Page 254 of A Flame of the Phoenix

The cave shook violently as if it too outraged at the power stolen. Nerida’s magick transferred into Edith through the plunge of a blade. Hefeltit. An echo of her pain both physical and within as the threads of her magick were ripped out by vicious phantom claws.

Tarly crawled with his remaining strength to reach where she kneeled, clutching her shoulder.

“Angel,” he said in a panic, pushing himself up on his good arm and pulling her to him as she wept.

“I can collect more than one ability,” Edith marveled, raising her hand and admiring the sense of magick none of them could see.

“Nerida.” Tarly cupped her cheek, forcing her to meet his eyes. They poured with tears, and it wasn’t for her bleeding wound.

“She took it all. Both abilities,” Nerida confirmed.

His eyes snapped up to Edith with a rage more potent than he’d ever felt before. The dark fae smiled, wicked and cruel, the dagger in her hand still dripping with Nerida’s blood as her dark eyes targeted Tauria next. Nik pushed her behind him.

“Nightwalking would be fun, but water and air go so well together.”

“You’re not getting any closer to her,” Nik snarled.

Edith’s smile only grew wider.

Though just as she stepped in challenge, the sound of rushing water rumbled through the cave.

“Looks like you’re all out of luck. Drowning really is a terrible way to die,” Edith said before sprinting toward the exit, which had opened.

They were seconds from being slammed by the violent current.

“We need to go,” Nik barked.

Tarly didn’t miss a beat, grabbing Nerida’s hand and sprinting through the second passage as Nik and Tauria did.

Nerida’s cries tore him apart, but he wouldn’t let her die down here.

The water chased them, catching up so fast every breath became precious.

They came to a ladder, scrambling up it. The water crashed into the dead-end wall before surging up past Tarly’s middle. Only having one arm made it more of a struggle to climb, and the rapidly rising water slammed his heart.

At the top, Nik came back to haul him over.

Their rapid steps splashed through the sheet of water growing past their ankles.

They’d made it to another room, but no one took off running again.

Because they were trapped.

Tauria acted fast, creating a wind barrier against the break in the stone. The water level rose quickly against it. Her footing stumbled with the growing pressure, and Nik steadied her.

“I won’t be able to hold this long,” Tauria panted.

“Search for something—anything!” Nik barked the command to Tarly.

He assessed Nerida first, overcome with panic. “You’re losing a lot of blood,” he said.

Nerida sniffed, clutching her wound and pushing past him. “It’s nothing.”

Tarly ran his hand along the walls like she did, searching desperately for some miracle there would be another concealed door.

“It’s hopeless,” Nerida sobbed, giving up her search.

She was never one to give up, and he knew her spirit had withered with the loss of her magick, but he would not let her die.

---