A dull ringing filled her ears.
No.
Rose soap only meant one person.
“What is it?” Loshika asked.
“The devil,” Dahlia replied, her stomach churning. There was no use in an ambush. The home had no windows. There was only one way inside, and the monster already knew she was coming. “Wait outside.”
“No,” her friend hissed, her black eyes narrowing.
Lia reached out and squeezed Loshika’s arm. “I need you out here where you’re not boxed in. He only wants me. We can surprise him. The blackguard doesn’t expect me to be traveling with someone, especially a giantess.”
“I don’t like it.”
“Neither do I. Trust me.”
The healer nodded. “I do.”
Dahlia squeezed Lo’s forearm once more and then turned for the weathered door. With wooden legs, she trudged up the two porch steps, reached for the handle of the door, and pushed, stepping inside. Heat washed over her, and her eyes adjusted quickly to the low light.
Her mother sat on the floor, rocking next to Alden—her caregiver. The half giant was lying on the floor, silver blood dripping from his slack mouth.
Dead.
Lia’s stomach bottomed out as a familiar face turned her way and grinned, flashing a bit of fang.
“Hello, my sweet flower. We’ve been waiting for you,” the Giver drawled.
Chapter Eight
Neve
He satup from the snow and lifted his hand to shield his eyes from the blinding light. Neve blinked repeatedly, trying to adjust his vision.
Untouched snow-covered land stretched out in front of him as far as he could see. Gray clouds roiled in the sky above, only broken up by lightning. He frowned at the sky. The lightning streaked across the clouds, but it was pink, purple, blue, and green.
Where was he?
“Son.”
He flinched away from the female voice, scrambling in the snow. Neve stiffened as he locked eyes with his mum. She stood to his left, dressed in nothing but a black nightgown. Her purple-black hair floated in the air, but there was no breeze.
“Mommar?” he rasped.
She smiled at him, her dark eyes twinkling. His hearts clenched. She’d always had a wicked sense of humor and a silly streak a million miles wide. He missed her every day.
“Who else, darling?” She glanced around, her lips twitching. “I see no one else in this barren place.”
A lump rose in his throat. He swallowed hard, his gaze scouring his mother. She looked exactly how he remembered her. “How are you here?”
She grinned and sauntered closer. Hismommarheld her hand out to him. Neve glance behind her, noting her bare feet hadn’t made any prints in the snow. That didn’t make any sense. A sinking feeling settled in his gut.
“Am I dead?” he asked.
His mum laughed, the sound infectious. “No, darling, but you soon will be.”
He glanced at her and jerked. She lunged at him, toppling Neve onto his back. He stared wide-eyed up at the creature that knelt over him. Her eyes had become swirling black pits, and silver blood dripped from her gaping mouth, her teeth the color of ash. She grabbed him by the throat, her bloody claws piercing Neve’s skin.
