Page 119 of Winds of Ruin
“Em!” I shouted, grabbing onto his arm to prevent him from being pulled into the water. The monster towered over us, releasing a bloodcurdling screech as more of its appendages swung through the air above.
I launched a dagger, pinning one tentacle to the sharp sea glass wall, but another appendage snagged around my waist tightly and tore me away.
Emmerick let out a fierce growl and sliced through the tentacle binding his leg, severing it. He scrambled back, narrowly avoiding another assault as he tried to reach me.
Lifted from my feet, and with no way to retrieve another dagger, I kicked helplessly, attempting to free myself.
“Use the wind.”Cassidee’s advice sank in, and I focused on the sea monster’s arm reaching for Emmerick next.
A gust swept through the cave from the entry door and blew the beast’s tentacle away. Glass sliced through the sea monster’s skin and purple blood trickled down from where the beasts arm had been impaled. The sea monster screeched again.
My gust had disturbed the hanging glass above. The shards rattled together. Not good. Being rained on by glowing glass was not on my to-do list for tonight.
The beam of light in Emmerick’s hand grew, and he aimed it at the tentacle constricted around me. The smell of singed salty flesh made me gag as I fell to the ground.
The monster reared up with a deadly cry. We’d injured it, but that only seemed to fuel its bloodlust.
Glass fell in chunks overhead. It caved in first on the beast, striking it through the middle—a lethal blow.
The ground shook beneath my feet, and the sound of grinding stone told me the chamber door would close.
The glass threatened to crush us.
Fuck.
I grabbed Emmerick’s elbow and pulled him back as more shards fell onto his previous position. We ran for the entry as the beast screamed out in pain. Shattered sea glass hit my heels.
Emmerick grabbed me by the waist and thrust me under the closing door hard enough to get me to the other side. The effort caused him to fall to his knees just before reaching the lowering stone.
You noble fool,I wanted to shout.
He’d be crushed.
I lay on my side beyond the threshold, and his gaze met mine. His expression seemed to say goodbye.
Panic spurred me to quick action; losing him wasn’t an option.
I reached for his arm, grabbing it and pulling as hard as I could, willing the wind to help me get him out of that dreadful sea cave.
With enough momentum from both my strength and the gust, Emmerick flung forward and into me as the door to the chamber closed behind him. Pinned to the cool, damp stone ground, I attempted to catch my breath.
That was way too close.
I could have lost everything.
Emmerick’s eyes bore into mine as he propped himself up with a knee between my legs and his forearms on each side of my head.
“Are you alright?” He balanced on one arm and took my chin between his fingers, tilting my face to assess me for injury.
Darkness fell over us, but when my eyes adjusted to the moonlight peeking in from the cave entry, the weight of his worry struck me. His arm shook as the nerves ran their course.
“I’m fine,” I panted.
Only because you are,I thought to myself.
“You were almost crushed,” I gasped.
“You’re certain you’re fine?” He exhaled.
