Ethan clung to the scales for dear life.
When the claw swung upward, he released both hands with perfect timing and let the momentum carry him in an arc toward the steel bridge high above.
The instant his feet hit the bridge—
The energy inside him vanished completely.
White lightning snuffed out.
Even the four little ones' power couldn't be projected anymore.
The bridge trembled under his landing.
From far away it had looked as thin as a thread, but standing on it now, Ethan realized the deck was wide enough for Cindara to plant its whole body on.
And it wasn't stone.
It was steel.
The metal surface was scarred with long, old scrape marks—utterly out of place against the ancient stone walls around the abyss.
Cindara noticed the vibration too.
It glanced once at the original corridor opening, then locked onto Ethan standing on the bridge.
Its wings hammered down.
Cindara shot straight for the bridge.
