Page 288 of Evil Hearts

Xar lowered his gaze, pressing his lips together and giving a brief nod.

“Move,” he growled. “NOW!”

With a powerful leap, Ryxin jumped into the crater. The snow around the ship hissed as it melted from the heat of the wreckage. Smoke billowed, stinging his nose as he landed in front of the twisted hatch. His claws dug into the battered metal, and with a guttural snarl, he ripped it open. The door screeched in protest, the sound making the others burst into action.

Inside, five bodies lay crumpled, bloodied, and bruised. Their strange, bipedal forms—bare of fur except for patches on the tops of their heads—looked fragile in the dim light. Their clothes were thin and torn, offering little protection from the icy night.

Ryxin hesitated, his sharp nose catching a faint scent beneath the acrid tang of burning metal. Something sweet, something utterly alien.

Another howl pierced the night, closer this time, sending a chill down his spine and raising the fur along his neck. He moved urgently, grasping the nearest body—a figure with long brown hair and skin pale as the snow. Their chest rose and fell faintly, a fragile sign of life. Without hesitation, he slung them over his shoulder, their light weight inconsequential against his strength.

Vian appeared above the crater, his face betraying a flicker of surprise. “Prince, what are you—”

“Gather the rest,” Ryxin cut him off. He didn’t have time for objections.

His Knights moved quickly, half of them descending into the crater to retrieve the remaining bodies. The rest stood guard, facing the woods with their claws out, ready for action if needed. Ryxin climbed out, his powerful legs propelling him upward. His feet dug into the deep snow as he carried the limp body.

He sent a prayer to Lux to protect his crew.

Ryxin knew traveling in his bipedal stance would slow his pace, as well as that of the others who took the initiative to gather those that remained, but he trusted the rest of his Knights would guard their flank.

The night seemed darker now. Clouds were gathering, thickening as if to smother the light of Mother Lux.

With darkness came vulnerability—The Fallen thrived in it.

Ryxin’s ears twitched, picking up the heavy steps of his Knights following closely behind. The body that was slung over his shoulder shifted, a weak squirming that scraped against his fur. A faint groan followed, soft at first, but then came a sharp, high-pitched exclamation that grated against his sensitive ears.

“Yet goh uff miy!” the voice screeched, piercing and frantic. His ears flattened instinctively, and his lip curled in irritation as the figure’s legs flailed, weakly kicking at his chest and arms. Small hands tugged at his fur, their grip firm but uncoordinated, yanking in a way that made his hackles rise.

“Enough,” Ryxin snarled, his voice rumbling deep within like a growl. He reached behind him, his large paw catching one of the kicking legs and planting it firmly back against him. The struggle didn’t stop, the creature wriggled harder as if it had a chance against his strength. “You foolish creature, you don’t stand a chance.”

“Whaa tha fock!” The creature screamed and kneed Ryxin in the face. “Iy mast biy dreeiy yung.”

His patience, already frayed, snapped. He shook his head to clear his vision, resisting the impulse to hurl this thing down onto the snow-covered ground and leave them behind for The Fallen to do whatever they pleased with them.

With a low growl, he brought his other hand down in a sharp slap against the curve of their rear, the sound cracking through the night like a whip. The body jolted, freezing for a moment. His claws flexed as his hand gripped them there, firm and unyielding, their flesh pliable under his palm.

A soft, breathy whimper escaped the figure’s lips, barely audible over the sounds of the Fallen chasing him and his men. It was enough to make Ryxin pause, his grip tightening slightly as the unfamiliar sound resonated through him.

What was that?

He growled low, unsure if it was anger or something else entirely that flared hot and sudden in his chest. “Stay still,” he commanded, his voice rough, primal. “If you want to live.”

The figure stopped moving, but their grip on Ryxin’s fur tightened, their small hands clutching as if they were accepting their reality. He felt their face press against his back, the warmth of their breath barely registering before a dampness seeped into his fur.

Wetness. It froze almost instantly in the frigid air, the chill biting against his skin through the thick layers of fur. The body began to tremble, soft shivers that grew into violent shakes, wracking their fragile frame.

Ryxin’s ears flattened once more, but this time it wasn’t due to irritation. Rather, a wave of alarm washed over him. He quickened his pace, his claws digging deeper into the ice covered snow as he registered just how utterly ill-equipped this creature was for the frozen landscape.

No fur, no layers to shield them from the cold. Only a pointed shoe on one foot and thin, torn fabric that clung uselessly to their bruised body.

“Lux,” he muttered under his breath, tilting his gaze toward the silver light of the Mother Moon. Her brilliance was dimming as storm clouds rolled in, smothering her glow. Snow swirled in the rising wind, and the sky grew darker by the second. “Is this a test?”

Another howl echoed behind them, accompanied by a whimper from the figure clinging to him.

“To the castle,” he ordered, his voice carrying over the wind.

A reply howl broke the night again from The Fallen—closer, more menacing—announcing the hunt had begun. It vibrated through the air, a promise that chaos was about to descend upon them. The Knights grunted their acknowledgment, their movements more urgent now.

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