Rilian's eyes were wide as he stared up at me, a look of confusion and disbelief twisted onto his handsome face, his heavy brow furrowed as if he were trying to work out a puzzle.

"What did you say?" he asked.

"Stay here," I said finally, moving to crawl through the hole. "I'll walk back towards the city and call Mordecai once the sun sets."

"Why the hell would you do that?" asked Rilian. He had reached out for me but quickly retracted his hand. ...