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"It was "

"Obviously you underestimated the love of a mother for her child," Laylah said softly

"Such a human emotion," Marika scoffed

"And yet e Remarkable"

"She’s a stubborn fool who has sacrificed her life for no reason"

Laylah lifted her hands, allowing her power to flow through her body "You don’t get it, do you?"

Suddenly wary, Marika took a step backward "Get what?"

"A mother will do whatever necessary to protect her children"

Glancing upward, she concentrated on the fissures that ran through the thick stones

With Jinn blood running through her veins, she was intie of the stone, s inferno that was churning deep in the earth

The entire area was a powder keg waiting to blow and the nuerously unstable

Which was perfect for her needs

Releasing her powers, she leaped backward, scraan to shake

Belatedly realizing the danger, Marika tried to follow Laylah, only to be stunned as a large chunk of rock tu blow She fell to her knees, blood strea herself through the narrow opening

"No," she screah the air

Laylah felt a cut slicing through her chest, but she didn’t allow her concentration to falter Exhausting the last of her powers she widened the fissures, ripping theh force to send several tons of rubble into the cavern

The impact of the collapse thankfully tossed her backward rather than tuainst a low-hanging rock, and she choked on the cloud of dust that filled her lungs, but she was able to craay from the cave-in

Which was more than Marika could say

Or at least, that was the hope

A griht of the vicious bitch squashed beneath half theend

Of course, there was always the less pleasant prospect that the va her way free to wreck horrible vengeance

The thought was enough to eway that forced her to squeeze through on her hands and knees

She traveled several hundred feet before she at last crossed paths with a larger tunnel that led upward

With a sigh, she straightened, only to lurch to the side, banging her head yet again

Crap

She hadn’t realized how ht Ignoring her exhaustion, the throbbing cut across her chest, and the various head wounds, Laylah forced her legs to hold her weight Then, one slow step after another, she moved up the tunnel

She lost track of time It felt like an eternity had passed since she’d first fled with Marika hot on her heels, although she suspected that it had been less than a half hour Funny how ti a lunatic vaed to stu the spot she’d been searching for, she lowered herself to her knees, her head bent as she struggled to dredge up the last of her failing strength

Distantly she are of the mini-tre through the air You couldn’t create a cave-in without repercussions But, so far the upper chambers hadn’t collapsed

Which e hadn’t …

No She shook her head She had to trust he could keep hi her fingers through her short strands of hair, Laylah rose to her feet and squared her shoulders Then, lifting her hand, she carefully searched until she’d found the exact spot where she’d left Maluhia before opening the veil

She tre down her face as she reached into the mists and wrapped her arms around the baby

It would, of course, be safest to simply remain in the corridor and travel as far and fast away from the mountain as possible But, the very fact she could barely hold open the smallest doorarned she was far too weary to make the attempt

She would need hours, if not days, of rest before she could shadoalk again

Allowing her cloak to drape around the babe, Laylah closed the veil and turned to continue her path through the dark tunnels

For theup in the nearest corner to rest

After that …

Any fuzzy plans beginning to stew in the back of her otten as the unmistakable scent of fresh herbs mixed with the thick dust in the air