“Stop it!” Bella, an Arcanus with Silverthorn Coven, stepped up. “You’re a bully, Tyler, and if you think we’re going to letyoulead, then you’re mistaken.”
“Yeah, and exactly how are you going to stop me?” Tyler demanded. His three Phage friends stepped forward to flank him. Were they from the Damascus bloodline, or simply bloodlines affiliated to Damascus and here to garner favor? It didn’t matter—they outnumbered the opposition. Even if I jumped in and backed Poppy, it would be four against four.
Above us, the ravens circled, and an idea struck me. “Nice, Damascus, showeveryonewhat a bully you are.” I glanced up at the birds.
Tyler followed my gaze, comprehension dawning before his expression closed off. “I’m simply saying that I’m better suited to leadership.”
“And why is that?” I crossed my arms. “What qualities doyouhave that make you a better leader than Poppy?”
I had no idea if Poppy was a good leader, but I’d take her over Tyler any day.
His eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. “No one asked your opinion, Onyx.” He spat out my name like it was a curse.
“I want to know,” Bryce said.
“Me too,” Bella added.
“You don’t want to follow my lead, then fine. Catch your own Horror.” He tipped his head up to the ravens. “We have two teams now.” He dropped his chin and smirked. “Come on, boys, let’s bag us a Horror.” They broke away and began to run westward across the plain. The flock above us split into two, and half the birds followed them, while the rest remained circling us.
“Dark skies,” Poppy said. “We could have done with muscle. I wish you’d stayed out of it.”
Great. “You’re welcome.”
“No, Onyx is right,” Bryce said. “Tyler’s an asshole. We don’t need him. We can do this.”
“And we have one of the supply packs,” Bella said.
Tyler had taken the other two with him, so we’d have to make do with whatever was in Poppy’s.
Poppy exhaled. “Fine. Eyes peeled. Stick together.” Her gaze slipped over my shoulder to the sword strapped on my back. “If we’re attacked, run. Regular steel won’t do a damn thing to a Horror.”
“We should be fine till we cross the plain,” Bella said. “It’s the forest we have to worry about.”
“True,” Poppy said as we set off toward the forest at a steady jog. “We’ll see any threat out in the open for miles.”
It made sense.
We lost sight of Tyler and his team quickly as darkness swallowed them. We aimed for the eastern side of the forest, staying in tight formation as we ran.
Frost crunched underfoot, but at least there was no snow to deal with, and visibility was good except… “Is that mist ahead?”
“Yeah,” Bella said. “It’s come out of nowhere.”
“Nothing comes from nowhere,” Poppy said. “We should avoid it.”
“Agreed,” Bryce said.
We veered away from the mist, but it expanded, moving closer, aiming straight for us.
This had to be part of the Carver’s plan. “I don’t think we’re going to be able to get away.”
“Which means Horrors,” Poppy said. “Be ready. Onyx, aim for the forest if we’re attacked and wait on the outskirts.”
I wasn’t used to taking orders, especially not from someone younger than me, but her orders were sound, and she’d been here longer than me. “Okay.”
The mist rushed forward to swallow us, reducing visibility to the extent that we could barely see each other.
“Stay close!” Poppy ordered. “The mist isn’t natural. It smells off.”
