The floor did not crack. It did not crumble. It dropped like it decided it had finally had enough of holding our collective weight and wanted a dramatic exit from life. One moment I was standing in the old east wing, muttering about Aurek’s raccoon behavior, and the next the entire world dropped out from under my feet.
There was no time to react. No time to scream. No time to even process that gravity had betrayed me.
Jack reached me mid air.
Of course he did. His hand closed around my waist, the other gripping my shoulder as he twisted our bodies. The landing still hurt but at least I slammed into his chest instead of the stone floor. Two warriors hit the ground beside us with loud, painful thuds. Dust exploded upward in a choking cloud.
I coughed hard, pushing myself up on my elbows.
