Page 99 of Nothing But Air

Three steps. Four. Then he pushed off hard from the edge.

For a moment—nothing but air beneath him. Wind in his face. The drop yawning below.

Then his feet hit stone.

He rolled, absorbing the impact through his screaming ribs, and came up. Glanced back.

Eden had already turned away.

Right.

He nodded to Xander and set out at a brutal pace. Step. Breathe. Step. Breathe.

Don’t think about what you might find when you get there.

When they finally saw the glow of camp lights ahead, Teague’s legs nearly gave out. He covered the last hundred yards at a sprint.

Sierra saw them first. She stood near the fire, her face streaked with tears. When she spotted Teague, her expression crumpled.

“Thank God.” Her voice broke. “We couldn’t reach anyone on the radio. It’s bad, Teague. It’s really bad.”

He dropped his pack and moved toward the bedroll where someone lay motionless.

Please. Please be okay.

“What happened?”

“Trey fell on the descent. I ran over to check him, and Liam screamed.” Sierra’s voice trembled. “Kyle said a rock broke off the shelf when I was moving toward Trey. Hit Liam before anyone could react.”

“Wasn’t he wearing a helmet?”

“He’d just gotten off the wall. He’d taken it off.” Her eyes filled. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t notice any rocks shifting.”

Teague knelt beside Liam. His headlamp illuminated Liam’s pale face. A nasty bruise darkened his temple—angry purple spreading toward his hairline. His breathing was shallow but steady.

Alive. For now.

“How long has he been unconscious?”

“Just over two hours.” Sierra pressed her hand against her mouth. “He hasn’t woken up since it happened. I tried everything.”

Teague checked Liam’s pulse. Steady but weak. He lifted one eyelid—the pupil responded, but sluggishly.

“Liam.” He kept his voice calm. “Can you hear me? It’s Teague.” His voice cracked. “I’m here. You’re going to be okay.”

No response. Just that terrible stillness.

“What about Trey?”

“Broken leg. Maybe his ankle too.” Sierra wiped at her face. “He’s in a lot of pain.”

Kyle stood near the fire, his expression unreadable.

Unlike Sierra—who looked ready to fall apart—Kyle seemed almost calm. Controlled. Like this was just another day in the canyon.

That wrongness registered somewhere in the back of Teague’s mind.

But he pushed it aside. Priorities.