Page 88 of Phoenix Burn

I swallowed. “Okay.”

And he began to run.

I should have known he wouldn’t just walk like Mari. I closed my eyes as he leaped through the air, grabbed the first rung with one hand—

And swung from one to the other, gripping with only one hand at a time, in perfect rhythm. I clung to his back, but it really was as though I wasn’t there at all. The big shoulder muscles bunched and extended, but he seemed totally unphased by my extra weight hanging off him.

He landed on the opposite bank, untied my ankles, and then crouched while I untied my waist rope with trembling fingers.

“That,” I said, “was bloody amazing.”

“Strewth, mate. Did she even sloow yoou doown?” Matt stared at him with a mix of awe and envy.

“Yes,” Sebastian said. “I usually somersault to dismount.”

“I thank you for not doing so,” I stated as I stepped back.

Mari wound the two sections of rope and slung them over each shoulder, and we continued on.

One more obstacle to go...

* * *

As we continued along the path, it dropped abruptly, and the ground became muddy underfoot. The vegetation diminished in size until they were only scrubby bushes and what looked like reeds.

We halted before the last sign, which simply said, “Find your way through the bog.”

“Is this a scent thing?” Mari asked, wrinkling her nose. “It does stink.”

It did. Rotting vegetation and some kind of gas, I guessed.

“My noose woon’t be much use with all that smell,” Matt commented.

I glanced at Sebastian, who stood in his usual arms-crossed pose with an unreadable expression on his face.

I sighed. I was accustomed to it now. There was another bin full of sticks beside the sign, and Mari chose one. “If we test the ground before we step, that should work.”

I stared at the Bellati. “Is there quicksand?”

His brow twitched. “Itisa bog.”

I was bruised and achy and sweaty and filthy. And, if I were honest, disturbingly fascinated by the way his biceps rippled when he moved his arms...

It all added up to my patience being pretty much at an end. I ripped my gaze off his arms and glared at him. “You do expect the students to survive this obstacle course, do you not?”

Both brows dropped. “I do.”

When nothing more was forthcoming, I snatched a stick from the bin. “Okay, then. Tie a knot to reconnect that rope.”

Mari tied the knot, and we strung ourselves together. I took the lead position, Mari resumed her anchor spot. Matt and Sebastian jockeyed for position behind me, but Sebastian won.

I didn’t care who was there, so long as they were willing to pull me out of the stinking quicksand. The path vanished ten feet in, and I poked the stick around, selecting ground that didn’t look as if it would eat us. But then my boot sank up to my ankle, and I yanked it out, regarding the ground with disgust.

Apparently, my stick lied.

“There be another way,” Sebastian said.

“Well, spill it.” I planted my hands on my hips.

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