A cold shiver rocks my spine. Maybe I need a fire first.
Stepping out of the river, my hands instinctively reach for a towel being held out for me.
Only the dark trees stare back. A cold wind rustles their leaves like they’re laughing.
“Fine. No towel. I don’t need a towel,” I whisper to myself, shaking the droplets from my skin. My wedding gown is still soaked, along with my undergarments. But I can’t search for firewood while naked, so I slip on my wet corset, bloomers, and boots with a scowl.
After wringing out my hair, I kick around the shoreline of the river. The sticks here are all damp from the river, and I’m sure someone once told me that kindling needs to be dry to light, right?
I should’ve brought Claren with me. He’s clever. I bet he’d know how to light a fire.
“Stop it. I can do this myself,” I grumble under my breath. I don’t need Claren, or anyone. I’m fine.
Abandoning the river, I search for dry wood around Velvet’s legs. Pumpkin paces between us, panting nervously. I’m about to gather her into my chest to soothe her when I notice she’s staring at something.
Following her gaze, my lips twitch. A few feet away, hiding behind an oak tree, is a small cave opening. Moss lines the stone entrance, and feathers decorate the floor outside.
It might not be a castle, but anything would be better than out here.
“Pumpkin, you lovely clever little creature!” I scoop her up and kiss her head. She squirms, scratching me with her little paws. “Hey!” I drop her, wincing.
Maybe they’re both just hungry. My stomach lets out a gurgle of agreement.
“We’ll have to worry about food later,” I tell them. “Maybe I can find us some berries or something.” The thought of hunting an animal, even to feed my own, makes me feel unwell. But I could live on berries for a while. Mushrooms, too.
After gathering a few more sticks, I march towards the cave. Once I get a fire going, I can lay down my wedding dress and use it as a bed. I’m sure if I close my eyes, it’ll feel just like I’m at home.
A loud hoot makes me drop all my sticks.
Perched on a nearby tree branch, a white-faced owl with a dappled brown body watches me with intense coal eyes.
“Can I help you?” I murmur.
The owl chirps quietly but doesn’t move, staring down at me like I’m a naughty child.
“Creepy thing.” I bend down to pick up my sticks. When I start towards the cave again, the owl lets out an angry screech.
“Stop doing that!” I yell. The early morning wind licks at my skin, making me shiver again. “I’m cold and I’m wet, and unless you can find a better place for me to stay, I’ll be getting some sleep in there.” I point at the dark cave. “Pumpkin.” I whip my head towards my trembling dog. “Come.”
Pumpkin stays rooted to the ground.
“Coward,” I grumble, before ignoring another screech from the owl and marching into the cave.
It takes a second for my eyes to adjust. The stone chamber is about the size of a horse stall, with more than enough space for Pumpkin and I to settle down in. The ground is mostly clean, with a few small boulders dotted around the floor. One of the boulders stands up and stretches its legs.
My throat constricts.
The grey shape sniffs the floor, then jerks its head towards me, snarling and revealing a row of sharp white teeth. The other ‘boulders’ scramble to their feet, yelping and growling as they notice me.
Not boulders. Wolves.
Hungry, growling wolves that are stalking towards me.
I make it halfway out of the cave before my scream shakes the forest.
21
TAUREN
