Page 56 of Bonded to the Fallen Shadow King

The mist had thickened around the walkways now, obscuring the others’ positions… if they were even there. Who knew anymore.

I bit my lip as the scream echoed in my head. Someone might be in danger, which made the decision for me.

I needed to leave. And this damn skirt was going to be a problem with all its layers and weight.

I hoisted the front of the green dress up past my knees. I needed to gird my loins. I gathered the skirt in front with the cold wind whipping under the backside to my butt. Not wanting to flash anyone behind, I pulled the front fabric I gathered between my legs and held with both in the back. Dividing the material equally in both hands, I wrapped it around my waist, tying it in a bow. Thank Fate, the pockets were still usable.

“What are you doing?” Quen raised an eyebrow.

“I girded my loins,” I replied. “It’ll prevent the skirt from tangling my legs as I jump.”

“Well, that’s gonna make things easier. Well played, beast girl.”

I drew in a deep breath and straightened my shoulders. “Don’t let anyone here die. As soon as I complete the trial, I’ll come back for you.”

Thalira nodded. “We’ll do what we can here. Hurry.”

Of the paths that were still available, the one with the gaps that angled to the right of the nearest platform was the best choice, even if jumping was going to be a bitch. My feet slapped the slick stone, causing my soles to sting. I could make out only a faint outline of the path, and I hoped to hell my wolf wouldn’t let me down.

I struck the first plank of the walkway and swung my arms for balance. The discs jerked me forward so that my weight went to my toes. My body tilted over the edge, but I thrust my arms back and caught myself before I could fall.

The world tilted, and my stomach swooped as the moldy wood groaned beneath me.

Another heavy, steady, mechanicalclickof the course followed. My muscles tightened, and the hairs on my body prickled.

Even though I couldn’t see the water, I could hear splashing, as if the creatures were moving closer.

The putrid smell of decay burned the insides of my nostrils as I squatted and studied the longer planked walkway ahead of me. All the planks were connected, but some of them had struts underneath with cross sections of wood or stone to help support them. Others did not. The farther I got from the original platform, the fewer supports there were. Kaylen had leaped over some spots. She must have known somehow.

Taking a shaky breath, I jumped onto the first reinforced plank. There were six more sections before the relative safety of that next square black platform.

Another click reminded me that each second I delayed made the trial riskier for my friends.

Gritting my teeth, I aimed for the next supported spot. My side ached, and the scratch on my leg burned, but things could be a lot worse. I had to remember that. I focused on the task ahead and jumped over the weakest portion of the walkway and hurried to the next one.

Anotherclick, another leap.

My lungs burned, and my wolf surged forward with renewed energy, urging me on. If I could get to the next safe spot, then I could—

A deeper and more sinisterclickechoed throughout the space.

Down below, chaos surged. Glistening eyes peered up through the mist, stalking me just beneath the cracks in the boards.

“Shit!” I jumped to the next section, and as soon my foot touched, several of the boards cracked like ice. My heart dropped. I was about to fall.

Unable to see and definitely not wanting to fight on the planked bridge, I leaped the next gap, drawing the thin air into my lungs.

A massive leech, longer than my body, slithered onto the left side of the walkway slightly in front of me. It curled and snapped its teeth. The smell of rot and decay hit me hard. I swung my arm wide and hit its thick, fleshy body with the disc, the impact vibrating through my arm. The ridges of its mouth were already too close for comfort, and I swung the other disc, forcing the leech to slither back some, but not enough.

My leg screamed, but I had to move. More would be coming. I punched forward, aiming the disc at the leech’s mouth and smashing into it.

It shrieked, a high-pitched keening sound, and fell over the edge. I heard the splash, but before I could even take a deep breath, there was yet anotherclick.

A swarm of black-green crabs, claws raised and shells clattering, swarmed over the spot in front of me and scrambled across the wood. One caught the toe of my shoe and pinched, the pain sharp and sudden. I gasped and yanked my foot back, then kicked it away, and faced the next platform. I made the last jump before the carbs could attack me again.

The board splintered beneath my feet, but I leaped. The discs slammed into my sides, bruising and striking me as I crashed onto the stone. I yelped as I rolled to the center of the black platform, gasping in relief.

I pressed my hand against my injured leg. Warmth blood had soaked through the material, but the bandage was still secure. My head was spinning, but I was alive. And all my limbs were still attached. For now.

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