn’t spoken into her mind since Aretta’s Willow. The dark barrier hadn’t been erected, her power flowing through her with ease, her goddess’ heartbeat loud and clear.

He was expecting them.

And as they walked deeper into the earth, she couldn’t help but imagine him waiting for them down in the mines. He’d be sitting on his throne, an evil, cruel smile on his crooked face. Monsters surrounding him, all evil, no light.

Sylzenya took a shaky breath.

Elnok’s warm hand intertwined with hers.

No one spoke. It felt as if anything they said from now on would be heard by him, used by him, taken by him. And yet, the silence felt far more deadly than any word they could’ve spoken to one another.

“Sylzenya?” a familiar feminine voice said, echoing along the walls.

Heart stopping, Sylzenya halted. Straight black hair catching the orodyte’s light, Nyla’s amber eyes shimmering against her pale skin. Her Kreena robe was ripped to the seams. Blood was splattered everywhere and her arm was bleeding onto the steps.

“Nyla?”

“Fuck,” Elnok muttered.

“What happened?” Sylzenya meant to step forward but Kharis and Elnok held her back.

A trap. Thishadto be a trap.But her friend was hurt—badly.

Nyla stood before them, shaking. “So much blood. It isn’t stopping, Sylzenya, so much blood…”

Her eyes rolled back. Sylzenya lunged forward.

“No,” Kharis demanded.

“She’shurt,” Sylzenya said.

“It’s what he wants.”

But Nyla was about to fall down the steep stairs.

Freeing herself from Kharis and Elnok, Sylzenya ran forward and caught her friend.

“What happened?” Sylzenya asked.

“A celebration,” her friend whispered.

Her eyes distant.

Clouded.

Vines crashed through the ceiling. Nyla gripped Sylzenya’s shoulders. Sylzenya tried to break away, but she wasn’t fast enough; roots and vines wrapped around her, digging into her skin.

“Syl!” Elnok yelled, lunging for her.

But more vines and roots launched out of the ceiling, grabbing Elnok and Kharis.

“He’s been expecting you three,” Nyla said, a wide smile on her mouth.

“Nyla!Listen to me, you’re not yoursel?—”

Vines wrapped around her mouth, digging into the sides of her lips.

“Follow me,” Nyla commanded.

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