Page 67 of Trapped By Claws
Thethud thudof his heart had slowed. It wasn't as steady as it should be. I kissed him again and wished that there were some way for me to heal him. The best I could do was make sure we made it to the temple and we got through that portal. Then he'd be away from the King of the North Sea's magic.
Corvin's eyelids fluttered as he struggled to stay conscious. I turned his head so he wouldn't swallow more water, keeping him propped against me.
Tagger huddled against us, ears flat, gazing up at Corvin with sorrowful eyes. He gave a soft, squeaking whine, and I swore he was asking what he could do to help. I wished I had an answer.
A small vibration pulsed through the water.
The something was closer.
I swallowed hard. "Come on, Corvin. Deep breaths for me, please. We've got to go."
He nodded weakly.
I started fumbling about in the dark water, searching for the holes to count. One. Two. Three.
Another vibration pulsed up. Stronger this time.
"Mena," Corvin said, his voice cracking. He struggled forward. "You missed—" He slipped and plunged into darkness.
WRONG CHASM
"Corvin!" I screamed.
Tagger had already shot down the chasm after him, slicing into the dark water like a blade.
I seized the pale-blue orb, took in a deep breath, and plunged in headfirst.
This chasm was wider and more open, its mouth easily large enough for me to slip through.
My eyes stung and blurred from the salt water, but there was no doubt. Either my vision had improved from the mate bond, or desperation had given me strength. I prayed it was the mate bond because that meant maybe I could hold my breath longer.
The light pierced through the dark chasm.
There!
Corvin drifted limply ahead of me, dark hair fanning out. Blood trickled from a gash on his head and his wrist. His left leg twitched. Tagger circled him, pawing at his head and nudging up under his chin.
Panic surged through me. I swam faster, kicking down. The bag around my shoulder tugged against me, sometimes snagging on the ridges. I wriggled and twisted until I reached Corvin. Sweeping my arm around him as best I could, I dragged us up.
I was moving fast, but where were we supposed to go? Was I even going the right way?
Everything looked the same down here. The pale-blue light illuminated the chasm with its gnarled rock formations, but I couldn't tell what was a passage. And I had to find the second one. Except—no, we weren't in the right chasm at all, were we?
I struggled, kicking and fighting. My whole body screamed for air and space. I just held on to him and swam as Tagger zipped around us.
Then we broke the surface. A sharp pain struck the top of my head.
There was barely enough room for our heads above the water.
It was enough though, the air not the best but still breathable.
Spitting out the water, I hacked and gasped as I pulled Corvin up. The rough rocks pressed against my skull. The salt water stung all my cuts and scrapes.
Corvin choked too, but his breaths were still weaker. He almost slipped back under.
Tagger chittered anxiously beside me. We had to get Corvin out of here. But which way?
The runes.
