Page 187 of The Tribrid Princess and the Taste of Chaos
I’m about to deny there’s anything wrong when I look ahead into the haze of sand. This is my chance… I swallow.
I did something-I stop, as I feel a sharp stinging sensation through my neck.I did some…
I trail off, realising I can’t even mind-link. My heart thuds as I look at Ahren.Nothing is wrong.
My heart sinks as that message goes through. Is Helios blocking the mind-link? How?! That can’t be possible.
Doesn’t sound like it’s nothing, and Jayce is also worried.He sounds displeased at that.
Did he say that to you?
He gives a small nod as he looks down at me. All I can see are his eyes from behind his black mask.
Yeah, because I thought he was the reason you’re upset.
No, I just-Once again, the words seem to cut off, and I feel another sharp twinge in my neck.
Gods, what is going on?
I’m fine,I say softly.
Ahren watches me before he puts an arm around me.I’m here if you want to talk about anything. Remember that.
Thanks.
We fall silent again, and I try to mind-link him.
Ahren, I agreed to something stupid!
But I can feel my voice simply ring in my own mind. My wolf stirs before settling into a slumber once again.
Is this Helios’ doing?
He’s cunning… A deep sense of resentment bubbles inside of me. Maybe I can write it down or speak it aloud. Suddenly, the group ahead stops, and I notice our narrow path has been cut off by a huge, gaping sinkhole in front of us.
“Alright, we go around,” Uncle Liam says as he scans the area and points to the left.
Jayce steps forward, his cloak billowing around him. “If this is the location, I doubt the jade-eyed sphinx would even be visible,” he murmurs. “Where the sun rises behind the twin peaks of burning sand…” he trails off.
“Leo assumed that it’s another day and a half walk from here,even at our pace,” Kataleya explains.
Jayce nods, testing the edge of the sinkhole before stepping back. “This would be easier if magic could be used…”
“True, but we’ll have to do what we’ve got to do,” Dante says as he heads around the sinkhole.
“The sun is getting high. When it’s at its fullest, we’ll rest, and then we’ll travel through the night, and we won’t stop until we get to the estimated location. Then we stay there until we find anything that looks like a sphinx, or two peaks of sand,” Uncle Liam says.
“This mission is gross,” Allie says, but she seems to be ok otherwise.
“Good, cus you shouldn’t be here,” Theo remarks. “And don’t roll your eyes at me, Blondie.”
I glance at Heaven, who simply glares at him as she continues walking. This is the first day. Tomorrow will be longer, and I realise Heaven is the one who will be at the greatest disadvantage. The rest of us have shifted, but she hasn’t.
I look ahead as everyone begins making their way around the huge sinkhole, and I take a deep breath, adjusting my bandana as I pull the hood of my cloak up to cover my eyes from the blazing sun.
Onwards we go.
Sleeping in thedesert was not easy, especially when the sun was beating down on us. I slept towards the end, only to be awokenshortly after. I spot Enrique’s guardsmen before they disappear into the distance, keeping watch as we continue. When night falls, Dante stops and looks over at Heaven.
