CONQUERING SHADOWS (Shadows Book 3)

Chapter 11

Bastard. I shuddered and pushed myself to my feet, my resolve hardening. I would find my way to him if it was the last thing I did. Then I could kill him myself.

"Are you alright?" Fawn was at my side in seconds, her expression filled with concern.

With the back of my hand, I wiped away the sand and silt still stuck to my skin. The coarse grains rubbed my skin raw. I nodded weakly, trying to steady my breathing. "I think so," I managed to say, my voice hoarse. "Did you hear him?"

Fawn's eyebrows drew together. She looked over her shoulder to the others standing behind. "Hear who?"

"Rafe."

Callan scanned the surroundings for any lingering threats. Arden and Ingrid's gazes were fixed on me.

"What happened?" Arden asked, his voice low.

"I... I don't know," I admitted, my mind still reeling from the encounter. "One second the Bog Wraith had me, the next I was sucked into a pool of quicksand. Then...then his voice broke through everything and I was hurtling upwards. It was him. It was Rafe, I know it was."

"So you're telling me the fucker knows we're here and he's just leaving us to it?

"He would have known the second we stepped foot in Chaos." Ingrid stood apart from the group, her gaze distant.

Around us, the fog began to lift revealing a path through the marsh. We gathered ourselves and our things.

As we walked, I couldn't shake the feeling that Rafe's presence lingered in the shadows, watching, waiting and keeping his demons at bay. His voice echoed in my mind. I just wanted to see him. I wanted to tell him we'd come for him. Now more than ever, I wanted Ingrid's offer to be as solid and unwavering as the first night she told me.

The path through the marsh was narrow. Twisted roots crossed the muddy trail and patches of quicksand lurked near the surface, making each step a gamble. The air remained thick, with the stench of stagnant water hot in our noses. Either side of us, distant croaks broke the silence. There seemed to be no end, until at last the trees either side of us became sparser and sparser eventually disappearing altogether. At the end of the path lay one final swamp full of black mutant frogs with several eyes, and buzzing flies. Floating on the green water stood a door half hidden by towering reeds and wrapped in vines. It matched the surroundings perfectly, as if it had grown from the very earth itself, and like the shadow door, intricate runes were carved into its wooden surface.

"This is it," I whispered more to myself than to anyone else.

"Do you mean we have to actually get in the swamp?" Arden's lips curled in disgust. "There could be anything in there."

"There is no vessel to cross," said Callan.

Fawn picked up a stick from the ground, strode to the side of the swamp and stuck the stick into the water as far as it would go. Tugging it out, she examined the bottom two inches which were covered in slimy mud. "We don't need it. We have two options. We can wade through," she held up the stick. "It isn't that deep, probably just above our knees-"

"Or Riley's neck," laughed Arden.

"Shut it," I shot him the dirtiest look I could muster.

"Or Riley and I can part the water. The only problem is that the bottom is going to be thick mud."

Arden put his hand up instantly. "I can sort that out, just please no stinky swamp water."