The beast smoothed her hair back from her face with his rough fingers. He stuck his snout in her hair and inhaled. “Mmm, strawberries.”
Orelia’s face bunched in disgust as she tried to get some distance from him and failed.
“We Freebeasts don’t like to spill such pretty blood.” He pressed his knife to her temple, cutting her skin.
Orelia hissed.
“But if you won’t pay, I’ll do it.”
Vade lashed out with a shadow, but a beast to her right knocked it away with his spear. He tried again, but the spear was too quick.
“Have you forgotten that didn’t work last time?” another said with a sharp snort.
The fae donned a cocky grin. “Worth a shot.” He took a step back and inhaled deeply. “But this’ll work.”
Vade slammed both palms on the ground, sending a shockwave of bright light rippling across the earth.
Her hair blew back in the gust, the knife fell from her temple, and something wet hit her neck. When the shockwave had passed and the gale was no longer, there were no Freebeasts, only puddles of crimson where they’d once been. Entrails hung from branches, dangling like pink and red ribbons. Chunks of meat fell from the sky and landed all around her with sickening, wet thumps. Something brushed against her foot, and she looked down to see a severed hand rolling away.
Orelia screamed. She touched her face, panicking, smearing warm blood across her skin in streaks. “Oh, gods . . .” She nearly vomited. “Oh . . .oh, my gods.” Everywhere she looked, the forest was painted in red death. Pieces of furred flesh decorated the trees like Yulemas ornaments. Orelia stumbled, stepping on more body parts that squished under boots. She tripped on a torso and fell back into a hard body with a yelp.
Vade righted her with a firm grip on her shoulders. “Just a little blood, that’s all.”
“They’re . . .they’re . . .” No matter how many times she blinked, the crimson woods wouldn’t turn back to green. “Skin, and thebones, and the . . .” Her voice trailed off, and her knees nearly gave out.
She was going to be sick. Orelia looked at her shaky, bloody hands, and her breaths came in short pants. “I have to clean this up. I can heal them.” She stumbled through the desecrated forest looking for any survivors. “Okay, I just need some rags, a-and some water. A bandage or—”
Vade grabbed her shoulders. “Look at me. They’re gone.”
Her eyes darted between his. “There’s medicine in the cabinet above my workstation. I just need rags, a-and—”
“Hey, they’re gone,” he repeated, giving her a quick shake.
What was he saying? She tried to think of other supplies she needed but kept blinking furiously, attempting to formulate a clear plan. “Get the blanket from, from Teegan, and then—”
“Fuck.”
“Find Teegan and—”
She was still talking as Vade put her hands around his neck, then wrapped his arms around her back. “Hold onto me.” Black eyes were looking at her, but she didn’t know who they belonged to.
He squeezed her tight and launched into the sky.
Orelia screamed, eyes clamped shut as her stomach dropped and wind whipped her hair around her face. Only once the wind had died down did she stop shrieking.
“My gods, woman, did you have to scream right in my fucking ear?”
Orelia peeled her eyes open. Vade’s wings were out, flapping in steady beats, keeping them hovering. She twisted her neck, noticing they were surrounded by clouds.
“Don’t look down,” he said.
She did.
“Oh, gods! Put me down! Put me down right now!” They were so high up that the rivers looked like pieces of blue string.
She flailed, limbs going every which way. Orelia accidentally elbowed him in the face, and a rough, “Fuck!” flew out of Vade’s mouth.
He grabbed her face with one hand. “Look at me! Look at me, Orelia.”
