Page 83 of Slaying With Sylphs

“Well, I was going to find Bellami and see if you guys need any more help.”

He smiles at me, maybe the first smile I’ve ever seen one of the gnomes give. “He went to mark more logs. I believe he was planning to find you tomorrow to schedule more time. Why don’t you head up the path and check with him now?”

Nerves prickle across my skin. Connall will be here any second for lunch, and I don’t think I should go into the woods alone. That’s how horror movies start, and I’m not a dumbass.

But I feel comfy striding to the back of the gnome village, craning my neck for any sign of Bellami. Nothing but crickets.

Then a figure stalks through the trees, eyes lit white from the darkness of the forest.

Leighton.

I gasp, hand flying to my mouth.

Leighton’s mouth stretches wide, teeth black as he opens his mouth and lets out a soundless cackle.

Oh gods, oh gods, oh gods.

Leighton dissipates into nothing as I stare in shock at the spot where he was. Suddenly, nothing can hold me back as I dash up the path, roaring Bellami’s name. Surprised shouting drifts behind me as I tear around a corner and into the verdant green.

Not ten seconds later, I spot Bellami’s small figure prone in the pathway. Sliding to my knees, I stare at him. And then I start screaming for help, even though I can already hear footsteps and rushed shouting.

Bellami’s skin is mottled black, eyes staring at the sky. He’s muttering, but no words leave his lips.

The gnomes rush around the corner and into view, Connall right behind them. He sprints toward me and drops by my side, glancing around with his eyes narrowed. He takes one look at Bellami and lifts his wrist to comm Richard, then Arkan. The gnomes mill around as I pick up Bellami’s tiny hand and hold it.

Why is this happening?

And why do we all seem powerless to stop it?

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

CONNALL

Iwas just arriving to meet Lou for lunch when she took off up the path into the woods. Terror filled me watching her, wondering if she was seeing Leighton. I’m not allowed in the gnome village, though, so I sprinted through Alkemi and out the back door as terror filled me.

I’ve never known fear like that, watching her run toward danger and being unable to be by her side in a moment.

Now, Lou shuts down, holding the gnome’s hand as I comm first my Alpha, then Arkan. The gnomes talk in low tones for the five minutes it takes Richard, Arkan, and Doc Slade to arrive. We had just parted to head home after a day of meetings about haven planning.

But now all I can think about is how another monster’s been hurt, and how my mate has gone catatonic by his feet. She was close to whoever did this.Again.

I long to comfort her, but the need to protect rides me harder. I stalk the sides of the path, looking for anything that could have done this to the tiny gnome. There’s nothing. Just the same beautiful forest there’s always been.

Lifting my comm watch, I direct it to call Dirk.

“Wolf,” he murmurs throatily when he picks up. “Tell me yeh’ve called to have delicious phone se?—”

“We need you,” I say. “Behind the gnome village.”

His voice goes steely. “I’m coming.” He signs off without another word, and less than a minute later, he pops into view in front of me. Intelligent eyes survey the scene, filling with sorrow when they land once more on me.

He drops to his knees by Lou and lifts her chin. “Louanna.”

When a tear streams down her cheek, he pulls her into his embrace.

Slade asks the gnomes’ permission to lift Bellami, and we jog back to downtown.

An hour later, the verdict is the same as before. Whatever happened to Amatheia happened to Bellami too. He’s stiff as a board, muttering something unintelligible. Morgan arrived shortly after we did. She’s had her hand over Bellami’s stomach for the last few minutes.

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