Part 37 (1/2)

Thankfully, the frost sprite was smart enough not to press the issue, and with a nod toward Rya, he darted through the mist, following the trail they'd created to the waiting portal.

”Mother, you next,” she said.

The older woman briefly hesitated, but no doubt sensed that Rya wasn't going to budge. With a kiss on Rya's cheek she disappeared into the mist.

”Let's go,” Torque muttered, grabbing her hand to follow the others.

Moving as fast as the thick fog would allow, they concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. A task that was becoming increasingly difficult.

Up ahead she could sense when Finn managed to escape through the portal. And then her mother.

They were only steps away when there was a violent quake that sent them both sprawling onto the spongy ground. Torque cursed, jumping back to his feet and pulling her up beside him.

But the momentary delay was too much.

Even as they stepped forward, the portal collapsed with explosive force.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

Torque cursed, wrapping his arms around Rya as the floor shuddered and the mist tightened around them like a vise.

The air was being crushed from his lungs, even as his bones began to throb. Soon they would begin to snap beneath the pressure.

It was agonizing.

And promised to get worse.

”We're trapped,” Rya choked out, burying her face against his chest.

He absently ran his hand over her hair. ”I've got you,” he muttered in distracted tones. He was desperately trying to come up with a plan of escape.

”I'm sorry.” She wound her arms around his waist, tears trickling down her cheek. ”I should have insisted on coming here alone.”

He surrounded them in his fire. He couldn't halt the crus.h.i.+ng compression, but he could d.a.m.ned well battle back the lethal cold.

”Yeah, like that was ever going to happen,” he muttered.

She sniffed. ”This was my duty, not yours.”

He kept his expression stoic even as pain sliced through his heart.

She was already blaming herself. He wasn't about to add to her misery.

”We're partners now.” He insisted. ”Right?”

She s.h.i.+vered, her fiery spirit muted by the mist. ”I don't want you hurt.”

”Rya.” He cupped her chin in his hand, tilting back her head so he could capture her gaze. ”I would rather die holding you in my arms than live an eternity without you.”

The amber eyes darkened, and with a choked sound she pressed her head back against his chest. With a sigh, Torque rested his cheek on top of her head.

He hadn't lied. If he had to face death, he wanted to do it with Rya in his arms.

And if he had any true regret, it was the fact that he'd never found his mother.

He should never have allowed his hurt pride to keep him from searching for her.

So much time wasted...

Lost in his dark thoughts, he absently noticed the tiny sparks that suddenly began to dance in the air.

Was the ruthless pain making him hallucinate?

Lifting his head, he tried to think past the sensation of being flattened into a pancake.

More sparks gathered, moving to whirl directly in front of his face before dancing away.

What the h.e.l.l?

”Torque,” Rya muttered, her gaze locked on the tiny bits of fire.

”I see them,” he a.s.sured her.

”Are you doing that?”

Torque frowned. Was he?

It was possible he was losing control of his magic.

”Not intentionally,” he said, then gave a shake of his head as the sparks danced away. If it was his power, they wouldn't be traveling farther into the mist. He barely had enough strength left to stand upright. ”No, it's not mine.”

She pulled back, her face strained from the torturous pressure.

”I think they want us to follow.”

Torque was getting the same feeling. Still, he wasn't super excited to be led deeper into the fog that was killing them.

”I'm not sure we should trust strange sparks of light that appear out of nowhere.”

She sent him a startled glance. ”What's the option?”

Okay. She had a point.

”Fine,” he muttered, ”but stay-”

”I know,” she interrupted. ”Stay behind you.”