Page 307 of Caelum

“The only way to go is down, right?” Dre argued. “I think we should head down and then have a look around. Reconnoiter the area before we waste the wish.”

But Samuel shook his head. “Why waste time? We need to get to Erlik ASAP before he does anything that could jeopardize our goal. We still don’t know what he’s capable of, and now that he’s lost the Ghouls living in his sanctuary, well, he’s a loose cannon.”

Eve nodded. “I think Sam’s right, Dre. Better to say the wish now than to regret it later. I don’t think whether we start now or deeper in the cavern will make much difference on if the wish is granted at all.”

“We’re not lost, and the clue distinctly said that,” Eren chimed in, agreeing with his brothers.

“We’re not exactly found. None of us know where the hell we are or where to go,” I argued, then turning to the left, added, “I mean, look.” Pointing behind me, there was another tunnel. “We can go left or right. Which way do we go?”

Dre pulled a face, and Eren nodded, so with us all in agreement, I said, “One, two?—”

On three, we called out, “To the pit of Tamag we wish to be led.”

When nothing happened, Eve blew out a breath and stared at the ground. Because I was focused on her, I saw that one of her laces was coming undone and told her. She bent down, knotted the lace tighter, then pressed her hand to the wall to steady herself as she stood upright.

The second she did?

“Son of a bitch!” Dre hissed as the cave glowed where she touched.

“Jesus. You’re the guidance system,” Samuel ground out as she pulled her hand away with a squeak.

Frowning, I told her, “I wonder if the glow means you’re in the right direction or the wrong one.”

Samuel grunted. “Let’s hope it means we’re right. Walk to the left, Eve. See if the light shows up.”

She did as bid, walked a few steps past me, then pressed her hand to the rocky wall.

Nothing happened.

She moved a few more steps, dipping her head as the tunnel grew narrower and shorter. Touching the wall, again, nothing happened.

As she returned to us, she headed down the steps, passing us in the narrow entranceway, and this time, when she touched the wall, the glow appeared.

“It’s like the light from the first wish charged the rock or something,” Nestor mused, and I heard his fascination at the prospect.

“I’m more concerned with the fact that this means Eve has to take point,” Reed grumbled, and Nestor’s face fell.

“Shit. Yeah.”

“Guys, it’s okay,” Eve countered.

I wasn’t sure what it would take for Eve to realize thatnothingwas okay when her safety was in jeopardy.

I’d never anticipated feeling this much for another person. Pack was Pack, but this? It went beyond even the connection I had with my brothers.

It would kill me to lose one of them. Hurt me so deeply that life would shift to subsisting.

But if I lost Eve?

I might as well die because there was no way I was walking on this planet without her at my side.

And it was as simple and as terrifying as that.

TWENTY-EIGHT

SAMUEL

Frazer’s unease literally throbbed in the air, and because I knew him so well, I knew it would kill him to let Eve take the lead.

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