Page 25 of Fallacies

One look over my shoulder, and both creatures are racing towards me now, crossing the space between us in steady, powerful glides. The one with mud in its ears has clawed most of it out, and the second one looks to be seeking vengeance.

But I’m so close.

The stone floors that continue the rest of the maze are only inches from my fingertips.

I give it everything I have, pulling myself the last few inches to the exit, and I roll onto the dark stone with a pained grunt, crawling away on my hands and knees as fast and as far as I can. I throw a weak ward behind me and slump against the far wall, my chest heaving as I cough up mud, moss, and whatever the fuck else was in there.

The creatures come to a stop at the edge of the pit, stoically staring off in my direction, making no attempt to drag me back into⁠—

Their skin begins to melt away, and I’m stunned speechless when pale flesh morphs into Hunter, smiling back at me, mud caking his ears. To his left, Devon’s deep brown skin glistens with sweat. He’s not smiling. Not even close.

“We almost had you,” Hunter taunts. His voice is muffled through the thin ward, so I raise a hand to drop it. Not so I can hear them better, but so they can hear me.

“Fuck. The both of you,” I spit out on a heaving breath, swiping mud off my face and flinging it onto the stone. “I thought illusions couldn’t hurt you.” The gashes on my legs are healing slowly, but the pain is still there—sharp and agonizing.

“It wasn’t an illusion,” Hunter explains, proudly lifting his hand. He’s holding a small metal contraption that looks kind of like a spider. “We used Shifters. It allows us to fully transform into most creatures. Claws and all.”

“I hate this place.”

“Be grateful you faced us and not a real Boglen,” Devon adds. “They’re much harder to fight.”

“So, you were going easy on me?” I ask, ignoring the wobble in my knees as I stand, every inch of my skin caked in mud. “Because it sure looked like you were trying pretty hard.”

“You won’t make it past them,” Devon shrugs, as if it’s a cold, hard fact. He’s nodding to the dark hall behind me—the continuation of the maze. I’m guessing he’s referring to whatever kind of hell Pax and Callan have cooked up for me.

Using the wall for support, I slowly climb to my feet.

It’s not a secret that Devon doesn’t want me in this coven. I have my doubts about Easton, too. I’ve no idea what their gripe is, nor do I care. I have to be in this coven.

“You have something you need to get off your chest, D?” I ask, scraping mud off my hands as I stumble forward. “Go ahead.”

“Devon...” Hunter warns.

“I just don’t think you’re right for this coven.”

“Devon,” Hunter grits out.

I exhale a deep breath, shedding my ruined shirt for my slightly less-ruined sports bra. I toss it to the ground, the muddied fabric slapping against the stone. “I appreciate your honesty.”

If Devon is at all surprised by my reaction, he doesn’t show it. His face remains stoic, a deep line creasing between his brows. A line that never seems to soften.

I gesture an arm to the continuation of the maze behind me. “Do you want to come watch, then?”

Devon’s dark eyes narrow. He’s likely thinking the mud went straight to my brain. I’m not entirely certain it hasn’t.

“I don’t mind, really. If I’m so wrong for this coven, surely you’d enjoy watching me prove your point.” Hunter snorts, Devon rolls his eyes, and I wave a hand, urging them to follow. “Come on, it’ll be fun.”

Though I have no idea what’s waiting for me next, I do know I’ll give it all I have. I didn’t come this far not to go out swinging. If anything, Devon’s skepticism puts some extra fire in my tank. Vita knows I need it.

I can breathe, my heart is still beating, and I can walk. That’s enough for me to keep going. That and the knowledge that this is it, the final test. The end of Albatross. Hopefully.

I’ve already made it halfway down the hall when I hear two sets of footsteps following. Hunter and Devon bicker about something too quiet for me to hear. I’m not really listening anyway.

A steady stream of magic flows under my skin, rippling all the way down to the dirt beneath my fingernail. I keep myself on high alert, cutting right at the end of the corridor.

There’s a flash of light as soon as I turn. It bursts from around the next corner, illuminating the dark stone bright enough that it nearly blinds me.

It’s followed by the unmistakable rumble of thunder.