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At least we know we’re on the right path, thanks to a friendly gnome who remembered Toto and pointed us toward Screaming Woods. He informed us that the border was about a two-hour walk.

Two hours.

Through Fable Forest.

What could possibly go wrong?

Well, for a start, we’ve been walking for four hours, and Leo is convinced the forest is changing around us with every step we take. Somewhere along the way, the moonlight gave way to dawn, and now sunlight filters through the canopy overhead.

Dark magic aside, I’m always happiest when I’m surrounded by nature. The scent of pine needles and damp earth—the perfume of life—eases some of the tension from my shoulders.

Leo pauses when the path widens, raising a fist with his arm bent at a ninety-degree angle to signal that he wants us to stop.

I'm walking behind Toto, and let's just say that keeping my attention on Leo is almost impossible with an ass like hers swaying enticingly with every step. Hiking isn’t easy when I'm sporting wood at the thought of burying my face between those cheeks.

"Why are we stopping?" I ask, passing Toto a canister of water.

She takes it gratefully, and I watch as she wraps those pretty lips around the opening, I've never wanted to be an inanimate object so badly in my life.

"Leo?" Nick questions as he reaches us. He's been bringing up the rear, apparently more than happy to keep his distance from the woman we’re all in love with.

I’ve never understood how he does it.

The first time Dottie introduced us to Toto, it was like being struck by lightning. One look at her and that was it for me. A train whistle blew in my brain, and Cupid's arrow pierced my heart.

Then I looked at Nick and Leo and realized I wasn't the only one.

Sure, Toto is gorgeous and curvy in a way that scrambles every thought in my head, but it was never just about how she looked. She had a warmth and goodness that spilled out of her without even trying. She was the bright light in our dark world. It was as if our souls connected with her.

But she was Dottie’s best friend, and there wasn’t just one problem standing between us.

There were three.

Nick. Leo. Me.

We all wanted her, and none of us was willing to risk our friendship—or put Toto in the position of having to choose between us. Add Vera’s promise to destroy anyone we cared about, and staying away from her seemed like the only option.

But my poor heart never got the memo.

And now I’m starting to wonder what the hell is stopping us.

Oh, right.

Imminent death.

"Did you hear that?" Leo whispers.

We all pause as a cackle pierces the air. It’s gone so quickly that we could have almost imagined it, except I'd know that laugh anywhere.

"Vera," Nick murmurs, pulling Toto closer.

We sandwich her between us and turn to face the forest.

I keep my eyes on the tree line as I look at Leo. "What's the pla—"

Something whizzes past my ear and smacks into the tree next to me like a whip.

I stare at the enormous tree branch pulling back to grab at me like a giant wooden claw and duck just in time. I tug Toto to the ground and throw myself over her, shielding her with my body. Her eyes go wide as she sees something over my shoulder, and she screams right before I roll us to the left. A branch as thick as a tree trunk slams into the forest floor next to us.