Page 106 of The Lands Defying
It collides, and I feel it breaking in, feeling it cover it whole, slowly disintegrating whatever it is holding Kade hostage in his own mind.
I hear Axis within him, then I hear Kade cry out.
I release him, dizziness washing over me with being completely depleted, but Kade stumbles back, his face full of anguish before his eyes roll in the back of his head as he loses consciousness, and I cry out in alarm as he starts to drift backwards.
I don’t think as I grab onto his arm, hauling him back as much as my strength will allow and turning my body so the momentum will carry him safely behind me.
But that means I’ve switched places with him, and the move makes my foot slip on the edge.
“Rhea!” The sudden shout, the alarm in Darius’s voice has my eyes flying open.
I tumble over, and I reach a hand out, managing to grab the edge with a cry, as pain rockets through me. I lift my other hand to hold on, trying to get a grip but it keeps slipping.
“Fuck, Rhea hold on!” My feet try to find purchase in the rock, but all it does is break it off.
I whimper, squeezing my eyes shut for a moment as Runa whines within me.
“Rhea, I’m coming now. Fuck, fuck,”Josh says down the link, his voice a rush of panic.
“Just make sure Kade is okay?”
“Rhea—”
“Vow it,”I plead.
“Of course I will, but I need to get you up first, I’m half way up!”
I say nothing as the arm I’m dangling from begins to tremble. I try again to grip something with my other hand, but I just keep slipping.
A breeze hits me and I look down at the rushing water below, waiting for me to drop in its hungry waves. Turning my head, I see Darius crest the top of the opposite cliff, his eyes full of fear as he rushes toward the edge and reaches out a hand to me, like he could somehow grab me.
But we are too far apart.
“Hold on,” he says after shouting at Leo and Damian to try and find something to help me. I look down again. “No, little wolf. Eyes on me. Good girl. Keep them on me okay?”
I nod, whimpering again as I feel my fingers slipping further.
“Josh, hurry up!” Darius shouts and he reaches out again, his magic coming for me but the fight must have also depleted him, it doesn’t come anywhere near.
I see the desperation on his face as his mouth moves, talking to me but I can’t make it out. A buzzing fills my ears and sweat beads my brow, and we both know I don’t have time to wait.
Darius shakes his head, shouting behind him and still trying to get as close to the edge as possible to reach me. Rock crumbles at his feet and I shake my head frantically at him.
“Don’t!” I cry, scared he’s about to fall.
“Then do not let go, understand?” I look into the eyes I love so much. A reminder of fresh grass poking through snow at the first sign of spring. My favorite. “Just hold…little wolf, you…make…” He’s saying words, but they aren’t quite registering again. “Rhea!” he shouts when I continue to look at him. “That’s it, keep those pretty eyes on me,” he demands, but his own eyes are full of fear he cannot hide.
I can see it.
He never really lets me see him.
A sharp pain spreads through my body and I cry out, squeezing my eyes shut as I try to keep both of my hands on the rock.
I look at Darius again. We have been through a lot since we met. We have caused harm to each other, making our lives more difficult, but right now, I’m scared and I need him to make it all go away.
I need him to make it better.
And I’m slipping.
