Page 41 of The Shade of Things
The bridge rolled like a tsunami and we all grabbed the rope.
The leopard tumbled down into the void with a weak cry, but the wolf was safe. His flanks heaved, flecks of blood and saliva dotting his snout.
Emmett scooted behind Eli, while I took a few cautious steps toward the panting beast, my hands up.
Eli hissed at me to get back, but I kept my steady pace forward, my eyes locked on his familiar emerald ones, which now burned with rage.
“Laurent,” I said.
He growled, then spun away, racing to the far end of the bridge.
A gunshot rent the air and I screamed, flinching in anticipation of the wolf’s body crumpling.
He leapt off the bridge and disappeared into the fog on the far side.
I spun around, my chest heaving.
Eli lowered the gun, which had been pointed at the sky.
“Even if it’s Laurent,” Emmett said, “how is he here unless he’s part of the game?”
“He’s not,” I snapped, headed in the direction that the wolf shifter had gone.
“Mir.” When I didn’t stop, Eli pushed in front of me, his gun once more holstered. “Emmett’s got a point. How would Laurent have known about this game or gotten here if he wasn’t a part of it?”
“Tatiana,” I said. “She’s recruited him before.”
“Then how did he survive the Morph without a golem?” Emmett demanded. “The wolf is suspicious. I’ve always said—”
“Shut. Up.” I held up a hand. “It was Laurent and he’s not part of this. Not like you think.”
“I’ll concede that you’re right about his identity,” Eli said.
“How big of you.”
“Then why did he run off?” Eli readjusted his pack on his shoulders. “I know you want to give him the benefit of the doubt, but will you please keep an open mind that you might be biased where he’s concerned?”
“It’s not bias. It’s experience. He’s got our backs.”
Between the shock of Laurent’s appearance, the fight, and my team’s suspicions, I’d forgotten to be frightened about the suspension bridge, so good thing the universe decided to remind me.
The damned thing sharply dropped a foot. I fell half into the hole made by the leopard, scrambling back on my ass.
Emmett stepped on my leg in his race to jump the gap and run to safety.
“Ow!” I yelled.
Eli helped me up as the bridge slackened under our feet.
“Hurry!” the golem cried. “The ropes are loosening.”
Holding hands tightly, Eli and I hauled butt. The bridge was sinking lower and lower; another couple unwinds of the rope and it would dangle free.
Eli grabbed me and flung me hard. I tumbled through the air, landing on my back on the grassy bank next to the backpack that Emmett had carried for me, the wind knocked out of me.
Emmett was on his belly, hanging over the edge.
I crawled on all fours to peer over the side and gasped.
