Page 211 of Flirting with Darkness

I sprang to my feet, muscles fast and ready, thanks to our training. Eyes fixed on the door, I ran.

I made it two steps. In a flurry of teeth and fur, snarling and snapping, the wolf blocked my way. Its hot breath ruffled my hair for an instant before I managed to stumble back.

Gasping for air, because it was like someone had hold of my ribcage and was squeezing, I held my blade out to ward the thing off. “This is iron.”

Its black nose twitched, scenting the air, and it watched me warily. The fire glinted red in its eyes. The monster didn’t come closer, but it still stood between me and the door.

If I could just circle around and get a clear path…

I side stepped, and it mirrored, not once taking its gaze off me. I tried the other way, but it was the same.

Pausing, I slowed my breaths, forced them to ease so I could get rid of that terrible tightness that had me in its grip.

But the wolf must’ve taken that as a sign of weakness, because it darted closer, snapping at my hand. I leapt away, but its fur tickled my knuckles. A fraction of a second slower, and it would’ve taken a finger.

A moment later, it snapped again, then again. Each time, I barely dodged. When I caught its sharp eyes on me, I realised: it was testing me, how fast I was. Or how slow.

With a gleam of ivory white, it bared its teeth.

Then it came, harder, faster.

I could do nothing but dodge, dodge, dodge, backing away all the while. Between the thunderous beat of my heart in my ears, I just about heard the grunts I made as I flung my body out of the path of those sharp teeth.

Then my heel hit something hard. The wall. And to my left—also wall.

Cornered.

Despite my lightweight nightgown, cold sweat slithered down my back.

It was going to kill me.

I wasn’t even ashamed at the whimper that escaped me.

Like it also knew, it paused, eyeing me.

Out in the hallway, the clock chimed.Dong.

The world slowed as the wolf crouched, lower and tighter, readying to spring.

Dong.

I fastened both hands around the knife’s handle. I wouldn’t be fast enough to stop the beast from sinking its teeth into my flesh, but I could at least take it down with me.

Dong.

Its sides expanded on a deep inhale.

But as the final shivering note of that third chime fell silent, the wolf blinked once, twice, and sank to the floor, eyes shut.

Frozen, I stared. My arm shook like it didn’t understand that it could stay still now.

The wolf let out a long breath, body easing.

Asleep?

I shook my head. This had to be a trick. A trap. The thing was toying with me. Body pressed against the wall, I slid to the right.

It didn’t stir.

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