Page 67 of Queen of the Crimson Throne

I felt—nothing.

Luce let out a frustrated sigh. “I don’t understand why I can’t feel anything. It’s like the sensation suddenly stopped.”

“Maybe it means we’re getting close,” Kara offered as she came in line with us.

“But still, I don’t understand. I’ve been able to feel everything up until now.”

“Let’s try again,” Kara said calmly. “Let’s all try.”

We all grasped hands and tried again—still, I felt nothing.

“Do we just pick one?” I asked.

“I guess.” Luce sighed.

Luce closed her eyes again, I assumed to feel for anything to direct us in any direction.

She opened one eye. “Let’s go left?”

“Okay,” Kara and I said in unison. Any feeling was better than nothing.

We ventured down the path to the left—it appeared the same as all the rest. Although this path felt like it continued on forever—far longer than the other paths.

“Did we chose the wrong path?” Kara asked finally.

“I don’t know. I?—”

The cave shook around us. I braced myself on the wall to keep myself standing as the ceiling shook. Small rocks and dust fell from above. I moved to a crouch, covering my head with my arms as I looked at Luce and Kara, finding them doing the same.

Visions of the room shaking around me in the palace flashed before me. Of the ground shaking beneath me in the grand hall as my city was destroyed. My throat felt like it was closing—I couldn’t get enough oxygen to my lungs as pressure clamped on my chest.

This wasn’t happening.Not again.

Lennox. Luka’s voice was laced with panic as it ripped into my mind.Lennox, what’s happening?

There’s a land tremor in the tunnels.

Are you okay?

Yes, no. I’m—I—I can’t stop thinking about the last time the ground beneath me shook.

He was silent for several moments. Did something happen at the mouth of the cave as well.

Are you all okay?His voice finally came through again.

Yes. It stopped now.It had. The rumbling had stopped. A fewsmall stones still fell from the ceiling and dust clouded my vision, but the shaking had ceased.

Good.Luka’s voice came through my mind again.Put one hand on your chest and one on your stomach, and take five deep breaths. Focus on the feeling of your stomach moving as you breathe. If your heart isn’t back to breathing regularly after the five breaths take five more.

Okay.

Do you want me to count for you?

No, I can do it.I counted as I breathed, I took five breaths and five more while Luka waited.

How are you feeling?He asked after several minutes.

Better. My heart was almost back to normal.I can breathe freely again.

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