Page 168 of Vicious Is My Throne

And that was when I realized my fear of heights wasn’t my worst phobia after all.

71

ANARIA

Iplugged my nose.

Scorched vermin smelled like boiled pig feet, and I despised boiled pig feet.

And I really, really hated dark, scary caves filled with creepy crawling things.

Not that this hole would be filled with them for long.

Get down, Raz.

I blasted another scorching ball of light down the narrow crevice, spiders and centipedes as big as dogs tumbling from the walls and shriveling up. Then sent a second stream, to be sure, yanking my power back before that light reached the end and warned Corvus he had visitors.

Princess, you need to conserve your power, Tristan reminded me. Let Raz do the grunt work. That is what he’s here for.

Thanks, arshole. Glad to hear I serve some purpose.

Fine. I elbowed Tristan in the side for good measure. But don’t come complaining to me when a big, fat hairy spider drops down on top of your head.

Don’t be a scaredy cat, Zor chimed in. They’re just bugs. Tristan’s right. Save your strength for the fight ahead.

You’re doing great, Anaria. Tavion, of all people, was the only one offering any encouragement. If anything survives, I’ll be sure to stuff it down Zorander’s shirt.

I shook out my numb fingers. The passage was so narrow we were strung into a single file line and I couldn’t see directly above us, only the insect’s smoking husks raining down.

Using magic was a risk, but the last thing I wanted was getting trapped inside this suffocating darkness with creeping beasties sporting biting pincers, sharp, little spiky feet, and deadly stingers.

That was a big, fat nope.

Boots scraped the floor, armor creaked, and every time Raz stopped and ducked, I blindly sent another ball of light hurtling down the craggy passageway, gagging at the number of bodies that fell in its wake.

No precision required, thank the gods.

Just blunt force.

Every step felt too slow, my leathers glued to my sweaty skin, the craggy stone walls vibrating beneath the force of Corvus’s immense power.

The closer we got to his cave, the deeper the reverberation went, as if the mountain itself trembled. Then the smell hit us, a solid, fetid wall of stench that made my eyes water. Ahead of me, Raz coughed, then the reek worked its way down the rest of the line.

Gods. I think I’m going to puke.

Not on me, arsehole. Hold your cloak over your nose.

Like that’s going to fucking help.

I swear to the gods, if you vomit on me, I will kick your arse, DeVayne. Hold it together.

They gagged and hacked until finally Raz lifted his fist and we all halted. We’re there. If I can find cover, I’ll exit the fissure slowly, keep my head low, and give you a report.

I shifted my feet, unwilling to let any of them take such a risk.

While also painfully aware they wouldn’t let me go through the door first.

As if Tristan read my thoughts, he wrapped his fingers around my arm. Stay back, Anaria, until Raz has eyes on Corvus. He’s done this a hundred times before; he knows how to get inside without being seen.

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