He doesn’t speak, but the world trembles as if he roars. The scent of death and decay fills the air with a sweet and sickly, rotting flesh smell. I slowly unfold my body, stand to my full height, careful not to make any movements that are too large or too aggressive.
Seconds pass.
Then minutes.
I know this game. It’s designed to induce fear, and fear makes you stupid. I’m not making mistakes. I’m not afraid of Deux anymore.
Everything I have ever learned is straining to pinpoint exactly where he is. The scent of pine needles is strong under the scent of his decay. The rustle of movement from the wind masks his furtive stalking.
I know he’s here.
Where is he?
It’s the cold gust of wind against my cheek that sends me launching away. I roll and roll, hearing his claws make that horrible sound as they crash together, just missing impaling me.
“You have to be faster than that,” I snarl.
He hisses in displeasure, but I feel a surge of triumph. I located him. I kept ahead of him. But now that I’m moving, I have to keep moving. I rely on everything I’ve learned from this world. Air currents, the particular scents, the way the world warns everything. I take it all in and combine it with my knowledge of him, and I keep moving.
And, somehow, I stay in front of him.
He stops about eight feet from me. Clearly, he’s figured out he’s not going to get close or win like this.
“You have grown stronger, Rowanee,” he says in his sibilant voice.
I flick my talons into existence. It’s not enough to stay ahead of him; I need to kill him. Only then can I free my Sirens from his toxic deal.
“I have long enjoyed this hunt. You have been my most elusive prey. But your time is done. I shall enjoy devouring you.”
I grit my teeth, refusing to let him get under my skin.
“Do you want to know what was even more delicious? When those Sirens came to me with so much hatred in their hearts for you. Willing to deal with a stranger, willing to sign away their very lives and be my servants in the oceans forever. All because they hated you.”
I flinch, it hurts, even though I know it’s no longer true. He manages to close the distance. I only just throw myself backwards in time to escape getting my throat slit.
They signed their lives away to Deux? Maybe I can make a deal, too.
“If they fail?” I burst out, knowing I shouldn’t have said anything.
“If they give me you, if they kill their Fae and succeed in their goals, then I would have let them stay.”
“What if I give myself up. What if you have me?”
He goes still, the forest screams, but he’s not moving.
“You would die for them?” Deux whispers.
“I would.” There is no hesitation in me at all.
He’s silent so long I think that he’s going to agree, but then he throws his head back and laughs.
“You can do that if you want, but it won’t free them. They need to give you to me. It’s no fun if you come of your own free will.”
They’re going back. There’s nothing I can do but make sure they are free of this monster.
Except kill him.
“How did you trick them?” I spit out.
