Page 166 of Untamed Fate (Magic Side: Wolf Bound 2)

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I searched the cave hopelessly. The only cover was the pool. I ran over,

gulped in the biggest breath I could manage, and slipped beneath the water.

Closing my eyes, I began to count. Each second that passed was a prayer

that the noxious gas would dissipate. I tried calming my mind, but every cut

and gash in my body stung, and fear pressed in, heavier than the water around

me.

My lungs began to burn, but I fought down my instincts. Every time a

second passed, I vowed to stay one second more. Finally, when I could stand

it no longer, I lifted my head slowly above the water.

The cloud of gas was gone.

While every nerve in my body wanted me to gasp in relief, I sucked a

breath in through my teeth as slowly and quietly as I could.

The earth shook again as the noctith demon shifted position and released

another plume of sleeping gas down the path outside.

A little relief trickled through me. They didn’t know where I was. How

could they not hear my heartbeat? It was practically ripping out of my chest.

Then my pulse skipped a beat as something scraped on the wall behind

me—massive claws scrabbling on stone.

My stomach sank.

Death was coming.

26

Jaxson

Find her, my wolf howled in my chest. She’s in pain. Dying.

I leapt from the hole in the wall where the window had been and hurtled

down the face of the tower, using my claws as brakes to slow my fall.

The moment they found wood, I dug in and swung myself onto the

windowsill. It was a fucking ridiculous way to get down, but speed was

everything.

I heaved myself left to the next sill over.

The noctith demon shrieked and swung its head from side to side,

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