Page 43 of Captured in Love
I don’t want to get anywhere near it.
The heat is incredible. We shouldn’t even be here without fire-retardant suits, but those weren’t on our equipment list when we prepared for the dive. How the fuck could we have known about the volcano?
“Where are the tokens?” Raphaël asks, his face an austere mask. “We need to get off here.”
I squint down, trying to see through the faint smoke coming from the boiling center.
“Oh shit,” Isak says.
We all turn to look at him. He’s made his way around the rim of the crater, and he’s staring down at something.
I edge closer, and an ornate metal box comes into view. Its surface is oxidized, dark gray with hints of green, which is why it was so difficult to spot against the crumbling volcanic rock.
“That has to be it,” I murmur. “We’ll have to climb down to get it.”
I turn to find Raphaël and Levi right behind me.
“Okay.” I reach out toward Levi. “Hand me that rope, and I’ll tie it somewhere—”
“No way.” He takes a half step back. “You’re not going anywhere near that box.”
I put my hands to my hips and give him my best glare. “Raphaël can’t touch the token without triggering whatever evil fuckery the Ballendial witches placed on that box. And between the two of us”—I point at Levi and then myself—“I’m the lightest, so it makes sense for me to go. I’ll manage the way down by myself, but you’re going to have to help me up again.”
“Absolutely not,” Raphaël growls. With his arms crossed over his chest, he glowers at me. “You barely made it up the staircase and you have no boots.”
“If you want my opinion—” Isak says, edging closer.
“No,” Raphaël and Levi bark at the same time.
I blow out a long breath. Then I cough, the sulfurous fumes rising from the crater stinging my throat. We don’t have time for this argument, and I can already see they’re not going to budge.
“Fine,” I say. “But I still think this is a bad idea.”
“Allof this is a bad idea, babe,” Levi says as he unwinds the rope from his belt. He secures one end of the rope around his waist and hands the other end to Raphaël. “Don’t let me fall.”
Raphaël’s dark gaze goes completely serious. “Never.” He ties the rope around his own waist, steps as far away from the precipice as he can, and plants his feet. “I’m ready.”
Levi turns to me, takes hold of my chin, and lifts my face to his. For a moment, he just stares down at me, intensity pouring off him. Then he kisses me, a rough, fast kiss, and lets go before I can grab him and ask him to stay up here, to forget about this stupid task and the entire competition.
He turns his back on the crater, gives us one final, determined nod, and disappears over the edge.
Fifteen
Levi
All I see is rock.Hot, dry rock that keeps crumbling under my feet. I jerk on the rope every time I lose my foothold. Above me, Nora gasps in horror, but I can’t even look at her to tell her I’m okay.
Because I’m not sure I am.
Of courseI wasn’t going to allow her to climb down here herself, but man, do I wish I had some proper climbing gear right now. The rope cuts into my waist painfully, and my soft neoprene boots are no match for the jagged rock face. I feel every sharp edge I step on, and soon, my fingers and toes are a bleeding, cut-up mess. The healing effect of Raphaël’s blood seems to have faded already. I must have burned through it when I was breaking the portal trap and healing Isak.
Now, I just grit my teeth and take another slow step, trying not to drop too fast. The last thing I need is a broken ankle on top of everything that’s happened already.
“You’re nearly there,” Nora calls, her voice trembling. “You’re doing so well.”
I glance down, decide she’s right, and shout back, “Raphaël, give me some slack.”
The rope loosens, and I jump the last five feet, right onto the bottom of the crater. Then I turn and take in the sight in front of me.
