Page 34 of The Ozar Triad

The wall gave way into an abrupt turn. Riley edged forward, a hand out in front of her, but she felt nothing. A few steps was all she was willing to take when she couldn’t see anything. The risk of getting lost in the darkness was a huge. She carefully retraced her steps until she felt rock at her back. There was no alternative but to follow the line of the cave if she didn’t want to become lost.

She stepped around the corner. Even losing sight of the small dot of the entrance was disturbing. She hated dark spaces, yet she forced herself forward, setting aside her discomfort.

A murmur of voices echoed towards her. She flattened her back against the rock, ignoring her sweaty palms. The voices continued to talk. She inched forward. The darkness gave way to a weak illumination that highlighted the jagged wall.

“Shut it, you piece ofdrumasturd.”

Her heart stumbled. That was definitely Klaej! Keeping herself in check, she forced back the urge to run to him. There still might be danger and she couldn’t risk being caught.

She peeked around the corner. All three of the men were stuffed into a little alcove, caged in with bars. They were alive, if not a bit pissed off. She’d take that any day over not finding them again. After another check for any reptilian monsters, she bolted over to the cage. Her fingers clenched around the bars.

“Rujali!” Her gaze bounced to Setzan, and then Klaej who was slumped against the back wall. Her heart lurched. Blood coated the side of Rujali’s face. Setzan held his side, his hand coated in blood, and Klaej’s skin was full-blown crimson.

Rujali’s face opened in surprise. He charged to the bars and his fingers wrapped around hers as his gaze roved over her. It felt so good. Strong. Comforting.

Her chest eased.

“What are you doing here, mate? You should be somewhere safe? Are you injured?” Rujali’s powerful voice boomed around her.

Her mind spun with the barrage of questions. He was so concerned about her, when they all looked pretty banged up themselves. She shoved aside the guilt that sat like a dead weight in the pit of her stomach. This was no time to get caught up with emotions.

Then why is the relief seeing them alive making your hands shake, soldier? Pull it together and get the job done.

“I’m fine, but you’re hurt. All of you. And caged.” She tested the bars, ignoring the dryness of her mouth and her weak knees. They were immovable. There didn’t seem to even be a door, let alone a lock she could smash. “How the hell did you get in there?”

“Get back to safety. This instant.” Setzan had crawled beside Rujali. She reached through the bars to put her hand around his. More comfort washed through her.

“Setzan. How bad is it?”

As he moved, more blood seeped through his fingers. His forehead shone with perspiration. Instead of the easy smile, his mouth was clenched in a tight line.

“It is nothing, but you need to go, mate. It’s too dangerous for you here,” Setzan said.

“More dangerous than being caged in a dank, dark cave in the middle of nowhere? And just how are you going to get out of here? Chew your way through the bars? Let me see Klaej.”

“Mate. You try my patience,” Rujali said, but he sighed and shifted so she could see his brother.

“Klaej, I’m sorry I did that to you. I…” Her voice broke and she couldn’t stuff any words past her tongue.

“All is well. I respect you were able to render me helpless. Not many are able to do that,” Klaej said.

She rested her forehead against the bars, trying to wrap her mind around the fact they didn’t seem mad with her for doing that to him in the first place.

“I don’t know why you all treat me so well,” she said, drawing the device from her waistband. “I hope this goes a little way to make up for it.”

Something wrapped around her ankle. She gasped, looking down. A thin, black cord had wrapped around her calf. There was a gigantic tug and she came down onto her stomach and was dragged backwards.

A hard grip on her wrist held her in traction. Setzan locked his hand next to Rujali’s on her arm. Together they tugged her toward them.

The cord on her ankle tightened, cutting into her skin. Pain zipped up her leg, white-hot and furious. She kicked at it but it only gripped her tighter and wound further up her leg. The tip of the cord waved, as though it was seeking something. As though it was alive.

She looked at Rujali and Setzan through blurred vision. “Let me go.”

“I will never let you go, mate,” Rujali said.

“It’ll rip my leg off if you don’t.” She threw the device into the cell and unsheathed the sword at her back. “I need two hands to cut it.”

Rujali’s lips peeled back to reveal gritted teeth. His eyes burned bright like supernovas as they impaled her.

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