Leah's Hero - Miranda Martin Page 0,37
that.
It was nice. Really nice to have Urukol there, protecting me. I study him as he leads the way. The way his muscles ripple. The scars from the hack job that was done to remove his wing pulls. I can easily imagine how much it must bother him, but he doesn’t show it often. I have seen him give in to scratching the scars though.
Lightning streaks across the sky leaving dancing stars across my vision, and the thunder is so loud it rattles in my bones. It’s the opening knock as the storm reacts violently. The wind picks up until I’m leaning into it to keep from falling over backwards. A heartbeat later, and the rain resumes its torrential downpour.
Everything past Urukol is blurry, wiped out by the pouring rain. He leans forward and keeps us moving ahead. The path grows narrower as a rock wall rises to my left. Soon we’re walking a stone ledge with a drop-off to my right. I’m thankful for the rain because I don’t want to see that drop-off. I’m ultra-aware of it. The hairs on my arms stand on end and goosebumps chase each other across my skin. Gritting my teeth, I keep from pressing myself against the wall and freezing. Barely.
My foot slips and I stumble forward. The lump in my throat is my heart, which is racing so fast I’m light-headed. I’m staring at the path beneath my feet trying to calm my heart. The stone of the path is cracked, moss covered, and the rain is making it slick. Urukol’s hands are on my arms. He leans in close to be heard.
“Okay?” he yells the question.
I nod. I can’t answer with words past the lump in my throat. There’s a cracking sound and time slows. His eyes widen, he lets me go, then he’s gone.
12
URUKOL
Her scent hasn’t left my nostrils, and I never want it to. It is as sweet and wonderful as her. In my imagination I feel her warmth against my body. Last night was more than I ever thought I could have.
It’s taking too long to get them to my home. The storm is a terrible time to travel, but we’re making it work. Random thoughts filter through my head. If I get these people to safety, then perhaps I’d be worthy of a mate like her. My dragon rumbles its agreement to this idea. A male protects. If I can protect them all, deliver them safely, then I fulfilled the duties of a male.
The rope around my waist goes taut and I spin around in time to see her slip, stumbling forward. I close the gap between us and put my hands on her arms. Her eyes are wide and she’s trembling.
“Okay?” I ask, a word I know she understands.
Tentatively she nods. I sense the next moment before it happens. My stomach drops first, and on instinct I let her go, reaching for the rope binding us. I have to release it, now!
Too late!
The ground disappears beneath my feet with a crack, and I’m falling. My one wing opens but only manages to spin me around, so I’m falling face down. I close it, reaching for the wall. I have to get a grip on something. I can’t pull her over too.
My claws scrape against the hard stone, leaving marks but finding no purchase. I scrabble, desperately trying to drive them in but to no avail. The rope goes tight, and I hear her yelp as the others scream and shout.
I’m swinging by the rope on my waist. She’s leaning over the edge reaching for me. I could reach her but if I do, she’ll fall too. She’s not strong enough to pull my weight up and over the ledge. I can’t risk it.
I fight with the tie in the rope around my waist, attempting to loosen it.
“NO!” she cries out, stretching her arm out and leaning further over the edge.
The knot will not give. I’m swaying back and forth, the smooth stone of the cliffs edge offering no purchase. There is more yelling behind her, and she turns her head to look. Rakstan appears, looking over the cliff. In his hand gleams a knife.
“Do it,” I order. “Go straight on, keep going up.”
He grimaces and nods as he raises the knife, preparing to slice through the cloth.
“NO!” she screams.
Rakstan doesn’t hesitate, he knows what has to happen. The knife whistles as it slices through the air. I close my eyes, accepting my fate, but the