Page 8 of Surrendered to Mate

The beast rears up, its maw stretching impossibly wide. The man barely avoids being swallowed whole, jumping out of theway before it can slam its jaws around him. He tumbles, landing hard against a gnarled root.

My breath catches. He's pinned.

The thlii looms over him, preparing for a killing blow. I have to act.

"Hey, ugly!" I shout, letting my arrow fly.

It strikes true, burying itself in the thlii's soft underbelly. The beast roars, whirling to face me. Its eyes lock onto mine, that sickly green glow intensifying.

Shit.

I dive behind a massive trunk as a stream of fire scorches the air where I stood. The heat sears my skin even from here.

This is bad. Really bad. But I can't leave the man to die. I don't know what he's doing out here. I've yet to see another person in these woods. But I can ask those questions later.

I notch another arrow, my mind racing. There's one way to bring a thlii down. A well-placed flaming arrow can make it explode, which will be our best bet at getting away from it.

But before I can make any decision, the man yells. His voice cuts through the chaos, startling me. I flinch, nearly losing my grip on the arrow. My heart races, torn between the instinct to flee and the nagging urge to help. The thlii's rumbling growl drowns out whatever the man is trying to say, but his desperation is clear. I grit my teeth, knowing I have to act fast.

The resounding growl tells me that thlii has its attention back on the man. My stomach churns as I realize the danger he's in. The beast's rumble vibrates through the air, and I can almost feel its hot, putrid breath from here.

I peek out from behind the tree, arrow notched and ready. The thlii has moved to the other side of the clearing, giving me a chance to really look at the man for the first time without the beast between us.

My eyes widen. What the fuck?

He's tall, way taller than any human I've ever seen. And his skin... it's ghostly white, almost glowing in the dim forest light. Long white hair whips around his face as he dodges another blast of fire from the thlii.

But that's not even the weirdest part. As he leaps to avoid the beast's snapping jaws, I catch a glimpse of something impossible. Wings. Huge, light gray wings spread out from his back, the left one drooping while the right one lifts him just out of reach of the thlii's attack.

I blink hard, sure I must be seeing things. But no, they're still there when I look again. What is he? Some kind of forest… spirit? He doesn't look like a dark elf, not that they have wings…so what is he? I've never seen anything like him before.

His fighting style is unlike anything I've encountered either. He moves with inhuman speed and grace, his blade flashing as he strikes at the thlii's vulnerable spots. It's like watching a deadly dance, beautiful and terrifying all at once.

The thlii bellows in pain and fury, its enchanted eyes blazing brighter. The strange man—creature?—swoops low, wings beating furiously as he slashes at the beast's legs.

I shake my head, forcing myself to focus. Whatever he is, he's fighting the thlii, and that makes him an ally for now. I need to help end this fight before it brings every dark elf in the area down on our heads.

My fingers tighten on my bow as I search for the perfect shot. Just one flaming arrow in the right spot, and we might have a chance of surviving this.

I strike my flint, the spark catching on the oil-soaked rag wrapped around my arrow's tip. The flame flickers to life, casting an eerie glow across my face. I take a deep breath, steadying my nerves. This shot has to count.

Stepping out from behind the tree, I plant my feet firmly on the forest floor. The thlii's massive form looms before me, its attention still fixed on the winged stranger. Perfect.

I nock the flaming arrow, the heat licking at my fingers as I draw back the bowstring. The world narrows down to this single moment - just me, my bow, and the target.

The thlii shifts, and for a heart-stopping second, I think it's seen me. But no, it's just repositioning to attack the stranger again. I let out a slow breath, willing my hands to stay steady.

I aim for the soft spot just behind its front leg, where the hide is thinnest. The flames dance at the edge of my vision, threatening to distract me. I push everything else away - the crackling of burning underbrush, the stranger's grunts of exertion, the pounding of my own heart. There's only the shot.

Time seems to slow as I release the string. The arrow flies true, a streak of fire cutting through the air. I hold my breath, watching its arc, praying to whatever gods might be listening that it hits its mark.

The arrow strikes home, burying itself deep in the thlii's flesh. For a moment, nothing happens. Then, a low rumble builds in the beast's belly.

My eyes widen as realization dawns. Oh shit.

I dive behind the nearest tree, pressing myself flat against the rough bark. The rumbling intensifies, growing into a deafening roar that drowns out everything else.

BOOM!

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