Page 2 of Held

“Probably,” Renault acknowledged. He ran a finger around the ring of his glass and tapped thoughtfully. “But that’s not what this is about. It’s not personal. It’s just about the money. You understand. If our roles were reversed…”

He paused, giving her a knowing look. “You would have done the same thing I’m about to do.”

Briar leaned in closer, letting her long blonde hair brush his arm. “And what are you about to do, Ren?”

His gaze dropped to her mouth. It was gratifying, in a sad sort of way. She still had an effect on him, even after all this time. It was lucky she was so good at this. She wouldn’t be alive if she weren’t.

“First,” Renault started.

Briar grabbed his glass and lobbed it into the fireplace.

The glass exploded, showering Renault in fiery shards.

Renault yelped, jerking out of his stool.

Briar grabbed her pack and ran. She ignored the shocked looks of the tavern-goers, Renault cursing behind her as he righted himself and shook flames off his cloak.

She burst out of the tavern. The town was dark, but she always knew how to get out of any place she was staying. She ran down the cobbled street toward the inn she’d been staying?—

And staggered to a stop.

A group of men and women stepped out from around the corner. They were all wearing the same thick cloaks as Renault, carrying an array of weapons that marked them as fellow bounty hunters.

Briar swore and turned onto a side street. It was a small town, so she could already see the forest in the distance. But she could also hear the men behind her, calling to each other as they chased her.

“Get ahead of her,” Renault yelled. “Told you she’s a slippery one!”

Briar gritted her teeth and ran faster. She hoped she’d injured Renault with that stunt in the tavern. She thought she felt a sting of glass in her arm, but she didn’t bother checking as she sped toward the dark forest.

They were still in pursuit when she hit the tree line.

She could hear them. She still hadn’t glanced back yet. Looking back would get you killed. One of the many gems of wisdom she’d learned during her childhood on the streets.

They were getting closer. There was no way she’d shake them now. Even the ones who were yelling reminders about the warnings the locals had given them.

The locals had warned Briar, too.

Danger lives in those woods,they had said.There’s a cave, not far from the east entrance. There is only death and horror. Never go there.

Briar was nothing if not a rebel. If she couldn’t take on those men, maybe good ol’death and horrorcould do it for her.

And if she died in the process… well, she was going to die at midnight anyway if she didn’t find a man to fuck her. Might as well take out some bounty hunters before the curse took hold.

She panted hard, eyes straining in the dim moonlight. She could almost make out the entrance of the cave. Hopefully there was a pissed off bear waiting to be woken up. Or a kobald, which was more likely considering how terrified the locals were. Maybe a demon or spirit bleeding through the voids. Forests were notorious for having thin veils between the human realm and the voids, each void nastier than the last.

She sprinted into the cave and stopped, letting out a scream that was guaranteed to wake any bear, demon, or kobald that was trying to sleep. She kept her smile in place, bright and vicious. But she also reached for the knife in her pack, just in case.

A huge shape lumbered into view. Briar’s smile dropped instantly.

“Oh shit,” she whispered.

It wasn’t a bear. Or a kobald. She’d even take a spirit, or a demon who spat fire,anythingbut the thing in front of her.

The Skullstalker blinked. It was twice as tall as a human man, with huge horns and jagged claws and a long, whippy tail. Its skull mark was ghostly white, cutting off just above its fang-filled mouth. Shadows crept out behind the bone in ways Briar had only seen in nightmares. It had strange black markings between its chin and chest and massive spiky wings folded behind its back, both traits she hadn’t heard of in Skullstalkers before. Its eyes were huge and fiery, surrounded by darkness that matched the long, black loincloth tied around its waist. The loincloth was one of the only markers that it wasn’t a mindless beast. No, Skullstalkers were infinitely worse: they were intelligent, horrible beings who would devour you as soon as they looked at you.

Briar stood frozen, uncharacteristically shocked still. Usually, she had enough preservation to run. But she couldn’t help it: she never thought she’d see a Skullstalker in the flesh. With its bright fangs, sharp claws, and towering stature, it was like looking death in the face.

The Skullstalker cocked its head. It looked oddly… meek. Like it was curious about her rather than ravenous.

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