Page 52 of The Witch Queen
Phantom obeys, plunging deeper into the forest. But we don’t get far before a bird swoops in front of me. A crow. I dodge in the saddle before it collides with my face, but another soon follows. Then another. What the hell is this? I grit my teeth, propelling Phantom faster. He veers east and then west, but the crows are relentless. Three, or perhaps even five, descend onto our path, winging past me in an intricate dance. Phantom swerves out of their way, causing me to wobble in the saddle.
“Stop!” I cry out.
He ignores me, increasing his pace.
A crow dives low enough that its talons graze my hand. I yelp, dropping the reins at the same time that Phantom vaults over a small stream. I’m tossed from my seat. Pain lances through my shoulder where I land, the frigid water instantly soaking through my clothes. But I’mmore concerned about the crows. I throw my arms over my face to defend myself against the impending storm of talons and beaks. But the forest is suddenly silent. I peek through my fingers. The blasted creatures are nowhere in sight. I suck down ragged breaths, scanning the treetops. Where have theygone?
Looking for you.The thought resurfaces, sending a chill through me that cuts far deeper than the freezing stream water.
Movement sounds to my right. The claimant. I scramble to my feet. By some miracle, my quiver is still slung around my back and my bow is nearby. I snatch it up and yank an arrow free just as a figure steps from between the trees.
“Don’t come any—” I stop short, recognition slamming into me. Because it’s not the claimant who chased me. It’sGavin.“What areyoudoing here?”
“What am I doing? I saw you barreling through the forest and—”
“Andwhat? You wanted the pleasure of killing me yourself?”
“Killyou? Did…” He pauses and checks around us. “Did someone try to harm you?”
“Don’t pretend like you care.” I draw my bowstring back. “You made your feelings about me perfectly obvious at the game.”
“Oh, you mean the game whereyoutried to murderme?”
“I wasn’t trying to…” I stop myself. He doesn’t deserve an explanation. “Go away.”
“Much as I might want to, I’m not leaving you alone like this. You’re bleeding.”
Bleeding? Gavin motions to his forehead and I swipe my palm over my own. It comes away slick with red. I guess this is my punishment for lobbing a ball at his face earlier, even if it was an accident.
“I’ll manage.”
He releases a frustrated breath. “Are youalwayslike this?”
“Areyoualways likethis?”
“I’m helping you!” His voice rises enough that several birds fly out of the branches.
“Oh, certainly.” I bark a laugh. “The only reason I’m out here,competing for my own throne is because of yourhelp.Thank youverymuch.”
Gavin steps closer. “Have you ever considered that if you have to compete for something, it was neveryoursto begin with?”
My bloodroils.
“And have you ever considered that your opinion might not be the only one that matters? Or do you just barge into everyone’s lives and—”
He holds up a hand. Is hesilencingme?
“Don’t you dare tell me to—”
But then I hear it. A low growl reverberates in the distance. An instant later, a hulking black shape stalks from the darkness beyond. Every hair on my body rises. Because I have seen such a beast before a hundred times in my nightmares. One of its crimson eyes is missing, but the other locks with mine: a Nevenwolf.
“Get behind me,” Gavin orders, keeping his voice low.
He pulls me closer. Electricity ratchets up my arm at his touch. At the smell of cedar and clove that clings to his body.
“Let go,” I retort, yanking myself free.
I’d rather be devoured by a Nevenwolf than allow Gavin to play savior. That is…until the creature prowls nearer, hackles raised. My skin goes clammy, and I grapple with my bow, readying my shot. The Nevenwolf growls in a way that sounds like laughter, its rows of jagged teeth glinting and dripping with saliva. I don’t let myself think about what those teeth could do to my flesh. Hands trembling, I release my shot. The creature howls as the arrow embeds in its flank. But I’ve clearly only made the beast angry.
