Page 26 of The Stone Initiation
“Don’t,” Orix says softly.
She looks my way. Looks right at me. Her beautiful gray eyes wide with shock.
Fire circles my ankle and my thighs bunch, my body working on instinct.
“Serath, don’t!” Orix makes a grab for me, but too late this time.
I’m airborne.
I arch through the air then slice into the water, diving and rocketing toward the raptor. I slam into it before it can reach her. Down into the depths we go. It struggles and bucks, but I grip its jaws and tear it in two. The fire circling my ankle ebbs and dies.
She’s safe.
For now.
But me…I’m fucked.
CAMERON
A shadow sliced across my periphery and vanished into the water.
Wait…
One of the figures from the other side was gone.
Had the gargoyle jumped into the water?
Not my problem.
Focus.
Swim.
There could be more eels, more dangers in the river.
Imminent threat galvanized me, adding fuel to my waning fire and acting like a butt rocket to push me over the finish line.
My fingers grazed rock.
Oh gods. Yes.
I gripped stone and hauled myself up the rock face notch by notch until I felt the lip of the ledge proper. A sob broke from my throat. Muscles screaming in protest, I dragged myself up and over then rolled onto my back to stare up the night sky still teaming with terror hawks and desperate gargoyles.
I’d made it.
Ha, take that, pure bloods! If I weren’t so wiped, I’d have gotten up and twerked. Maybe in a moment. Just one more minute.
A shadow blocked the moon, and ocean blue eyes stared down at me from beneath ruffled silvery hair. This elite had sharp, clever features with winged eyebrows. It was a pleasant gargoyle face, almost handsome, if you could call gargoyles handsome.
“Hi.” I grinned up at him, still swimming in euphoria at my win. “Wanna help me up?” I held out my hand.
His eyes flinched, and he gently gripped my palm with a hand that could have crushed every bone in mine if he’d wanted to. But he didn’t pull me up, and the first trickle of unease filtered through my bubble of elation.
“What’s the—”
He yanked me off my feet and grabbed my neck. “I’m sorry for what I must do.” His voice was a low apologetic grumble.
Terror tightened my scalp. “What are you—”
