“Twenty-six.”
Shit.
I sprint.
The forest is a blur of white flurries and swaying branches. My heart is pounding from pure, unadulterated excitement Behind me, I can hear him counting down, his voice carries through the trees.
“Twenty-five. Twenty-four.”
Then I hear the familiar, sickening sound of bones cracking.
I risk a glance over my shoulder, and my steps stutter. His silhouette, visible through the skeletal birch trees, is hunched over. His limbs are lengthening, rearranging into something much better at catching me.
Oh, shit.He’s shifting.
“Nineteen,” his voice is deeper now, shaking the floor of the forest. “Eighteen.”
I run harder, weaving between the trees, and leaping over frozen roots, trying to put as much distance between us as possible.
Veyr’nes kaelor vel’mie, vira’sûn... ael’kar.His voice fills my head. (Your heart beats so loud for me, little doe... I can hear it.)
“Help a girl out, hmm?” I whisper to the forest, and I swear I hear the wind chuckle back in response. A low, ravenous howl splits the air.Rhûven. He’s fully shifted... and the chase is on.
Vel’rin vaelkar... sael’tharn(Run faster... it makes the hunt sweeter.)
The only sweet thing about this is the fact that you’re going to lose,I think back at him, pushing my lungs to the limit.
His laughter fills my head.
Eleven. Ten,he purrs.
I look over my shoulder again, but he’s gone. There’s nothing but the thick shadows of trees and falling snow.
Sael’kar nes’tharn,he taunts. (The forest hunts with me.)
The forest goes silent.
So much for the help, I flip the bird at the forest.
My breath comes in short gasps, and my legs are already burning.Damn, I have to get back in the gym.
Eight.
I push harder until I spot a massive oak tree with roots like tangled limbs. I duck behind it, pressing my back to the rough bark, and close my eyes. I try to catch my breath.
Ael’nes valerin...His voice ghosts through my mind. (I know exactly where you hide...)
I wait three heartbeats, then bolt again—deeper into the heart of the forest, toward the jagged line of the frozen stream.
A shadow flits to my left. I freeze, my eyes darting back and forth... nothing. Just the trees swaying in the wind. I start running again, but something massive rushes past me—a blur of obsidian so fast I feel the icy expulsion of air against my cheek.
I yelp, skidding in the snow, and scurry the other direction.
Thrae’nes kaelor,he chuckles, the vibration of it rattling my teeth. (Almost caught you.)
Three.
I spot a hollow between two fallen logs, partially hidden by a snow drift. I dive for it, curling up into the smallest ball I can manage, praying he looks right over me.
