A Ruin of Roses (Deliciously Dark Fairytales #1)(65)

They tried to skitter around me to cage me in, but I back-pedaled, keeping them in front. I caught more whiffs from behind.

Don’t tell me—

There are three behind us, my animal said. They are a good predator.

And I was turning into serious prey.

I tried to switch direction, but they switched with me. I turned and ran, but one jumped out of the trees to stop me. The ones behind closed in.

I kept going anyway, charging the one in front. Nearly to it, I turned around and struck the one I could feel dashing up behind me. I knew how they worked, and my sense of danger was on it, not to mention Finley Number Two. The creatures on the side pushed in. I spun to get in a jab at the one that was now behind me, only to spin back around to take another stab at the first. They were one step behind me, which was great, except they weren’t going down from just one jab with the knife. I wasn’t thinning the numbers.

My breath came out in ragged puffs, and my injured right hand wouldn’t hold the knife anymore. I wasn’t as good with my left.

Once again, I faced them down, looking for an alternative. Trying to figure out a way. Knowing I likely wouldn’t. Leaving the castle like that had clearly been the last mistake of my life.





14





I was readying myself to strike again when something yanked on my middle, like someone plucking a bowstring. Power thrummed through me, caught and held by my animal.

Stay alive, she said. The alpha is coming.

Excitement and relief and hope boiled within me. I sucked in air and steadied myself. The pulse of fresh power blocked out some of my pain, so I transferred my knife to my stronger right hand. The balmy smell of pine and lilac with a hint of honeysuckle reached me, Nyfain treading silently closer. Aiming to surprise my attackers.

The creature on my right moved forward slowly, warily. I stood my ground. If I went to it, the one on the opposite side would close in. The other way, and the rest would tighten up.

Its progress slowed. Then slowed further. I sensed fast movement from behind and rushed forward to stab the one directly in front of me. I turned as the one on the right moved in. Its blackened fingertips elongated into claws at the last second, heading for my arm.

Nyfain’s massive beast exploded through the trees. He reduced down into a man while on the run, reaching me right as the fingers finished their swipe through the air. He grabbed me in his strong arms and turned, showing the creature his back. I heard his intake of breath, felt him tense, as the blow landed.

“No, Nyfain—!”

He bodily tossed me, throwing me up and over the tightening circle of creatures. I fell on my side and rolled, my wounds crying out and new bruises springing up all over my body. The creatures rushed in as he increased in size back to his beast. Another swipe scraped harmlessly across the scales of his mighty foot. He stomped on one, flattening it. Then another, all the creatures conveniently close together and easy for him to take out. They quickly figured that out, though, and increased their circumference.

He turned and knocked one with his tail. That creature slammed against a tree trunk and slid to the ground. He turned again and got two more before kicking out with his hind foot and raking his claws up the face of the last.

It was over in moments, all the creatures smooshed, knocked against trees, or missing faces and half their chests.

He reduced down and ran at me, falling to his knees at my side.

“Finley, are you okay? Oh goddess, Finley.” It sounded like he was begging.

He laid me out flat and ran his hands across my chest, looking for the source of the most blood.

“No, it’s fine.” I waved my good arm at him. “Just some scratches and bites. It’s fine. Hannon will patch me right up—”

“Their bite is poisonous. We have to get you—”

I flinched as he handled my arm. “It wasn’t from them. It was from some hellhound thing with a fin. But one of them scratched you. How poisonous?”

“It’s fine, don’t worry about me.” He ripped into my pants so he could see the scratches on my legs.

“How poisonous?” I demanded, pushing through the pain to sit up.

He glanced at me and then did a double take. His look conveyed all I needed to know.

“Hurry,” I said, shoving him away and struggling to stand.

He threaded one arm under my legs and another around my back then stood and cradled me against his chest. “I’ll walk you there as far as I can. When the poison takes hold, you’ll have to make it the rest of the way on your own. There is everlass and bandages—”

I yanked up my animal and owned the power she’d taken from Nyfain’s dragon. With every ounce of fear and urgency I possessed, all of my will, I said, “Take me to my village, now!”

His animal roared to the surface. Power rode his response, pushing back on someone telling him what to do. My animal was there to meet him, iron and fire and salt and stubbornness.

“Do it,” we said. “Now!”

His muscles popped as he fought it, and then he turned. I didn’t know who was in control, my animal or me, and I didn’t much care. I just needed him to get to safety.

“Let me walk. You don’t need to carry me,” I told him, tapping his shoulder.

“Don’t push it,” he growled.

Right. Pick my battles.