Coil of Boughs (The Underforest Duology Book 1) by Penny Moss

Author:Penny Moss [Moss, Penny]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-06-02T00:00:00+00:00

Twenty

The downpour of rainbow-touched water fell mutely. Ryurikov’s ears pounded with the rush of blood, the ache in his face nothing compared to the throttlehold anguish had on him. His mouth was dry, it had been hanging open for too long, trying to form a response. In a limbo of wanting to wail and shout with anger, Ryurikov didn’t move while Awimak’s significant form lowered by him.

Fiery eyes looked at him. His breath hiked, a sob threatening to spill free. Ryurikov’s fist clenched around the haft of his dagger without command. He staggered upright and glanced around, overwhelmed. Helpless. His free hand closed around the other dagger.

He needed to kill something.

Skin Crawlers were only a few jumps down. Ryurikov made to move, but thick arms swiftly encased him.

“Release me.”

He’d be more careful this time, probably. Now knowing what to expect, he could kill them all. He had to kill them all. It wouldn’t bring anyone back, but—Ryurikov shook his head, he tried to move again. Awimak held him tight, and he pushed back against the embrace.

“Let me go!” His voice broke. Fuck.

NOT THIS TIME, RYURIKOV.

“Awimak!”

At some point, he’d dropped the daggers to slam his fists against the massive chest, fighting to get free, to get away before, before—

A sharp burn grasped his lungs, pressed up into his throat. His eyes stung, his vision became nebulous. Awimak’s hold on him didn’t relent, only tightened, the ululating cry that wrenched itself free at last twisted Ryurikov’s whole body.

He wanted to scream that he hadn’t known, but he couldn’t say that.

Because he had known.

Waking up in a foreign bed in a modest hut, in hellish pain and covered by dressing, he’d panicked and escaped. He’d seen it then, from a distance. The fires consuming what was once an unyielding castle, turning grey stone into bright orange. Few could have survived that. An understanding he pushed into the back of his mind, locking it away. Allowing himself to forget with each rapid step he’d taken to flee the lands.

But he’d never truly forgotten. The terrible knowledge that he’d doomed everyone had always been there, lurking in his subconscious, telling Awimak what Ryurikov refused to face.

There was no choice but to face it now, and it cracked his chest all the way open. It tore out his heart, his lungs. He couldn’t breathe. His face throbbed, pressed against a cool chest as large hands stroked over his back. Comforting him. Ryurikov clung on, his fingers digging into chilled skin, a feeble attempt to control the onslaught of sorrow threatening to break him entirely.

Gelid stone connected with his backside. Ryurikov’s quivering inhale echoed, and he blinked, furiously, to try and clear his vision. He’d ended up inside a cave, brightly lit by sunlight pouring in from above. A brook weaved through rock nearby, eroded over the years. Awimak bent low over it, cupping crystalline fluid into a hand.

Ryurikov flinched, water splashing onto his cheek, but didn’t fight it, too tired to do much else than sit there and let Awimak wash him.

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