Page 35 of The Anointed's Paladin

We were almost at the top when I heard a noise behind me. I turned, trying to figure out where the sound was coming from. An erusei was hovering in the air behind us, likely drawn to the magical energy it sensed. It was a large, horse-like creature with two wings that carried it through the air. It was an elemental beast, and currently it was in its weakest form; air. It appeared to be made from mist, its silver eyes glowing. They were territorial from what I knew, but also couldn’t touch us in their mist form. I turned back to the wall, trying to find my next handhold when the erusei let out a horrifying shriek. I jerked at the noise, wound too tight from the terrifying climb, and lost my grip on the wall.

My mind went blank as my heart shot into my throat. I scrambled for a hold, missing the rope, and managed to pull a useless plant up by the roots. Instinct caused me to try and teleport, but of course, nothing happened. The terrifying weightlessness took over, a moment that was a fraction of a second and somehow forever. I smashed into an outcrop beneath me, and the impact knocked all the breath from my lungs, the hard, jagged cliff face tearing up my skin on my chest and legs. I felt like my ribs had been obliterated. The warmth of the blood covering my body was stolen by the cold rush of air that told me I was still falling. Then I crashed into something solid below me.It was hot and soft, vastly different from the cold air and sharp rocks I was expecting.

We swung through the air, and I realised it must be Talon, but I was slipping again, my body trying to continue its traitorous journey down. Something strong, smooth, and tight wrapped around me and drew me closer to the warmth. My hand brushed against the smooth, velvety texture—his tail, wrapped around me.

Shit, shit, shit.

He was moving, wings flapping, and I prayed to the universe that he could grab on to the wall again. His tail lifted me up, drawing me to his torso, and I forced my shaking hand to grip on to him properly. I couldn’t move, couldn’t do anything but hold on and pray that horrible weightlessness wouldn’t take me again. It lingered, just beyond the warmth—cold nothingness ready to swallow me up.

A strong arm wrapped around me, tugging me up to a secure embrace. I was between Talon and the wall, his body caged around mine. With my eyes squeezed shut, I felt it. Safe.Safe. I wrapped myself around him, burying my head in his neck.

Bless this stupid, strong enferni.

He said something, but I couldn’t make out what it was. He tugged us apart, catching my gaze for a second. Away from him was cold—

—wind tearing at me—

—empty space all around—

—the impossible cliff—

—pain with every breath—

I clawed my way back to him, terrified. Was this it? Was he going to throw me down, end me right here?

“Kaine!” I heard from above.

Please,I begged silently, squeezing my eyes shut again, wrapping my arms around his torso.Please help me. Please getus away from here.

Thankfully, he started moving slowly and carefully, but I could feel us inching up.

You’re pathetic.Useless.Worthless.

A stupid idiot, embarrassing himself by letting a creature made of mist scare him.

I felt vines wrap around me, and thankfully, our struggle was relieved by Nidori’s magic pulling us up the last ten feet.

As soon as my feet hit solid ground, I scrambled away from the cliff edge, my arms wrapped around my waist, deeper into the cave. The adrenaline helped me surge forward, despite the deep pain in my ribs and legs. I lodged myself into a corner, tucking my head into my knees and trying to control my shaking.

I hoped they believed I was sulking; I couldn’t let them see how wounded I was. I couldn’t let Talon see. Why didn’t he just let me fall? He had every reason to. My mind was spinning, trying to come up with a good plan to deal with this. My hand went to my clothes, seeing if I had bled through, onto Talon, if he would notice. A lot of the bruising was internal, only a couple of angry, raised scrapes oozing blood.

Nidori and Talon were busy, pulling up the rest of our stuff. Thankfully, they left me be.

Footsteps approached, and I glanced up to see Talon dropping my pack at my feet.

“Thanks,” I muttered.

He walked away without a word.

17

A bite and a romp

Talon

“Is Kaine all right?” asked Nidori, fluttering up to my shoulders.

I shrugged, and she giggled as she bounced up and down. I managed a smile before looking over at Kaine.

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