Page 57 of The Stone Secret
Not happening.
This time, I didn’t wait for him to attack. I made to dash forward, feinted left but went right, taking a set of steps two at a time before launching myself at a set of rings.
Orix’s growl of annoyance cut the air behind me, but I was already swinging toward the bar that would propel me to a ladder out of here.
I let go of the rings, boldly sailing toward the bar but smashed into Orix instead. He hugged me to his chest, chuckling softly.
“Nice try.”
My cry of frustration was smothered by his pecs. “Put me down!”
He flew us down and set me on my feet. “You did well. You almost got to the ladder.”
Almost wasn’t good enough. “Again!”
* * *
Twenty minutes later,I’d been snagged out of the air, tackled to the ground, smothered by Orix’s chest, and pinned so many times I was beginning to feel like a stress ball.
“Maybe we should call it for the evening,” Selas said, her face an anxious blur above us.
Did I look that frazzled?
“Agreed,” Orix said, dropping me on my feet. Again. “We can pick this up next session.”
Like hell was I quitting so easily. “No. One more try.” It was unrealistic to think I’d make it all the way to the top of a ladder and out of this space, but if I could just make itontoa ladder, then I’d call it a win for the day.
“Fine, one more round,” Selas said.
We took our starting positions again—Orix in the darkness somewhere, and me in the center of the room.
Pinpointing his location was easy now, not that I was going to share that with him. It gave me an edge that I wasn’t willing to lose.
He rushed me almost immediately this time.
Fuck!
I turned and ran, using my speed to put distance between us. A ramp loomed, and I picked up momentum toward it, veering off at the last moment, leaving Orix to rush up it without me while I raced up a flight of steps instead. I hit the platform at the top, then threw myself at the thick rope dangling from the beams that jutted out above us. I swung hard, whizzing through the air, aimed at a ladder.
Behind me, the ground shook.
A gust of wind hit my back.
Orix was coming for me, but I was almost there. This time I was going to make it. I let go of the rope and flew toward the ladder.
Fingers grazed my neck, a low growl of frustration rattling the air, spurring the triumph inside me.
“NO!” Serath materialized as if out of nowhere, snatching me away from Orix.
Away from the ladder.
Away from my victory.
No…No, no, no! “Get off me!” I twisted in his grip as he set me on my feet. “Let go!” He released me and stared at me in stunned silence. “What was that, huh? What the fuck was that?” Black dots of rage danced on the edge of my vision.
“I…I was…”
“You were what? Trying to protect me from training? I almost had it. I was almost at the ladder.” Tears of frustration pricked my eyes. “Dammit, Serath. Stop fucking coddling me and let me fucking train.” I headed for the door. I needed air. A break. I needed to scream.
