“Zaria!” I scream, panic flooding my veins. “Run!”
My body jolts into action, adrenaline coursing through me as I turn and run. The forest blurs around me, branches whipping at my face and tearing at my clothes as I bolt into the underbrush. The world narrows to the pounding of my heart, the rapid beat of my pulse deafening in my ears. I push through the thick branches, the sharp bark cutting into my skin, but I don’t slow down.
The sound of the deadling’s howls fade behind me, replaced by the deafening rush of blood in my ears and the crunch of leaves under my boots. My breath comes in ragged gasps, each one burning my throat, but the only thing that matters is putting distance between me and that deadling. I don’t know how many more might be out there, lurking in the mist, waiting to strike.
My foot catches on a root, and I trip, barely catching myself on a nearby tree. I peer over my shoulder, heart hammering,half-expecting to see more of the creatures emerging from the mist.
But all I see is darkness—the thick, impenetrable shadows of the forest, and the faint glow of the mist curling at the edges of my vision.
Zaria where are you?
I can’t abandon her. I grip the hilt of my dagger, still sheathed at my hip, my knuckles white as I weigh my options.
I’m not strong enough to fight those creatures on my own. But I can’t just leave her. Turning slowly, I scan the thick shadows between the trees. A shiver erupts over my flesh as I unsheathe my dagger. I flex my fingers around the hilt, and draw in a sharp breath as I take a step in the direction I came from.
“Everly!”
I spin at the sound of my name and almost weep at the sight of Fenris and Tristan as they jog toward me, swords in hand, Nymeria and Anika at their sides.
“Deadling,” I breathe.
Fenris’s gaze goes over my head into the trees behind me. Then without a word, he moves past, nudging me toward Tristan. “Go. I will stay back and make sure we aren’t followed.”
“No. We should stay together,” I argue.
Fenris gives me a sharp look. “Take your ass back to the castle, Consort.”
Anger drives away any fear I was feeling moments ago. It sears along my veins, igniting my temper. “No!”
“No?”
“Zaria is out there. I’m not leaving her behind!” I growl.
Tristan lays a hand on my arm. “You found her?”
“Yes.”
Tristan gives a small nod. He knows me well enough to understand that nothing will make me leave until Zaria is safe. I can hear Fenris curse under his breath, and my eyes snap back to him, my glare harsh and unyielding. If he wants a challenge, I’ll give it to him, but his attention isn’t on me.
Fenris’s eyes are fixed on the direction I just came from, his stance going rigid. A low growl rumbles in his throat as two deadlings emerge from the thick shadows of the trees. Their pale, grotesque forms prowl forward, their bodies twisted and unnatural.
Tristan slowly pulls me behind him, his body instantly shifting into a protective stance, his sword at the ready. My wolves lower their heads, their jaws snapping and hackles rising.
The deadlings advance, slow but purposeful, their mouths hanging open in a grotesque mockery of life. Deadlings are vicious—mindless, but relentless. There’s no reasoning with them, no way to scare them off. They’ll keep coming until either they tear us apart or we stop them.
Anika growls low, the hair on the back of her neck bristling, while Nymeria stalks to the side, her deadly teeth bared, ready to strike. I grip my dagger tightly, my knuckles white around the hilt.
“Stay back,” Tristan orders, his voice low and steady, but I can hear the tension beneath it. He knows I won’t stay hidden behind him for long, but for now, I do as he says.
Without warning, the deadlings burst forward, with speed I knew they had but wasn’t expecting.
I scream, unable to hold it back. Fenris moves, his form shifting ever so slightly as he steps forward to meet a deadling head on. My mouth parts as he moves with efficiency, slicing upward, sendingthe deadling’s head rolling across the ground in seconds. Fenris looks over his shoulder as if checking to see if I’m okay. The dangerous glint in his eyes has my breath catching.
I flex my grip on my dagger, my heart hammering against my ribs. I can’t believe this is happening. I thought Raiden said they’d retreated.
As the other deadling lunges at Tristan, Nymeria takes it to the ground, snarls ripping through the air.
I exhale just as two more appear, then another two.
