Page 141 of Blood of the Fairest

In the distance far behind me, I hear the Huntsman shouting my name⁠—

Just before an arm scoops me up.

Suddenly, I'm facedown over a tall, galloping horse. Its saddle digs painfully into my ribcage.

The bandit who snatched me is already trying to wheel us around, intent on leaving the Loomdark and taking me wherever the fuck these creeps were going to.

At the thought of being kidnapped again, my blood runs cold. All I can think about is the sting of the tattoo gun and the drip of blood. Terror claws at me, but I can't afford to freeze up—not again.

Not like ten years ago.

Luckily, the rider's grip on me is loose. I shove away from the running horse as hard as I possibly can, hoping to get enough clearance that I'm not trampled by it.

"Oof," I grunt as I crash to the forest floor, rolling from the momentum.

Ouch.

Holy fuck, I had no idea falling off a horse would rattle my brain that much.

I'm so winded from the drop that I'm still trying to sit up as the bandit turns his horse around, riding back to me already.

My heart thrums painfully inside my chest, my breathing not recovered. I need to get up. I need to run again.

I need to...

I need to get my eyes checked.

Because in the deep darkness of this heavily canopied wood, it looks like some of the twisted tree branches are moving. Towards the rider. They slither quickly through the air, winding toward him and picking up speed.

The bandit is nearly right upon me now. He yanks his horse to a stop so hard that it rears back with a whinny, just as a branch behind his head suddenly sharpens.

Then it plunges straight through the back of his helmet, stabbing through his face.

34

Verena

A scream rips from my mouth.

I scramble back in the dirt, but I can't look away. The poor horse takes off in terror, galloping out of the woods as the branches lift the bandit into the air and start ripping him to pieces.

Blood rains down. A mouthwatering scent like berries fills the air—but my stomach bucks sharply at the graphic violence.

Closing my eyes to hide from the horrific scene, I turn to heave.

By the time my stomach stops, so have the sickening sounds. I hold perfectly still, waiting for the trees to grab me next.

They don't.

When I open my eyes, the twisted branches have returned to normal, but they still drip with fresh blood.

For a moment, there is nothing but the pounding of my own heartbeat in my ears as I wonder why this forest doesn't feel dangerous, despite what I just saw.

Somewhere in the distance, a man's voice echoes, "She's gotta be this way. I heard a scream."

"That's just the Loomdark, luring us! I'm not venturing any deeper."

"Stop trembling, you coward! We won't get full payment until we deliver that woman. Besides, Druhn's with us. He's got magic enough to fend off whatever's lurking here.