Page 102 of Frost Bound

Her calves burned but she kept on, air sawing in and out of her lungs. Just as she was covered in sweat and about to give up, she spotted the bottom. The great waterfall thundered into a massive round pool at the bottom. She leaned against the wall and caught her breath for a few moments, watching the water.

It didn’t rise.

An underground river?

That was the only thing that made sense.

She shuddered as she thought about the frozen lake outside. No doubt this waterfall fed the lake. If someone fell in, they were dead. There was no coming back from that.

The feeling of being watched once against assaulted her.

She glanced up and down, seeing no one.

Dahlia pushed away from the wall, her sights set on the light shining through the waterfall on the other side.

The last exit. What lay beyond? What was hiding down there?

A hand wrapped around her bicep and yanked her backward. Dahlia cursed as she spun to face her attacker. Lumi stood over her, her face a mask of rage.

“Spying as soon as my brother turns his back!”

Oh no.

Her fight-or-flight instinct kicked in, and she’d always been scrappy. Lia slammed her fist into Lumi’s stomach, surprising the giantess. She grunted, releasing Dahlia, doubling over as Lia shook her hand out. It was like punching a wall.

“Just exploring,” she grunted.

Get out of here while she’s distracted.

She leapt down two stairs at a time. The hair raised along her arms as a growl sounded right behind her. She wasn’t going to make it. The exit was still too far away.

Lumi grabbed her braid and yanked. Dahlia yelled as pain assaulted her scalp, and grabbed at the back of her head.

“I’m not done with you,” Lumi growled.

Get the higher ground.

Instead of pulling away, Dahlia spun and whipped around the giantess. Lumi backhanded her across the face. Pain exploded behind her eyes. The world tilted, but she fell backward onto the stairs, her braid still in Lumi’s grip.

The waterfall thundered in her ears, the edge way too close.

Run.

As if the giantess heard her thoughts, she grinned and yanked Lia by the hair toward the edge.

No.

Dahlia yanked the blade she’d stolen from the kitchen from inside her shirt, sliced off the end of her braid, and kickedthe giantess in the knee. Lumi stumbled backward, holding four inches of her braid. Her stomach dropped as the giantess teetered on the edge, her black eyes round.

Don’t let her die.

Lia lunged forward and grabbed the front of Lumi’s dress and hauled her forward, away from the edge. The giantess dropped to her knees, and Dahlia scrambled back until her spine met the curved stone wall. She held the blade out in front of her. They both panted for breath as shouts below finally registered. Warriors sprinted up the stairs, but Lia didn’t look for them. She didn’t dare tear her watering eyes from Lumi.

The giantess slowly lifted her head and locked eyes with Lia. “Why?”

“Because you’re not my enemy.”

Lumi stared hard, and Lia tensed, ready to sprint down the stairwell despite how the world was still tilting and it felt like she’d throw up at any moment.

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