Page 120 of The Vampire's Lament

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“It’ll always lead you somewhere,” she’d said.

I’d put that advice to good use right now.

There was a cluster of rocks close by with a small opening ringed with ice. A frozen spring, the source of the river.

“Follow the river, follow the river,” I repeated.

Man, I wished Silvanus was here. At least he had some awesome body heat and could fly. I missed him hard, hoping he was okay.

The fire…

Don’t think about it yet!

I got moving.

“Watch your step, Paris Raine.”

I paused, glancing up and over my shoulder. Aidan was still there, giving me a wave, swinging his legs.

I flipped him the middle finger and broke into a jog.

Rustling in the trees on my left soon got my feet freezing.

Don’t stop!

A set of yellow eyes shone in the dark, a howl sounding on my right.

My toes curled in my trainers, the cold seeping into my bones.

Time to draw upon my executioner skills to outrun werewolves.

“Don’t even think about climbing back up here!” Aidan bellowed.

I flipped him another middle finger.

Three more sets of eyes appeared, growls rolling from the sloped forests, my bladder weakening.

Being torn apart was going to suck.

Big time.

You can do this.

Follow the river.

The wolves weren’t moving, simply watching from the dark. I mean, why not? Size me up first, then go for the kill.

Fuck this. I wouldn’t let them have me. I wouldn’t die again tonight.

I was so over it.

On the count of three, I launched myself into a run, the wolves rushing from the trees at the same time.

Fuckety fuckety fuck!

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

PARIS

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