Page 304 of The Lands Defying
A rogure in front of me starts to slowly sink into the ground.
I stare into its bone-colored eyes as I see its breath coming from its open mouth still, see pieces of its gray skin rotting off, but it doesn’t move as it slowly sinks.
I look around, watching as others begin to do the same. Even Kruten looks confused.
“They will be gone soon.”Darius says, and the breath stalls in my throat.
“To the below?”
“Yes. They won’t hurt anyone. Hurt you.”
I eye them.“They won’t?”
“No, little wolf.”
I nearly stumble in relief. Oh Gods. We made it.
“They’re going back!” I shout to those around me, and their eyes widen, their shoulders slumping in relief.
Kruten lifts his arms and cheers, and the other trolls start stomping their feet.
I haul the injured with the others, keeping an eye on the sinking creatures as Josh rushes for me. He hauls me into a hug and I grip him tightly, breathing in his scent, then Colten, Hudson and Taylor are there, Anna trailing behind them.
We pull each other close, relief spilling from us.
We are alive.
We’re alive.
A wet nose touches the back of my neck, and I giggle as Runa pushes her way in, wanting to be a part of it, and the others stroke her too before I call her within me to rest.
“We did it,” Josh says, relief in his eyes.
“Thank Gods that’s over,” Taylor says, and Hudson nods, keeping Colten steady.
“You okay, pup?” He asks, and Colten huffs.
“I’m fine.”
We smile at each other, and I’m so ready to go home and bathe for hours, but then grief hits me.
“Seb,” I whisper, and their faces fall, eyes instantly to the ground.
“We will make sure he gets home,” Anna says, and I nod.
We will take him to the graveyard and bless him to run free. My only hope is that he is with his mate now in Vahaliel. Just like he wanted.
“We need to gather the injured so we can get stones to port them out of here.” They nod, their heads held high.
We are bloody, dirty and exhausted, but there are things we still need to do.
“Then we gather the dead and bring them home too. They need to be blessed,”
“Yes, Alpha,”
I scowl. “None of that,” I whisper.
They set out to do what I have asked, and I turn, heading to where I last saw Darius.
