Page 76 of Trapped By Claws
I set my jaw.
It didn't matter. This was our one way out. As long as Corvin, Tagger, and I went through together, we'd go to the same place.
There was no way in the abyss or the expanse that I'd leave Corvin behind. Not even if he really was dead.
I stooped down, grabbed his arm, and dragged him up. "Come on. Tagger. We're getting out of this place."
Tagger squeaked faster, his high-pitched voice frantic as he raced around me. He hopped on Corvin and nudged him, then ran up the stairs and looked at me.
Corvin's body sagged against the stairs. I dragged him up, focusing on each step, grunting as we moved toward the portal.
With a deafeningcrack, the doors finally splintered open. Lishen and his three warriors forced their way in.
Lishen's eyes glowed as he pointed at me. "Halt, whore!" Black Claws and two others shoved in behind him. They had their swords and daggers drawn. As if they couldn't tear me apart with their claws and teeth.
"Tagger, come on," I gasped.
Almost there!
Tagger hopped up on to Corvin's chest, squeaking.
Something sharp clipped my shoulder and stung like a hornet. I startled.
What? How?
A dart stuck in my shoulder.
Oh. Oh, salt's bane!
The edges of my vision fuzzed. Heat burned through my arm.
I staggered forward, wincing under Corvin's weight as I glanced back.
More warriors poured into the room. One stood on the far side of the room, readying another dart. The other had reachedthe base of the stairs. Lishen and Black Claws were halfway up the stairs, thundering toward me, eyes blazing.
No!
I lunged forward as best I could, pulling Corvin with me. The portal crackled and flared around us.
My foot caught on the ledge. Tagger and Corvin fell out along with me. We struck the stone platform and rolled. The dart twisted in my arm.
The ground fell away. Plants and branches along the side of the platform and stairs struck my face as we rolled down.
Hackles bristling, Tagger leaped.
We crashed, rolled, and slid down the staircase. Corvin slid away from me. My hand grabbed for his arm. My fingers raked over his throat.
Did I feel a pulse?
His body slipped to the side.
No, please, wait!
I couldn't hold on to him.
Couldn't even scream as I skidded down the stone. Blood filled my mouth. The edges of the stairs scraped and gashed my legs and arms. The world tumbled around me. Somehow I clutched something. My bloodied fingers raked over the surface.
Something seized me by the back of the head, digging into my scalp. It hauled me up, bending me back.
