Page 45 of A Fate so Wicked

I straightened, readying my fist as I turned in a circle, keeping my breaths calm and quiet. Searching the forest.

A light growl licked the back of my neck, and I spun around, backing away before sprinting toward the nearest tree. It galloped behind me, hot breath dampening my skin.

In a sea full of evergreens, I couldn’t find one suitable to climb, but picked up speed, sprinting faster until my foot caught on an exposed tree root, flinging me to the ground with a thud.

Panicking, I rolled onto my back, scurried away on my elbows, and ignored the burning sensation in my bleeding hands.

An enormous wolf prowled in front of me, its back lined with sharp spikes—its barbed tail splitting into two. It tilted its head at me as it stalked toward me, analyzing my every breath. Each blink. The pulsing vein in my neck.

I kept as still as possible, hoping, like a bear, it’d leave me alone when a frilled membrane fanned out from around its neck and it cackled, leaping on top of me.

Curling into a ball was the only way to avoid razor claws, and we rolled against the forest’s rough terrain, writhing and squirming as I tried to get free.

There was no time to think—only act—as its fangs neared my neck, thick saliva dripping on my face while I kicked and kneed it in its thick coat.

A barbed tail whipped over its back, bludgeoning down like a hammer, and I jerked my head to the side, barely avoiding its attack.

I grabbed onto its sticky membrane and yanked, jumping to my feet, and it pulled back, hissing while it slashed a heavy paw at my legs.

The creature crouched, swiping its claws at the dirt as I caught my breath, keeping my hands clenched at my side while we stared off.

I wiped the saliva with my sleeve. “Come on, is that all you got?”

The wolf cackled and leaped forward again, its talons slicing through the air before it went limp and dropped on top of me—the weight of it cutting off my air supply.

I shoved my hands into its dense coat, trying to get it off me, but it wouldn’t budge.

In fact, it wasn’t moving at all, a vast difference from our frenzied struggle minutes earlier. I didn’t know if it was dead or about to rip into my neck, so I shoved harder, the veins in my neck straining. Gasping for air.

The fanged creature suddenly lifted into the air.

I scurried backward on my hands as it floated above me, horror-stricken and out of breath, when it was violently tossed against a tree.

“Are you trying to get yourself killed, or are you just stupid?” a deep, husky voice drawled.

My blood boiled. I didn’t need to see who stood before me to know who spoke those eloquent words. Leave it to Talon to be a pillar of comfort.

I twisted around, my lip curling with disdain as he rested against a tree, cleaning his fingernails with his dagger.

“Have you been following me this entire time?”

He lifted a shoulder. “It would appear so, yes.”

“And you didn’t think to… I don’t know.” I tapped my chin. “Help me?”

He pointed his dagger at the creature wrapped around the tree. “I did. You’re welcome.”

I huffed, clenching my jaw.

“So, what’s your plan, hm?” He sheathed his dagger. “Assuming the water wraiths don’t kill you this time. You get across the river, then what?”

“I’d figure it out.” My right knee twinged in pain as I stood, brushing my hands clean of soil as I met his pointed stare.

Talon tipped his chin in my direction. “You need help with that?”

I limped forward. “Nope. I’m all right. You can go back to doing whatever it is you do.”

The beast twitched, and I froze, afraid any sudden movement would have it charging at me again, but Talon held out a hand, casting a golden light from his palm, and the beast whimpered. Its bones crunched before it stilled—forever.

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