Page 34 of The Darkest Knight

The wolves advanced slowly, their movements predatory and precise. Gunther tightened his grip on his sword, readying himself for a fight. The inevitable happened and Tammie tripped on the cloak falling hard onto the frozen ground.

In the next moment, Gunther picked her up, threw her over his shoulder, and took off at a hard run. The wolves gave chase, their huge fangs exposed, growls seeming to bounce off the trees. She’d never seen wolves in real life, but even to her untrained eye, she knew these massive animals were not normal.

Upon reaching the edge of the woods, the wolves stopped and let out long howls. Gunther put her down, his chest heaving from the exertion of the run, but still he pulled her forward, trekking at a quick pace.

They reached a gloomy castle with turrets that jutted into the foggy dark purple skies. This was definitely not a fairytale structure, more something from nightmares.

Tammie’s legs were trembling so badly she could barely stand. Enormous iron gates loomed before them, flanked by black wolves almost as large as the ones that had chased them. Unlike the others, these wolves didn’t move. They stood perfectly still, like statues, their glowing eyes fixed on her.

Gunther pushed open the gates, the heavy iron creaking loudly in the stillness. They entered a courtyard shrouded in mist, the ground beneath their feet slick with ice. Tammie hesitated, her instincts screaming at her to turn back, to run. She peered over her shoulder at the expanse of ice-covered land and forest. A forest where huge wolves who could eat her alive would undoubtedly find her. There was nowhere to go.

She quickened her steps until walking next to Gunther. The cloak over her shoulders seemed to grow heavier as they approached the main doors of the castle.

Two hulking figures emerged from the shadows. They were larger than any man she had ever seen, their faces scarred, twisted, and beast-like, their eyes as black as the void.

“We’ll take her,” one of them growled, stepping forward.

Tammie couldn’t breathe. Terror seized her. What was happening? This was definitely more than she’d ever expected in her quest to rescue Niall.

When the beastlike beings moved forward, Gunther pushed Tammie behind him, blocking their path. “I was instructed to deliver her personally.” His tone was laced with warning.

“Your duty was to bring her here, nothing else,” one of them replied. “Move aside.”

Without waiting for Gunther to move, one of them seized Tammie by the arm, his grip like iron. Tammie didn’t try to fight them knowing it would be useless. Any feeble attempts to get away from them could result in them killing her on the spot.

When she looked back, Gunther’s gaze met hers briefly, and for a moment, she thought she saw regret in his eyes.

Tammie’s heart pounded in her chest as the beastly guards dragged her down a dim corridor lined with stone walls, torches flickering weakly in iron sconces. The air was damp and cold, carrying the faint scent of mildew. Every instinct told her to fight. A sizzle bubbled under her skin.

What it was that coursed through her, she had no idea, but whatever it was, it couldn’t help her. These creatures were far stronger than she was, and the odds weren’t in her favor.

They stopped in front of a heavy wooden door reinforced with iron bands. One of the beasts pulled a large key from his belt, inserting it into the lock with a loud clank. The door groaned as it swung open, revealing a dimly lit room beyond. Without ceremony, they shoved her inside and slammed the door shut behind her.

The finality of the lock turning sent a chill down her spine.

Never in her life had she been more terrified. This was the thing of nightmares, something that should never truly exist.

Still shivering from the cold and fear, Tammie took a moment to assess her surroundings. The room was large but sparsely furnished. A massive four-poster bed draped in dark velvet dominated the space, its canopy draping down to the floor. A simple wooden washstand stood against one wall, holding a ceramic pitcher and basin. To the side, a narrow doorway led to what appeared to be a rudimentary toilet.

Despite the castle’s ominous exterior, the room itself was oddly elegant, as though it had once belonged to someone of importance. Although the thick iron-reinforced door reminded her that it was still a prison.

Forcing herself to stay calm, Tammie crossed the room to the narrow window. Peering through it, she saw that this side of the castle was perched on the edge of a steep cliff. Beyond the jagged rocks below lay an endless expanse of white, the icy landscape stretching as far as the eye could see. Escape from this height was impossible.

She turned away from the window, biting her lip as she tried to think. Think, Tammie. There’s got to be a way out of this.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a faint tapping sound.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Tammie frowned, listening intently. The sound came again, steady and deliberate. She moved toward the wall, pressing her ear against the cold stone.

“Can you hear me?” a muffled female voice called out.

“Yes!” Tammie answered, relief flooding through her. “Who are you? Can you help me get out of here?”

“I’m Erin. Erin McGuire,” the voice replied. “I can’t help you. I’m locked in too.”

“How long have you been here?” Tammie asked, her voice lowering to a whisper, though she wasn’t sure why.