Page 50 of For the Ghastly and Beautiful

“You say that like it’s surprising.”

They both chuckle as Talodus pushes me to walk between them.

“It is,” he admits. “I’m still adjusting to her having a friend that she likes. More often than not, she wants to strangle the rest of us.”

“So, you must be who she spends her time with when she’s not with me,” I joke.

Marren’s cheeks tint a ruddy red as he flounders for words. Talodus slaps his shoulder, opening his mouth to speak before they both become tense and alert.

A crunch of leaves draws my attention to the denser forest just in time to see Connak barreling through the treeline. He staggers when his wild eyes land on me, but he doesn’t say a word as turns and lifts his sword.

I can’t stop the gasp that’s torn from my mouth when I see Connak’s back. There are four deep gashes running from the nape of neck all the way down, nearing the top of his pants.

Talodus curses, tearing his worried gaze from the injured hunter to the trees as crashing branches echo around us. Marren doesn’t move from my side, though he sheathes his dagger and draws two blades.

Connak swings his sword before I can make sense of what’s happening. A beast slams into him, knocking him to the ground and landing on top.

I tighten my grip on the spear, preparing to fumble through this fight if I’m needed. They’re mere feet away as a new type of unease freezes me with indecision. It’s not trepidation, but it is a tip of the tongue situation niggling in the back of my mind.

The beast stumbles away with Connak’s sword in his chest just as another rushes past. Its beady eyes lock onto mine. Darkness swarms my being, attempting to suck the light right out of me.

“Throw it, Ada.”

Talodus and Connak yell at the same time, their voices blending together and snapping me out of my stupor. I jerk my arm back, slinging my spear forward with as much power as I possess. The heart-shaped end hits the beast in the stomach, causing it to stumble from the force. They run forward as Marren steps in front of me.

Connak snatches the shaft out of the beast as it turns to flee behind its wounded friend. Then he drops to his knees, panting as he glares at the trees. Marren moves to pass him another sword, but he waves it away.

“They’re gone.”

“How far did they follow you?” Tal asks. “I’ve never seen them this close to the village.”

“And there were two,” I chime in, confusion lacing my words. “That seems like a major development we shouldn’t overlook.”

“There were three. I wounded one before fleeing.” Connak cuts his eyes to Marren, then back to Tal.

Whatever he wants to say will wait until no one else is around. It fuels my confusion, but I suppose they don’t want to start rumors or hysteria, so I don’t comment.

“I’ll send a few more guards out today,” Talodus tells Marren. “Expect someone to join you soon. Stay vigilant. I’ll have a report waiting for you to sign when your shift is over.”

I slowly approach Connak, grasping his cheeks between my hands as his irises fade from black to their normal chestnut brown. He puts his hands on top of mine as he watches my reaction.

“Are you okay?”

“I am now.” He grins as he stands. “It’s just a scratch.”

“It’s not just a scratch,” I gripe, concern causing my voice to rise as I move behind him.

Blood oozes from the gashes, soaked up by the bottom of his shirt—the part that isn’t torn to shreds. He doesn’t show any pain, but I know it must hurt.

“We need to take you to Imryll,” I insist as I pick large pieces of the forest floor out of his wounds.

“Okay,” he murmurs, placating me. “But first, I want to get cleaned up.”

* * *

Idrop onto Connak’s bed as he wanders beyond the partition wall. His bed in his room at the palace… Because all the guys are staying here now. Not that I’m complaining.

Water splatters against the stone basin, and once again, I’m envious of the shower. Why don’t I have one? Maybe I do and I haven’t noticed. It’s not like I’ve spent any time searching for it.