Chapter 196
The next second, Felicity’s laughter died in her throat.
Selene had grabbed her scarf, yanking her down with her. Gravity took over, and Felicity tumbled after Selene, helpless to stop herself.
“Shit-!”
She wanted to curse out loud, but the breath caught in her chest, strangled by fear.
In that instant, she saw the steely resolve in Selene’s eyes. Goosebumps prickled across Felicity’s skin as the realization hit her–Selene meant to drag her straight to hell.
Felicity tried to scream, but the scarf tightened mercilessly around her neck, muffling her cries to a guttural rasp.
She plummeted down the slope, lost her footing, and hit the ground with a brutal thud. The world spun as she tumbled, rolling over and over down the steep
embankment.
Every impact sent fresh waves of pain through her body. The rough earth tore at her clothes and skin, making her feel as if she were being skinned alive. But the worst agony came from the scarf digging into her neck, pulled so tight by Selene’s grip that Felicity thought it might actually break her neck.
Her face turned red, then purple, her mouth stretched wide in a voiceless gasp.
At last, Selene’s hand slipped; the scarf slid from her grasp, scraping her palm raw. With her other arm, Selene clung tightly to Altair. She came to a jarring stop a couple of yards below Felicity, her foot barely catching on the slope before she
could tumble further.
Selene sprawled face–down on the embankment, teetering on the edge of another fall. She didn’t care that her face was flecked with dirt–her only thought was for
the child in her arms.
Altair nestled against her, silent even after such a harrowing drop. His eyes were shut tight, his small frame shaking uncontrollably.
“Star, are you okay?” Selene’s voice was as soft as a whisper, as gentle as a caress against Altair’s face.
She squeezed him closer. “Don’t be scared, Star. I promise, you’re safe. I’ll protect you.”
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Chapter 190
Altair, curled up in her embrace, his thick lashes trembling, slowly opened his eyes. Fear and despair clouded their dark depths.
He still clutched a handful of golden chanterelles he’d picked for Daph. His lips parted, trying to form words, but no sound came out.
Still, Selene understood him. Even now, Altair’s guilt and pain weren’t for himself, but because he’d dragged her into danger.
Dust clung to Selene’s hair, streaking her pale face, but her voice remained steady and soothing. “I’ll get you back up, I promise.”
“Ahh! My ankle-!”
Felicity’s scream echoed from higher up the slope, her body jerking with spasms. Pain radiated from her core, making her feel like her bones were coming apart.
The worst of it was her ankle, twisted badly during the fall when Selene had dragged her down.
She clawed desperately at her scarf, loosening it so she could gulp in air. Her throat felt raw and gritty, every word scraping her like sandpaper.
Just then, a small head popped into view at the top of the slope–Dames.
He stared in horror at Felicity sprawled halfway down the embankment.
“Flick? What happened? Why are you down there?”
Felicity ground her molars, furious. She’d only meant to give Selene a little shove, but now she was the one paying the price.
She shouted up at Dames, “Help me up! My ankle’s twisted!”
Dames panicked, flailing helplessly. “I–I can’t pull you up! I’ll go get a medic!”
There were first–aid staff at the camp for this family event.
Felicity glared down the slope at Selene and Altair.
Selene was still moving–was she actually going to try climbing back up with Altair? Felicity knew this terrain well. She and Dames had scouted it earlier, purposely scattering a fine layer of sand over the slope where the chanterelles grew. All it took was one careless step, and down you’d go.
Chapter 197
