An Invocation of Monsters (The Void Book 2) by Cate Corvin

Author:Cate Corvin [Corvin, Cate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Vivia Press
Published: 2023-04-14T16:00:00+00:00

22

Drazan

I sensed her aura, an emanation spilling waves of terror and rage across the Void, coming closer. Faster.

Too fast.

I spoke, and the water responded.

It rose above me in a roaring tidal wave, a glittering column that reached up, up, up towards the woman that launched herself from the rift above.

She plunged into it, the column of water halting her fall. Elle sank into it slowly, bubbles rising from her mouth, her eyes wide and shocked.

I called the water down, reaching for her. As the column dissipated back into the surface of the lake, ripples flattening, I reached for Elle.

She latched onto me, nails digging into my shoulders, craning her head to look at the cliff overhead.

The creature stared back at her, and vanished back into the crack in the cliff with a low hiss.

Elle, I began, and stopped myself. She heard the anger in my tone, but instead of shrinking in on herself, her eyes flashed.

“Let me guess,” she said, her voice quivering as she struggled to keep it even. “I should have a monster chaperone at all times in the Void.”

I was about to agree firmly with her, but before I could, her shoulders slumped. She closed her eyes, resting her forehead on my shoulder.

“I know, Drazan. I know there’s dangerous things here. It’s not like I’m parading around trying to get myself killed, but… I can’t sit back and wait for someone to hold my hand, either.” She let out a heavy sigh. “I’m used to looking out for myself. It’s a hard habit to break.”

I know you are not, I said softly, stroking her shoulders. I cradled her as I swam towards safer waters, keeping Elle’s head above the surface. She was trembling slightly, both with exertion and the aftershock of terror. Your independence appeals to us. It is not a flaw. But neither do we wish to see you dead. You must realize that all you must do is call, and we will come for you.

We were close to the ruins. I would send Elle home through a safer door; I did not know where she had come through, but she had clearly found a deadly breach.

Few living things approached the rift in the cliffs above. It was a bad place, a dead place.

I do not wish to fight with you, my Elle. We know that you will do what you please. I merely wish you to know that you have been chosen, and we are here for you.

My tentacles drifted over her hair, luxuriating in the silky softness of it while simultaneously stroking her, soothing her.

With her small torso pressed against mine, I felt her rapid heartbeat, like a fluttering bird trapped in a cage. As we drifted, it finally began to slow; I hummed under my breath, never relenting in the soft strokes down her head and back.

“We have to do something about that thing, Drazan.” She propped her chin on my shoulder, her muscles slowly relaxing. “That creature. I’m not the only one in danger from it.

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