I grab my axes, get to my feet, and the horror before me leaves me too horrified to move for a second. The creature begins to feast on Graven’s body, its talons ripping into his flesh. I remain frozen in fear, watching the gruesome scene. Slowly, I backpedal—retreating into the shadow of a large tree—hoping the creature doesn’t notice me slip away.
An awful scream rings through the forest, throwing me off balance. I continue to move quickly, vision blurring as the sounds of cracking branches echo around me. I know I’m being followed, and I won’t stop until I’m far away enough to escape.
I glance over my shoulder, seeing the trees sway as the creature leaps from one branch to another. It’s closing in on me.
Turning back around, I run for a cluster of tightly grouped trees. If I can make it there, I might lose it.
Stay out of sight.
I crash into a hard body, my teeth rattling from the impact. Thatcher stands before me, Bardot close behind, his face ghostly pale. Blood coats Thatcher’s arms, and I pray he hasn’t reached the others.
“Keep running,” I pant, my voice hoarse.
Thatcher grabs my braid and pulls it tight, causing a shriek to escape from me. He’s going to rip it clean off my head.
I try to speak, but pain spikes in my head as I claw at his arm to make him stop.
“Where’s Graven?” Bardot hisses. “We heard a scream.”
The trees stop swaying. The creature has become invisible again, waiting in the shadows.
“I don’t know where Graven is, but I heard that, too. You should look that way,” I force out, pointing in the direction the creature stalks.
They laugh at my flailing. “Stop acting scared. I thought a shadow princess like you would love this kind of darkness. You’re proving how worthless you are. I’d be embarrassed to marry you.”
Bardot snorts and adds, “Yeah, we’re just trying to win your psychotic father’s approval.”
“I’m getting sick of you three,” I snap. “If you want to go after my father so bad, just do it and leave me out of this.”
Thatcher leans down, tugging my hair so my face moves close to his mouth.
I spit, “Fucking pig!”
He jerks his head back, disgust in his eyes. “Filth. You’ll pay for this.”
An unnatural scream echoes through the darkness like crashing waves. The sound distracts Thatcher for a moment, and I take my chance, ripping my hair free from his grasp. Pain radiates through my head and neck as I flee.
Screams of men erupt behind me, propelling me forward with terrifying speed. A twig snaps to my left, and I turn to see the creature standing in the shadows. Its black cloak nearly disappears against the trees, but its glowing eyes capture my gaze.
I take in a sharp breath, realizing too late that I’ve reached a drop—a cavern that would kill anyone who fell. I try to stop, but my body rolls over the edge, my arm catching a single rock. My legs dangle from the cliff while my heart pounds in my chest. The sound of slapping water below fills my ears.
Fuck.
The weight of my body is too much, and my magic is completely drained from the sprint. I can’t shift. The creature floats toward me, a thin hand reaching down, offering me its cold, bony touch. Desperation overrides my hesitation, and I swing my hand toward the creature, barely feeling its grip as it pulls me from the edge. It sets me down gently, as if I weigh nothing.
I scramble back, breathing heavily.
The creature points east.
“Wait!” I call as it begins to vanish into the darkness.
It spins, hearing something in the dark. A scream escapes its hollow mouth, shaking the trees. I spring to my feet, following its directions, still unsure.
East, toward the Cita Mountains, where creatures worse than death dwell and further away from the castle.
Find the ones you love and stay together.
Chapter 24
