Chapter 11 #3
The remarkably revitalized Sebastian raced behind us, easily keeping up. Little faker.
Finally, Thorne blasted through the last door and out into the sun. The moment we were free of the manor, my world upended, and my feet hit the ground. I stumbled backward as my head spun. My ass struck the dirt, and I peered up to find Thorne staring down at me, smirk on his face.
Jerk. He could have caught me.
I patted the satchel I’d held onto and exhaled a sigh.
Everything seemed to be in there. Sebastian rubbed against my legs, having arrived in far better shape than I did.
Blessed sunshine blazed down on our heads.
I raised my hand, noting the long shadow I made and peered at the horizon.
The sun sank into the trees, its light a fading glow.
“Oh no,” I groaned.
“What?” Thorne swiveled his head as well. “Flark. We’ve lingered too long.”
I rushed to regain my feet. “We’ll never make it back before sunset. Do you think Alaric could pick us up?”
“Even if he was strong enough, it wouldn’t be wise. Every time he makes an appearance, we risk drawing the attention of the hunters.”
“It may be a risk we have to take.”
“You’d see him further injure himself?”
“No.” No, I wouldn’t. I’d not wish to harm the dragon, despite the fact that he insisted he was my new master.
Thorne headed for the horses. “If we leave now, we can make it before sunset. Come on.”
I made to follow him when the ground trembled again. My legs wobbled, and I splayed my arms for balance. “On no. Not now.” Beneath my feet, the soil churned and bucked, the earth writhing like a storm-tossed sea. My boots sank into the loosened dirt.
I glanced up to find Thorne in a similar predicament.
Heart thundering, I yanked my leg back. To no avail. “I’m stuck!” I held my knee and heaved only to sink further, up to my calf.
“Same,” Thorne yelled.
The harder I pulled, the further I sank. Beneath the dirt, something clamped around my ankle. Was that a hand? The grip tightened like iron and tugged, wrenching a scream from my lips. “Something has my leg!”
“Since the wendigos can’t emerge into the sun, they’re pulling us under.”
Down I sank, soil covering my thighs, then my hips. Up to my waist. I set my hand upon the churning ground to push back, only for it to become stuck as well. “Do something,” I cried out.
Whereas I continued to sink, Thorne remained buried to his knees.
“Why aren’t you sinking? How do I make it stop?”
“They don’t want me. It’s you they’re after,” he bit out, accusation in his tone. “Why are they after you, Serafina?”
“How the hell should I know, Thorne?” Another icy hand joined the first, clamping around my calf and tugging. Dirt surrounded me up to my chest.
“Hold on.” Thorne clenched his fists and drew back his shoulders. At the center of his chest, a fiery light glowed. Deep within me, a similar warmth spread through my bones. Despite the danger, I stared at him, transfixed. Whoever this man of mystery was, he had magic. Beautiful, fascinating magic.
Smoke rolled from his nostrils, he bared his elongated canines and roared. Flames erupted from his mouth, and he aimed the inferno at the churning soil that encased his legs.
Steam rose from the ground, the dirt smoking.
The soil that trapped him blackened, blistered, then splintered.
Once the flames extinguished, Thorn slammed his fist into the earth, breaking it further.
Fractures splintered outward, the surface like smashed pottery.
And then he was loose, pulling his legs free of the trap.
He rushed to my aid, boots sinking into the unstable soil that threatened to swallow me.
I reached out, and he seized my hand without hesitation.
Jaw clenched, he anchored himself and pulled, muscles rippling with the strain.
A sickening pop cracked through my shoulder as I was yanked upward.
But the grip on my legs tightened. Pain knifed through my limbs as my joints screamed.
“They’re tearing me in half!”
Thorne released my hand. Did he intend to let them take me?
“Cover your face.”
“What?” I peered back at him. “You can’t mean to use your fire on me.” While Thorne was immune to his own flames, I was not.
His blue eyes peered deep into mine. “Do you trust me?”
“No,” I squawked. “I do not trust you. Not at all.” In fact, I trusted no one. Nobody but Speck.
“Fine. Then don’t,” he grated. “Just cover your face.”
“Damn you, Thorne.” I tucked my nose into the crook of my elbow.
The moment I did so, heat seared the side of my body. A sound like the rushing of wind gusted in my ears. Smoke seared my nostrils. Was that the smell of my flesh burning? Goddess, save me. It was my worst nightmare. Being burned alive.
Before I could scream in terror, inhuman squeals of pain and fury rang out. The grip on my ankles vanished. Around me, the soil hardened, and the rushing of flames ceased.
I dared to peek over my arm as Thorne’s fist flew past my face. “Ack!” I flinched as the earth shattered. Thorne’s hands slipped under my shoulders and pulled. Thankfully, this time my body broke free. Instead of the ground, I landed on something warm and solid.
I lifted my head to find myself sprawled atop a broad male chest. Not a flame in sight.
For a moment, I couldn’t summon the strength to move.
Beneath me, Thorne lay still, eyes closed, his chest rising and falling in deep, steady breaths.
Dirt streaked his face, and a single dark curl rested across his brow.
Before I knew what I was doing, my fingers reached out and brushed the lock aside. “You…didn’t leave me. You could have. But you didn’t.” His eyes snapped open. Blue and glittering with some strange light, they locked onto mine.
“You believed I would?”
Everyone else in my life had abandoned me when I needed them. Why not Thorne?
My own curls had escaped their ribbon, cascading around my face. My fire-breathing savior tucked a strand behind my ear, returning the gesture.
His brow furrowed, and the spell between us shattered. He rolled me off his chest and sat up. I followed, heart thudding.
“Are you alright?”
“I think so.” I examined the state of my filthy body. Bloody scratches marred my calf where one of the creatures had its hold on me. Scorched fabric hung off my frame in ragged strips. Except when I examined the skin beneath, I found it healthy and unmarked. Last I checked, I wasn’t fireproof.
I turned to Thorne, baffled. “How… What did you… Why didn’t your flame burn me?”
His expression gave nothing away. “Man of mystery, remember? You have your secrets, I have mine. Now let’s go before more of them show up.”
He rose in one swift motion and offered his hand. I set my palm in his heated grip, and he hauled me up off the ground, then quickly released me. Without a backward glance, he strode to our horses.
I glared at his back. Man of mystery, indeed.