Lost Boys: (A Savage Cinderella Novella #2) (Savage Cinderella Novella Series) by PJ Sharon

Author:PJ Sharon [Sharon, PJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: PJ Sharon Books
Published: 2016-12-27T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

The dark waters below flew past and my stomach lurched as I let go of the first vine and leapt to the next. With the added weight on my back, my palms slipped, tearing at the flesh, and every muscle strained. Niko clung to me for his life until we landed safely on the limb of the tree at the halfway mark. I set the boy down and examined the raw scrapes on my hands, flinching at the sting.

“Only a few more vines and we’re home free,” I said, smiling through the pain. I measured the distance and calculated the path from vine to vine. Three leaps of faith and we’d be clear. I glanced down from the tree.

Thirty feet below, the jungle grew up out of the swamp, making less than a soft landing if we fell. I shook off my moment of worry and encouraged Niko to climb onto my back once more. When he seemed secure, I gripped the nearest vine, held my breath to prepare for the burning pain in my hands to worsen, and launched us out over the mire below.

My arm muscles rebelled and my legs tightened around the vine as we slid a few inches, taking another layer of skin off my palms. I gritted my teeth and clung tighter. Only one more vine to go. Just as I reached out to capture it, I felt Niko’s grip loosen. He dropped, grabbed around my waist, and his full weight dragged me down the vine another foot before my hands reflexively released. A scream of pain escaped my throat before we were both falling.

We hit the water hard. I sank fast but quickly found the bottom. The area we’d landed in was only six feet deep with thick reeds that broke our impact. After a moment’s struggle to gain control and shake off the shock of the fall and the unexpectedly cold water, I managed to get my legs under me. Immediately, my feet were swallowed in mud. Refusing to panic, I tugged them out, shot to the surface, and attempted to tread water, my gaze darting in all directions as I waited for Niko’s head to pop up. But there was no movement and no sign of the boy.

“Niko!” By now I was frantic. I dove down into the murky water, unable to see more than a foot in any direction. I reached out in front of me and spun in ever widening circles until my hand hit something hard. I grabbed hold and dragged a stunned Niko upward with powerful kicks—despite my boots—and we struggled to swim toward shore. Having ignored my order to continue without us, Roberto and the others stood on dry land only fifteen feet away, spurring us on.

Niko began to swim on his own so I let him take the lead, but before I could take my first solo stroke, something heavy hit the water beside me. I spun to see a massive snake sink below the surface, its red tail and large spots telling me exactly what kind it was.

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