This was madness. Absolute gods-damned madness.
“You can do it. I’ll catch you.”
And she trusted him.
Sucking in a deep breath, Lydia let go with her right hand. Twisted. Then jumped.
For a heartbeat, she was weightless, then Killian’s arms were around her, hauling her into the bucket. Adrenaline coursed through her veins, the lack of outlet making her shake as she watched Agrippa ferry their supplies from the opening and toss them to Killian,showing no concern for the fall below him. At least, not until it was Malahi’s turn.
There was no mistaking the tension in the ex-legionnaire’s jaw as Mudamora’s queen carefully climbed out. Malahi cleverly extended the roots to provide her with handholds as she followed Agrippa’s whispered instructions. He kept close to her side as she moved to where the bucket dangled.
“Killian will catch you,” Lydia heard him whisper. “Just jump toward him as hard as you can. It’s not that far.”
“But it’s awfully far to the ground,” Malahi hissed. “This is insanity.”
“Wasyourplan, lovely. I’m just following your orders.”
Malahi muttered an incredibly colorful curse that drew a grin to Agrippa’s face, then she twisted and leapt.
It was almost worse watching the other woman jump, and Lydia clenched her teeth, gripping the sides of the bucket. Yet Killian caught her easily, setting her next to Lydia. The tight quarters forced them together, and Lydia tensed at the feel of Malahi’s life in such close proximity. Malahi didn’t seem to notice, her face pale as she watched Agrippa leap with ease into the bucket, brushing aside Killian’s offer of assistance and bodily forcing himself between her and Malahi. “You have control, Lydia?” he asked her. “Or do you need me to tie you up?”
“I’m okay.”
He nodded, but she didn’t fail to notice how his hand remained on his weapon as they watched Baird drag himself out of the opening. The passage through the tunnel had taken its toll on the giant, the fabric of his shirt stained with blood where his shoulders had been scraped, his face slick with sweat. Yet once he was out, he climbed as easily as Killian or Agrippa, twisted, and—
The rock supporting one of his feet snapped away right as he jumped.
Agrippa and Killian lunged, grabbing the giant’s wrists.
“Oh, gods!” Malahi gasped as the bucket swung violently away from the cliff, rotating, then slamming with a loudcrackagainst the rock.
Lydia’s eyes snapped upward, every part of her praying the blighters hadn’t heard. Except then as one, hundreds of them stepped to the edge and looked down.
Time seemed to stand still.
Then the blighters started to jump.
Not knowing what else to do, Lydia unhooked the rope from where it was twisted around a metal bar to hold it in place.
The bucket dropped.
Malahi’s shrill scream filled Lydia’s ears as the bucket plunged, blighters falling all around them, hands grasping.
“Grab the rope!” Agrippa shouted, and Baird flung himself at the blur of rope that would be their only salvation. The giant howled in agony, blood and flesh spraying as the rope burned away his palms.
Help him!
Without thinking, Lydia lunged, clamping her hands on the backs of his forearms, shoving life into him. Watching her own skin age as she healed his flesh only for it to be frayed away time and again.
Yet Baird didn’t let go.
The bucket’s plunge slowed, allowing Killian and Agrippa to grab hold of the rope. Eventually, it came to a stop, the bucket swaying back and forth.
“Are you all right?” she asked Baird. “Your hands?”
He gave a tight nod, and she pulled away, feeling a swell of need to take back what she’d just given.
“You two are never allowed to come up with plans together,” Agrippa hissed, his breathing rapid. “Never.”
