and I were wrapped in a marvelous dream of dancing and swimming and
kissing, and I never wanted to wake.
Suddenly, the firm warmth of his body was gone, replaced by rough
ground and a seeping cold. I shivered as a chill brushed over my skin. Why
was I so cold?
I opened my eyes and blinked, but there was only darkness. I reached out
for Jaxson, but I was alone. Fear strangled my heart, and I bolted upright.
“Jaxson!” I searched the pitch-black void—a dark so deep that it made
/> my skin tingle. The stars and moon and lights of the maenad’s revel were
gone, and the only sound was the faint echo of my voice.
Where the hell was I?
Calm down, Savy, and think.
The last thing I remembered was holding Jaxson, my cheek pressed to his
warm chest. And then I’d closed my eyes…
Oh, no.
The maenad’s warning echoed through my mind: don’t fall asleep.
Fuck. I’d drifted off, and now I was God-knows-where.
My ass cheeks ached from the rocks that were jabbing into my backside,
and the ground was damp and muddy. A faint but omnipresent sound of
dripping water was maddening with my heightened hearing.
Don’t panic.
I just needed to figure out where I was and then find a way out. That was
possible, right?
I climbed to my feet, cursing when I realized that all I was wearing was
my lacy underwear. Not good.
My eyes started to adjust to the darkness. A faint purple glow began to
form shadows, and I could discern the muddy, root-ridden walls that rose
around me.
I fought the fear that surged in my heart. I was entombed in the fucking
earth, barefoot and practically naked.