Page 262 of The Mortal Trials

Veronia leaps onto the branch just as the beast swipes its tusk at her leg, narrowly misses, and squeals with rage. It circles, still scenting her and when it gets close enough…I stab it in the side.

The obsidian spear rips a hole in its thick hide. Hackles raised, the boar goes into a wild frenzy, twisting and bucking, then disappears into the swirling mist.

Where its blood leaks, the moss burns, smoldering orange at the edges before turning to ash.

“You see that, right?” Veronia breathes shakily.

“Yeah.” To the guys, I shout, “Avoid the boar’s blood!”

“Why?” Hazi asks.

“Because it burns.”

The two talk in tones too low to hear.

“Callalie!” Elias yells, warning bells pealing from his tone.

I turn to find Koda wrapped in bright red like a bow on a pretty gift, standing in the middle of the forest clearing with a weak grip on the spear. The incensed boar appears from our right and lowers its head as it snorts and snuffles, scenting him. Then, it takes off running.

I swing down at the same time as Hazi and Elias, my thigh stinging from the shock of the impact to the prosthesis.

August bursts through the trees, close to the two men. The Greek tosses a sharpened branch into his waiting hands. “Boar!”

The beast squeals.

Aymes shouts, “Koda, use your spear!”

But Koda is sick, wracked with shivers from the cool air, leaning on the shaft as a crutch. It’s the only thing keeping him upright. When he tries to stand on his own and raise the weapon toward the boar, he almost topples.

Hazi and Elias reach Koda just before the boar does, jabbing their spears at its dripping snout. Its hackles raise as it squeals, lunging at them and retreating only to circle back.

I creep up behind the beast and stab at it, but this time I miss. By a lot. The hog runs away, but the bastard will be back.

“Veronia, we have a weapon you can use.” Hazi waves for her to jump down, but she shakes her head, deciding to stay on the branch where she’s safe.

“Your champion is goddess of the hunt. Not the goddess of hiding in trees!” I shout. “Pathetic wretch.”

Let the mortals watching her paint that on her flags.

Breathy snorts come from the mist. First to my left. Then to my right. Then they seem to come from behind.

“I don’t like this,” Elias grits, turning in a circle, chasing the threat we hear but can’t see.

“Help,” Koda weakly cries, trying to walk on the thick moss.

August drops his makeshift spear and scoops Koda into his arms, carrying our friend to Veronia’s tree. “Hold onto him. Keep him safe.”

She scoots back so August can lift Koda up to the branch, but she doesn’t try to help pull him up. The branch is broad enough that if Koda keeps his balance and his back to the trunk, he won’t fall off.

“If you abandon or harm him, I swear to the gods, Veronia…” Hazi threatens the girl I thought was his ally, feigning a cut to the throat.

She seems as shocked as I am, blinking at his warning. Her gaze flicks to me like I’m somehow to blame for his harshness.

I take the golden spear when Hazi extends it and pass it to August.

“No, you should keep it,” Aymes insists.

I shake my head and show him my obsidian spear. “I’m good. I’ve already stabbed it with this.”