I gasped and hurried after them. We followed the side of the mountain. Life surged around us but I kept my horse blinders on, keeping my gaze firmly focused on my fairyfly friends because otherwise I was going to crumble in fear.
After a few tense minutes, the fairyflies led me to an opening in the mountain. A cave. Hope flared. The opening to the cave was narrow, so narrow that I had to go through it sideways…once through we were greeted by darkness. My feet locked in place.
“Is it safe in here?”
The fairyflies flew inside, flying in wide circles and lighting up the cave with their golden light. Still, to be sure, I pushed my own magic out. My golden glitter was almost as bright as their light and that never stopped making me smile. I pushed my magic into the cave until it hit a back wall that was only thirty feet back. There was nothing else in here with us. I felt no other sigh of life, and since I could see the entire cave I was confident my eyes were not betraying me.
I hurried all the way in to the back wall, then turned and pressed my back into it. My legs gave out under me and my butt hit the cave floor with a thud. I sighed and tears of relief poured down my cheeks.
“Thank you,” I said between sniffles. I loosened my grip on Olli but he stayed nestled against me. I pet his head and pressed a kiss to his snout. “I’m sorry. I think we’re safe—”
A big, dark shadow passed in front of the cave entrance.
My heart stopped.
Chapter Eighteen
Saffie
A big, dark shadow passed in front of the cave entrance.
My heart stopped.
Shit, shit, shit. I gently sat Olli on the ground beside me and climbed back to my feet, standing in front of him to keep him safe. The shadow returned and it took up half of the narrow entrance. Whatever it was, it was big.
Don’t come in here. Don’t come in here. Don’t come in here.
Dammit, Saffie. Why didn’t you block the entrance? What was your plan here?
Olli whimpered and huddled between my feet. My stomach tightened into knots. Okay, I can do this. Just a dinosaur. I’m a witch. I’m in The Coven. I’m a force to be reckoned with. I twirled my hands and tried to summon spirits to guard us, but the pale blue fog in my palms was faint and fizzled out. I pushed with my magic and nothing came out.
The shadow moved to cover the entire entrance and green grass sprouted from under my feet. Thick green vines shot out in every direction. Pink and yellow flowers poked up. Are you serious? What the hell is that? I’d never been able to do that before, it must have been part of my Death Card – is that really all you’ve got for me right now?
Heat flared in my chest. Breathe, Saffie, you have to breathe! I gripped the citrine dangling from my bracelet and felt the cool rush of the golden armor as it spread across my body. The sword formed in my open palm. I tightened my grip on the hilt and raised it in the air in front of me. My hand was shaking so bad the blade trembled but I was trying to ignore that.
An arm reached through the opening and a tan hand gripped the — a hand and an arm? It’s a person!
Long, pale blond hair poked through the narrow entrance. And then golden armor sparkled as the light of the fairyflies reflected off of it. My lungs were burning and screaming. Bright golden eyes shined through the dark, staring straight at me.
I gasped.
“RIAH!”
I screamed and dropped my sword, then charged for him. He froze a split second before I threw myself on him. He caught me, wrapping his arms around my body. And I fell apart. All of my fear erupted out of me. I sobbed and coiled my arms around his neck. I didn’t care if his armor dug into my skin. He was here. I wasn’t alone with dinosaurs.
He held me tight, rubbing little circles with his thumbs on my body as I sobbed. His body was warm and smelled like a bonfire. I felt his pulse pounding against his chest. I let the strength in his arms chase my fear and pain away.
Wait. This is RIAH.
We’re still mad at him. He still hasn’t explained. We’re still not sure we