Page 23 of Their Fierce Little Monster

Both Corvin and Lian glance at each other and break out laughing. I’m pretty certain these three might end up killing each other if left alone for too long. I’m shocked they haven’t started fighting yet and have remained somewhat civil.

I shake my head as Kazak gives me a soft grin.

But it’s in that same second that something dark bursts out of the nearby woods and launches itself at him. A four-legged beast with a line of red running down the length of its jaw. Mouth gaping, jagged teeth exposed behind curled lips, the animal flies at Kazak. In a blink, it reaches him and bites down into his side.

I scream, the one thing I’m not supposed to do. “Kazak!”

The creature growls, and we’re all staring now.

Kazak bellows, his face twisted with pain, a terrifying groan ripping from his mouth, his hand already reaching for his blade.

Then… he’s gone. Just like that.

He and the creature burst into a puff of smoke that curls upward, vanishing.

“Kazak!” I yell, my stomach heaving, and I spin toward the other two just standing there. “What was that? Where did he go?” Each breath is racing out of my lungs.

They’re not even panicking.

“What’s going on? Did you not see what happened to Kazak?” My voice climbs as I’m locked on the spot, unable to get my feet to move. Instead, I’m trembling uncontrollably, remembering his warning. Had he spoken too loudly and got attacked?

Gods, what is this stupid place?

“Is he dead?” I ask.

“As much as it pains me, he’s fine,” Corvin finally reveals.

I’m waiting, but he doesn’t elaborate. At this stage, I might be the one who kills these monsters. “What is wrong with you both? Something just bit him, and he was clearly hurt, then it took him. Where? Just tell me what’s going on.” I’m pacing in a small circle, struggling to fill my lungs. “And here I was hoping this beautiful forest couldn’t make things worse. Why can’t something nice happen for a change? How about butterflies? They’re innocent.”

“Poor little thing.” Lian studies me, eyes sliding over my face. For a second, I might mistake his expression as tender, except I doubt this monster knows anything but cruelty. And earlier I let myself think he was handsome. “The whole world terrifies you.”

“Shut up. Did you not just watch Kazak get attacked?” I snap, wrapping my arms around myself, crushing my ribs. I’ve never left this village, as far as I can remember, never encountered what I did today, so who is he to mock me?

“And this is why,” he continues just as the creature returns, erupting from the woods behind Corvin, stealing his words.

I flinch away from them, my heart scaling into my throat, but the creature is already on Corvin. And I gasp, close enough to them to see the dead eyes, the line of drool swinging from its gaping mouth. Teeth so sharp that nothing can survive.

Then it bites into Corvin’s hip. His perfect mask shatters, lips pulling back into a snarl of raw agony. He and the beast pop out of existence, engulfed by dark smoke, and they’re gone.

“Oh Gods, it’s coming for all of us, isn’t it?” I desperately push my legs backward, a whimper rolling past my throat, and my knees are about to give out. Terror slashes at my stomach because everything here is wrong. “I’m going to die.” I turn and run past the tree, needing to get out of here.

After several fast steps, Lian is at my side, looping an arm around my waist. He swings me to a stop, drawing me against his chest. He bands his arms around me, whispering, “Easy now. Running triggers the beast to chase you down, and when it catches you, it hurts worse.” He pats my back, but I push against his chest and break free of his embrace.

“Get off me.”

Yet he stands there, grinning. “Isn’t that what you want? My broad chest to hide against?”

“You’re insane. I’m scared out of my mind, and you’re toying with me?”

He rubs his hand down his chest, those deep amber-bronze eyes holding my gaze. “I enjoyed it when we entered the pit and you clung to me.”

“I’d rather get eaten by that creature.”

“If you keep running, it’ll happen.” He runs a hand through his hair, glancing around. “It’ll return soon.”

I stiffen, left speechless, desperate to throw something at him and be out of this place.

“The whole point of these Selection Portals is the bite,” he finally explains. “That’s the trial, so there’s no need to fear it.”