Chapter 14 · Sparkbound - Chapter 14: The Rot Points North

"Move, Wren. Now." Draven shoved her behind the broken support pillar as a bolt punched through the stone where her head had been.

Dust burst across her face. She hit the wall hard, shoulder first, while Draven planted himself between her and the tunnel mouth.

"You said the hunters lost us," she snapped.

"They did."

Another bolt screamed through the dark.

Draven caught it in one gloved hand.

The metal hissed against his palm. Black veins crawled up his wrist, glowing faintly beneath his skin.

Wren stared at them. "That is not normal."

"You noticed?"

"Hard to miss when your hand is trying to rot off."

He threw the bolt back. A man shouted somewhere beyond the tunnel, followed by the crash of a body hitting stone.

Draven grabbed Wren by the back of her coat and pulled her down the passage.

"Hey. Hands off."

"Keep yelling and I'll give the hunters your exact location."

"You already know my exact location. You're dragging me."

"Then stop fighting me."

She dug her boots into the grit.