Page 55 of A Song of Shadow and Starlight

But I'm still stuck on the island. The tram is docked at the stadium seating and the cables are too high for me to grab ahold of and climb to safety. Not that I have the strength to do that, and with a mangled leg, there is no way I'd make it.

It's then I see the tram start moving toward me. I can't see who is inside yet. They're still too far away. I'm praying it's not one of the Necropolis guards coming to finish me off. I reach for my magic just in case I need it, but I'm spent. I have nothing left to give. Doing the only thing I can to protect myself, I grab the sword lying beside me and wait to see who pops out of the gondola.

The door slides open and the tears I was keeping at bay flood my face. "Nyx!" I whimper in relief.

Nyx sprints for me, his swords strapped to his back in crisscross fashion. Pure rage fills his eyes and there's blood splattered across his face. I don't dare ask if it's his blood or someone else's. He scoops me in his arms, tucks me against his chest, and strides back to the gondola.

"Let's get you out of here," he says as the tram starts its ascent.

"You came for me," I whisper. My magic is wavering, and the pain and loss of blood begin to take a toll on me. My eyes flutter, but my stomach flips as the aerial tram swings back and forth.

"Shit," Nyx hisses and gently sets me down on the floor.

We've stopped moving. "What's wrong?"

"They're trying to cut the cables." He slides the door open and glances up at the thick, black cables. "Can you hang on to me?"

"What?" My head is spinning, and my vision is starting to blur.

Nyx crouches in front of me and grabs my face, drawing my hazy gaze to meet his. "Shaye, I need you to hop on my back and hang on to me as tightly as you can. Do you understand?"

I nod, but my head feels heavy with the motion.

"Damn it. Stay with me, Shaye," he gently taps my cheek. "Stay with me. If we don't get out of this tram, we're going to fall in the lava, and I'd rather not take my chances at finding out if I survive that."

"I can do it," I assure him. "I can do it."

Nyx helps me to my feet and dips down on one knee so I can wrap my arms around his neck and snake my legs around his torso. I hiss when my injured leg rubs against him. I can't keep it up, so it dangles beside Nyx's leg when he stands up.

The gondola swings viciously, and I fall off Nyx's back and slam against the wall. All hope I have to escape is beginning to wane. My bottom lip trembles. "We're not going to make it, are we?"

Nyx cups my face. "Don't you dare give up on me, Kitarni."

"I can't hold on to you. I don't have the strength, Nyx."

He swipes a tear from my cheek and dips his head. "I know."

"There's no hope for me," I say, realizing just because I can't make it out, doesn't mean Nyx can't. "But you can still make it out of here."

"I'm not leaving y -"

"Go," I cut him off gently. "It's ok."

"Whether you like it or not, you're one of us now," Nyx shakes his head and offers me a weak smile. "We never abandon one of our own."

Agonizing screams echo from the wooden platform we are supposed to dock at. Nyx and I look out the windows and see two of the trolls manning the controls to the aerial tram being mauled by bears made entirely of water. The other two are rolling around on the ground, screeching in agony, clawing at their bodies as if their innards are being shredded to pieces.

Eris gets to the control panel and revives our tram, ushering us back to safety. Within seconds, we dock, and Nyx helps me off the tram. My left pant is soaked with blood, and I can't stand on my own, so Nyx once again picks me up and starts running through a tunnel. Exhaustion finally takes hold of me, and I can no longer keep my eyes open. With my head tucked against Nyx's chest, listening to the rhythmic beating of his heart, I slip out of consciousness, letting the darkness claim me.

Seventeen

"Getherintheshower." Eris' voice is laced with concern, so I slowly pry my eyes open as Nyx places me on the tile floor of a shower I've not seen before. "I'll take it from here."

"Eris – "

"Out!" The Hydran thunders and I hear a door slam shut.

"Eris?" I whisper, fighting to keep my eyes half-open when all I want to do is sleep.

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