Page 59 of Forged By Heart and Claws
Thalen moved to the drier side of the rock path. “This water is already two feet deep, and it’s freezing. If the flood started after the quake, that means the lower tunnels are filled. We must figure this out because I’m too sexy to die.” He met Vad’s eyes and arched a brow.
“He is.” Myantha agreed.
“Thank you, my love.” He smiled, but the humor didn’t quite reach his eyes. He was trying to ease the tension, but even his jokes landed flat. He tugged on his injured wing and winced. “If we’re avoiding the shadow beasts…” His lips thinned. “Scaffing void. That leaves usonepath, doesn’t it?”
A low sound echoed as the river lapped, creeping inch by inch up the stone.
Silus turned to Veralt and raised a brow like he was sizing up a blockade. “Can the giant even fit?”
Veralt scoffed and folded his arms. “Fit through what?”
“The safest path will be a tight squeeze,” Vad admitted. “You can move to higher ground farther in, and we’ll come back for?—”
“I’m not staying behind,” Veralt cut in, passing the lamp back to Quen and then shaking his hand from the heat. “Not whenthis place is crawling with shadow beasts. It isn’t safe for my woman to stay here, and she won’t leave me.”
“Of course I won’t.” Rhielle stroked his arm and curled her fingers around the muscle of his bicep. “If we have to find another way, we will.”
Vad’s gaze held steady. “As long as he isn’t claustrophobic, it’ll be fine.”
Something cold licked the bottom of my feet, causing me to glance down and confirm my worst fear. The water had advanced, creeping up in steady, silent waves. In the next few minutes, it would claim the stone beneath our feet.
There wasn’t time to debate further. “We need to move soon, or we won’t have the option.” A shudder rippled through me as I imagined crawling through a narrow stone chute with that icy current on our heels.
Attention shifting to Elara, Vad asked, “Are you strong enough to climb?”
Despite her pale face, Elara nodded and lifted her chin in what must have been a quiet resolve. “I am.”
“I’ll be with you every step.” Silus laid a hand gently on her shoulder.
She leaned subtly into the touch, but Vad’s voice cut through before either one could continue. “Your wing is still healing.”
Silus stiffened, and his mouth parted.
“You tore the muscle, not just the membrane,” Vad added, tone firm but not unkind. “That won’t hold your weight in the air, and you know it.” He went to his sister and held out an arm.
Elara wrapped an arm around Vad’s shoulder, accepting the help. She wouldn’t want Silus taking the risk either.
“You, Thalen, and Quen won’t be flying for at least another day. Maybe longer,” Vad added, not unkindly. He pointed toward the island of stone on the other side of the rising river. "Just beyond that point and to the left is a tunnel behind theeastern wall. That’s our path. I’ll fly the lamps over. Donotwade into the water. We don’t know what’s beneath it, or if the ground will even hold.”
He took the lamp and flew across, the golden light bobbing through the darkness with him. Shadows clung to the ceiling like a warning.
“Stupid plan,” Quen muttered under her breath. “Hanging up giant, pointed rocks from your ceiling? Honestly. Who does that.”
“Does your wing still hurt?” Elias asked quietly.
Quen’s wings fluttered tighter to her back. The bandages over the membrane were stained, but not leaking. She shrugged and lifted the lamp closer to her chest. “Not enough to stop me from debating who I hate more—Kaylen or Calla Lily.”
Rhielle scoffed, but her smirk held no humor. “I’ve got enough hate for both of those scaffing wretches and everyone else involved.”
Licking his cracked lips, Elias rocked back on his heels. “Do we have enough oil for light to get to the vesting chamber, or at least another supply stockpile?”
Vad returned, landing beside me. “It’ll be close.” He exhaled. “But the vesting chamber has ceremonial oil. That should be enough for a refill.”
The water sounded like a whisper, growing louder and lapping against my foot. I didn’t look. I didn’t need to. I could feel its icy hold on me.
With a soft grunt, Vad lifted Elara into his arms and launched back across the gap. His wings flared out, catching the still air in the cavern. As he landed on the far side, a flicker of pain that had to be due to his wing injury pulsed through our bond.
I hated that he had any discomfort at all, but I was able to admire the way he acted with quiet strength and unwavering focus, putting his people first. Even if he wasn’t a wolf, heunderstood what it meant to protect the pack. To lead when everyone else could only follow.
