Page 69 of Wolf Queen Ruin
The pillar behind her chose that moment to give way completely.
The steps she stood on crumbled with it, sending her toppling forward toward the hole.She twisted desperately in mid-air, reaching for anything to arrest her fall.
“LUNA!”
In that split second, I knew with absolute certainty that I would save her from death, stakes be damned, rather than watch her die.But she found purchase above me, her fingers grasping at the hole’s mouth, her body swinging.
“Okay?”I shouted, unable to keep the desperation from my voice.“Luna, are you hurt?”
“Just my dignity.”With a grunt, she hefted herself up.“What’s left of it anyway.You?”
“Fine.”The word was grossly inadequate to describe the flood of relief coursing through me.
With my foot, I managed to hook my ankle around Luna’s pack.Nearby, I spotted the spider scuttling away.Still alive, the bastard.Hopefully this would be our last rendezvous.
I began the ascent up the rock wall.As soon as I neared the top, Luna reached down to help me the last few feet.Her hand clasped mine, warm and strong, the contact sending a powerful jolt through my system.Finally, I crested the top and collapsed against the broken staircase, sweat drenching the whole of my body.
Luna sat beside me, close enough that our shoulders touched.I could hear her heartbeat slowing, smell the combination of sweat and adrenaline on her skin.For several minutes, we simply existed together in silence.
“You were going to let those stakes kill you,” Luna said, her voice accusatory.“You were ready to die rather than let that spider bite me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”Her eyes searched mine, demanding honesty.“Why would you do that for me?A stranger?”
The answer seemed so simple to me.
“I already told you.For Aria and Jade.And because I saw your memories when our blood mixed.I know exactly what you’re fighting for.”I paused, choosing my words carefully.“When you’ve lived as long as I have, Luna, you learn that some lives burn brighter, matter more.Yours is one of them.Unquestionably.”
Her expression softened before hardening again.“That wasn’t your choice to make.”
“Wasn’t it your choice to risk yourself for me just now?”
She opened her mouth to argue, then closed it, clearly recognizing the parallel.Our eyes held for several moments, something deep and unspoken passing between us.
“We need to get going,” I said, breaking the tension.
Luna nodded but made no move to stand.“Okay, but what happened to your shirt?”
I glanced down at the worn tatters where my shirt used to be.“Something had to die, I guess.”
“Yeah…” Her gaze traced down the lines of my chest, lingering on the ancient suns tattooed across my collarbone.
“Luna?”My voice came out rougher than intended.
She blinked, color rising in her cheeks.“Yeah, I just wasn’t…um…expecting you to have so many tattoos.Or, you know, so much skin.”
“It’s just the normal amount of skin,” I replied with a chuckle.
“Right.”She looked away and cleared her throat, though her eyes darted back briefly.“What do they mean?The suns.”
“Protection mostly.From my time before…when I was still fae.Before my vampire transformation.”
“Still fae…” She nodded slowly.“Oh…”
Her fingers lifted, hovering just above my tattoos as if she might trace the patterns, before she caught herself and pulled back.The almost-touch left my skin tingling with heady anticipation.
“At least we know for sure that this really is a death trap,” she said, changing the subject while getting to her feet.“In case there was any doubt.”
