Page 45 of Orange Tundra
"Don’t touch me."
"I’m trying to help."
He grabbed me, slammed me against the wall. Claws bit my neck.
"You don’t get to try."
His voice broke.
"You don’t get to smell likehim. To talk about him. You let them put me in chains."
I let him pin me. Let the blood trickle down.
"Then kill me."
He snarled. Threw me back. Turned away. Shaking.
Then he convulsed. Crystal creeping toward his neck. I uncorked the salve, slathered it across his ribs. His skin twitched. Then stilled. His breath slowed.
"You don’t get to do this alone," I whispered.
He surged. Knocked me flat. His claws grazed my throat.
He growled. No words. Just fury.
"I’m sorry," I choked. "Roqs. Brynn - "
This time, Zirc roared and threw me to the opposite wall. Ah, this answered why Zirc smelled like Brynn too. She's fated to this monster.
"How-" Zirc panted. "How… Brin." He could hardly talk right now.
I nodded. "I was the one who set her free from her cage in the Orange Mountain."
He glared at me, refusing to believe the words.
"They’re coming. I just need to keep you breathing."
His claws dug into his palms —then pulled back.
A guard arrived.
"Pit's ready."
I stood. Every muscle screamed. Every breath tasted like failure.
I looked at Zirc.
"I won’t let you die in that pit."
He didn’t answer.
But he followed.
And I led.
Straight into hell.
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