Knightqueen (Oronis Knights #3)

His hand engulfed hers and squeezed.

Suddenly, a cloud of large, flying creatures streamed up out of the mine. They filled the cavern.

Carys cried out. Wings flapped in her face, and tiny fangs ripped at her hair.

Sten smacked them off her, and covered her with his body again.

“Gul,” he gritted out.

The creatures kept streaming up, like a giant, black cloud. She heard the Gek’Dragar soldiers’ guttural shouts.

Sten swore.

Peering around Sten’s brawny arm, she saw three creatures clinging to a Gek’Dragar. They lifted the soldier off his feet, and the soldier kicked and screamed.

The creatures flew out over the chasm…then dropped the soldier. The Gek’Dragar screamed as he fell. Meanwhile, other creatures were tearing at the remaining soldiers.

“We need to get out of here.” Sten shifted back to the controls.

A second later, the mining cart started moving again.

A flying creature landed on the front of the cart and screeched.

Oh, stars. She realized it was an adult version of the cute little bats they’d seen earlier. But as adults, they were no longer fluffy or friendly. This one had a sharp beak and leathery wings.

She summoned an energy ball and threw it at the creature. It knocked it off the cart, its screech echoing down into the hole.

The cart picked up speed, clanging on the rail. They turned a corner and spiraled downward.

Her stomach dropped as they went faster and faster.

Suddenly, a rock wall loomed ahead.

“Sten!”

He cursed and thumped at the controls. “The cart won’t slow down.”

Her throat closed. They were careening right toward the rock wall.

Sten yanked her down. She clung to him.

She didn’t want to die.

Just as they neared the wall, a hole suddenly opened up in the center of it.

There was a door hidden in the rock! They’d clearly triggered some sort of opening mechanism.

They sailed through the arched gap.

Sten kept a tight hold on Carys as their mining cart zoomed into another cavern. There was enough light filtering in from somewhere for him to see thick, bronze veins of ore glowing in the walls.

Senum.

He arched his neck to look down. Below them lay another deep, yawning darkness.

Suddenly, the cart dipped downward like a wild ride. Carys screamed, and he tightened his hold. She clung to his shirt, fingers digging into his skin.

Thankfully, the cart evened out, and he blew out a breath. He had no idea where they were going, but at least they’d slowed to a more sedate pace.