I shook my head, then dropped to my knees and crawled to the edge. The man below seemed to be stirring, but his outcropping was visibly smaller than it had been a moment ago, and those waves beneath looked even more threatening …
Dirt crumbled beneath my fingers, and my heart lurched.
This was a stupid plan. A royally stupid plan. What was I thinking?
"Are you sure you want to do this? You don't even know that man." Lynk's voice came from behind me.
Of course I didn't. But did that really matter? "It's this, or he dies," I said. "I don't know about you, but I don't want that on my korra."
Lynk just grunted. "Well then. Yell when you're ready to come up."
I nodded, then wrapped the rope around my back and through my legs, gathering the dual tail in my left hand and double checking the positioning. Satisfied, I dropped to my stomach and scooted my body until my legs were over the edge and my feet touched the vertical cliff face.
Swallowing my nerves, I gripped the rope and leaned back into it, testing my weight. It was as solid as it would ever be.
I looked up at Lynk once more. There was a crease between his brows that smoothed the second he saw me looking. He nodded once.
It was now or never.
Lynk held the rope steady. I met his silver eyes and nodded.
He cocked a brow, then let the rope go.
And I was flying …
9
Kaiya
Wind whipped my hair. And for a moment, I ignored the handsome ass atop the cliff and imagined I was on the back of a huge dragon, soaring through the air and exploring the ruins of the world.
But then the rope around my waist snapped and fire spread through my stomach, knocking the wind out of my lungs and sending a searing pain through my lower back.
I'd almost forgotten about that old scar, but damn, it hurt.
Hopefully that hadn't torn it open.
I glared up at Lynk. He stared down at me with cool detachment.
What in the seven hells was he thinking?
Pushing away the pain, I rappelled the last few feet until my toes hit the ledge.
Phew. Step one of the rescue was done, and I was mostly whole.
Adrenaline pumped through me as I tied the rope around my waist and turned to the injured man.
He was awake … and staring at me.
His deeply set green eyes were wide with shock, and blood crusted his inky black hair. It looked like a good lump was forming on the right side of his head, too.
His coat and trousers had large tears in several places, the rich brown fabric no match for that drop. But there didn't seem to be much blood.
That was always a good sign.
"You — you just came down?" he said. "How did you know how to do that? I thought I was vrytra food, for sure."
"Practice. Hours upon hours of practice."
His brow lifted. "Just how would a lady get practice rappelling down cliff walls? From what I've seen, ladies here sit in sitting rooms practicing cross-stitch."
Here? I tilted my head to the side. Where was he from that things were so different? "I am NOT a lady. But I do need to examine you. Does it hurt anywhere?"
"Everywhere. But my head is the worst." He pointed to the bloody side.
"Do you mind if I check?"
He shook his head and leaned back, grimacing with the movement.
"What were you doing up here, anyway?" I asked, trying to get his mind off of what I was doing. "This is private property."
I slid my hands down his legs, the smooth fabric doing little to conceal the lean muscles beneath his trousers. There didn't seem to be any broken bones, at least..
"I — uh — was doing some research for work." He tilted his head to the side and gave me a dimpled grin that would have been charming, if not for the blood crusting the right side of his face. "Promise not to tell the owner on me?"
My brow arched, and I picked up his booted foot, rotating it gently. "That might be difficult since you're speaking to her."
"Damn." He sat up straight. "I'm sorry, my lady." Sweat beaded on his brow. Poor man must be in some serious pain, and our conversation couldn't be helping things.
"It's fine. Just stop moving! Do you have any aches in your chest or stomach?" I motioned towards his blue brocade vest. "With that long of a fall, I'd expect some broken bones or internal bleeding."
He shook his head. "I — I feel mostly fine."
I sat back on my heels and looked back up the cliff, then let my eyes drift back down to him. He'd fallen that whole way with no serious injuries? It seemed … suspect.
Perhaps the head injury was worse than it looked, though.
"Well, then — let's see that lump on your head." I leaned forward. "I'm sorry in advance."
He nodded, and I pressed my fingers through his coarse hair.
"What's your name?" I moved the hair to the side and gently prodded the lump. It protruded out, at least, rather than denting in.
"Ouch!"
"Name?" I hissed, leaning closer. A scab was starting to form across the wound, and it looked as if the bleeding had stopped.
He grunted. "Uh — Li … Eli. I like being called Eli. And you, my lady?"
"Kaiya. NOT a lady." I sat back again on my heels and sighed. "The gods must be looking out for you today, Eli. I don't see anything more serious than a concussion." I motioned to the cliff above us. "Maybe stay away from crumbling cliffs in the future, though?"
His lips quirked, and he cocked his head to the side impishly. "I don't know. If you're the one to rescue me each time, it might be worth it."
I stared at him, mouth agape. Seriously? He'd just fallen and almost died, and now he was flirting?
His gaze slid to my pack and then back up to my face, "In fact, I think we might make a great team. I need someone to help me explore the area and you, my lady, seem like the perfect person."
I couldn't even respond to that idiocy right now. "We'll discuss that ludicrous idea after you get safe." And by that I meant that I'd quickly disabuse him of the notion. I had enough to worry about without helping this reckless man get himself killed. "For now, we need to focus on getting back up that cliff."
"Are you done flirting, yet, or did you want to fall to your deaths together?" Lynk shouted.
I ground my teeth together. "Shut up, you barbarian."
Eli grinned, that dimple peeking out again. "And who might that be? A husband?"
His eyes dropped to my hand and my cheeks heated. "No. That is Lynk. He's supposed to be helping me save you, but he hasn't done much yet."
I let out a deep sigh. These men were seriously testing my patience.
"If we want to survive, we really do need to get off this ledge."
His eyes tightened as he looked from me to the water below us and back. "What do I need to do?"
"Just let me tie this around you and that barbarian up there will pull you up."
"What about you, though?"
"I'll be right here, so I can help belay you if needed." I motioned to the rope around my waist. "Just focus on yourself for now."
He didn't look convinced, but held his hands up while I wrapped the rope around his waist, then bent to pull it between his legs.
A surprised grunt made me look up. A deep red flush had spread across his chiseled cheeks, illuminating a smattering of freckles beneath his eyes. He was looking everywhere but at me.
How had I missed those freckles before? They were surprisingly cute.
"I — perhaps it would be better if you let me do the rest." He stammered.
I looked down at my hands and gasped.
No wonder he was uncomfortable. I’d practically been groping the poor man's cock!
Heat spread across my cheeks as I passed him the rope. "I'm so sorry!"
He grunted and struggled for a few moments to replicate what I'd been doing.
Gods. This was taking too long. "Do you know how to tie a figure eight knot?"
&
nbsp; He grimaced, and I continued, "I mean, you can keep trying. But if you get it wrong, you will probably fall to your death as soon as Lynk lifts you up. It's up to you, though!"
He sucked his cheeks in, then slowly let out that breath, shook his head, and passed me the rope. "Sorry."
I flushed. "I'll try to — uh — keep my hands to myself this time." My hands shook as I tied the knot, and when the last bit slipped into place, we both heaved a deep sigh of relief. I met his wide green eyes and something flipped in my chest.
If his cheeks had been red before, they were now almost a deep purple. My lips twitched.
"You ready?"
He nodded, eyes still wide, and I sent a prayer to the five gods as I tightened the rope around my waist. I'd serve as the counterweight to lessen the load for Lynk. Hopefully we'd have enough time.
"We're ready," I shouted up at Lynk.
My rope went slack and Eli yelped as he rose into the air above me.
Sighing deeply, I slumped against the cliff face, careful to keep my rope twisted around my body.
Part two of the rescue was almost complete.
I stared at the storm raging in the distance over the Forsaken Isle, and let my mind wander. Clouds hid all but the black spire in the middle. It jutted out proudly above the clouds, a reminder of a different era.
I studied it, trying to make out some detail that would explain its purpose. But it remained an enigma.
We'd lost much of our history in the Fall and the Kings kept the rest, saying it was for our own good. I scoffed.
The Isle taunted me with its mysteries. But one day, after we paid off that damned debt, I'd find answers.
No matter what it took.
Shifting, I studied the cliff-side behind me, and my jaw dropped. What in the seven hells?
The carved reptilian face of a stone dragon stared at me, and to its left and right looked to be the tops of stone pillars buried in the ground.
Ruins? There were ruins beneath the estate?
How was that even possible? The ones above-ground fit the history. But there were no records of anything like this. At least nothing I'd ever seen.
So, what did it mean?!
My mind raced with the possibilities, and I ached to explore the area more. What if this was the entrance to another section of ruins?
Gods damn getting rid of my gear!
A low rumble sent my pulse skittering, and I looked down to see an enormous crack spread across the dirt at my feet.
Fuck!
I tried to scream, grasping for the rope and praying Lynk would be strong enough to hold us both.
And then I was falling.
10
Eli
In the span of a few minutes, I'd fallen and thought I was going to die, been rescued by a beautifully strange woman, been groped by said woman, and was now dangling off the side of a cliff while a rope dug into my groin and some unknown man named Lynk pulled me up.
My shoulder rammed into the cliff for the second time in as many minutes, and it sent a jolt of pain like shards of glass through my injured skull. I couldn't hold back my groan.
Focus. I just needed to focus on something besides the throb in my head until I could get to my pack and heal with the relic.
"Riarlo? You grab my pack?"
No answer.
"RIARLO?" I pushed harder, making my head swim.
"I'm here!" the stubborn revyn replied. "You don't have to scream, my lord. I grabbed it and gave it to the girl from earlier. She seemed unusually interested in your amulet, though."
I sighed. "She probably just thought it was a pretty stone."
It was valuable … but unless she studied relics, there was no way she'd know that.
Though she could be a Reaper …
That would be a rather inconvenient coincidence. I'd need to message Dimiri and set up a new cover story, if so.
"Hold on." The gravelly voice came from above me, and I looked up to see a grimacing man dressed in leathers and homemade armor from head to toe. Ahh. The mysterious Lynk.
"Stay away, Riarlo. I don't know if I have the strength to cloak you right now." I tried to impress the importance of the situation through our bond.
"Done. Stay safe, though, my lord. I'm getting rather tired of saving everyone today."
I glared at him, then looked back at Lynk as he pulled me up, muscles tight with the effort. Who was he? How were he and Kaiya connected? Perhaps she worked for him?
No. That didn't quite fit.
Not with the way they'd interacted earlier.
His odd clothing and disheveled appearance didn't fit a military man, either. Thank the gods.
The way he held himself did remind me of Dimiri, though. Just looking into his eyes made me want to squirm and spill all my secrets.
I hit the wall again and groaned. Was he doing that on purpose?
My vision swam and my head throbbed once more, the pain now a pounding ache that refused to abate. It made my stomach tilt, and I prayed I wouldn't lose my lunch. The last thing Kaiya needed was partially digested berries and lemon cakes to come plummeting down at her.
I shuddered at the thought.
Thunder rumbled, and I turned to see another bolt of lightning cross the ocean. The Isle stood behind it, covered in clouds and mist. It was beautiful from here …
My shoulder hit the cliff again, and I glared up at Lynk. The smirk on his face told me he was definitely doing it on purpose.
A familiar creaking sound made my spine straighten and heart drop, though.
I scanned the cliff beneath me.
Kaiya was inspecting the cliff face. Her bodice dark with mud and torn in places and her skirts were completely missing. She was reaching for something in the wall.
"Stop!" I yelled, but she either didn't hear me or wasn't paying any attention.
The creaking sounded again, and I scanned the cliff frantically. To Kaiya's right, a slight crack was forming in the face. She had seconds, if even that.
I tried to warn her again, but everything happened too fast, and then she was screaming and falling.
I could do nothing except hang suspended in the air and stare as the rope around her uncoiled and she fell further and further. When she jerked to a stop, her grunt was audible even from this distance. She looked up, hazel eyes wide with fear.
I twisted to look at Lynk. His body strained as he tried to hold us both, arms bulging, face tight with determination. My hands tightened on the rope.
It was her or me. Lynk couldn't pull us both up like this.
"Drop me."
He didn't even answer, just clenched his jaw and pulled harder.
"QUICKLY! Save her!" I yelled it this time. I would not trade my life for hers.
"No."
The strain on his body was clear, though. This wouldn't work.
Closing my eyes, I reached out to the creatures around us, pleading for their aid. If this man wouldn't do the right thing, perhaps one of them could be persuaded to help.
One, a vrytra, answered. But they were too far away.
A creaking sound followed by a sharp crack made me look up in time to see Lynk's eyes widen.
"Close your eyes, Eli." Lynk's raspy voice was like a caress in my mind, and I couldn't help but obey.
Then everything went dark and cold.
My mind spun, and I tried to reorient myself, grabbing thoughts as they passed — but they slipped from my grasp like slimy eels. When had I told him my name?
"Wake." There … that voice in my mind again.
And then just as quickly as it had gone dark, the world was bright once more.
11
Eli
I gasped, head still throbbing as I drew in big gulps of salty ocean air and felt the solid ground beneath my fingers — damp earth had never felt so good.
The tower ruins loomed above me, dark shadows blending with the deep grey of the clouds in the sky.
How had this happened?
One
moment I was hanging from the cliff, certain I'd die with the next breath, the next I was on solid ground. There was no magic I knew of to allow for such a thing.
I pushed myself into a seated position and looked around, groaning as my head spun.
Where was Lynk?
It was him or Kaiya who'd done it, and if she'd possessed that power, she'd have just used it from the beginning.
How had he done it, though?
"Wh- what just happened?" Kaiya's silvery voice interrupted from behind me. I looked over my shoulder to see my rescuing lady sitting in a mess of mud and rocks, staring down at her hands.
"I was rather hoping you could tell me." My voice was raspier than normal, and I tried clearing my throat to fix it.
She looked up, her hazel eyes wide and cheeks pale. "I was falling and then …" she gestured wildly around us.
" … everything went dark and here we are?" I finished for her.
She nodded, pink lips agape. What was I doing staring at her lips?
"Perhaps your friend Lynk could help?" I asked, head aching as I twisted to look around for him again.
"He is not my friend." She stood to shaky feet and spun around, eyes narrow. "He's just a monster hunter supposedly hunting a contract in the area. However, you're correct in that he might have answers."
"Lynk?" I shouted and Kaiya echoed me.
Nothing.
"Damn. Where did he go?" What if he'd been injured saving us? We needed to find him. I tried to stand, but the movement made my vision blur and I collapsed back.
Breathing deeply, I closed my eyes and focused on not losing my lunch.
Gods. Perhaps my first priority should be to heal …
"Look, I know you won't listen … but could you please be careful? There's something different about this girl and I don't trust that Lynk fellow …" Riarlo's voice echoed in my skull, and I frowned.
"Yes, yes. I'll be careful."
His scoff was not reassuring.
Leaning forward, I tried once more to stand, but the world around me tilted and my stomach rolled.
A warm hand pressed into my shoulder, and I tensed. Riarlo was right. I didn't know who this woman was.
Forsaken Secrets: A slow-burn new adult fantasy romance (Isle of the Forsaken Book 1) Page 5