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This would be the most dangerous part. The creature had been tracking us, but it was difficult to know just how sharp its sense of smell was. The bodies we’d found were now sprawled just ten footspans away. I breathed through my mouth, squinting in the dim light as the creature drew closer.
Those tree-trunk legs were powered by a huge mass of corded muscle and thick hide. Spikes arced over its broad back, perhaps a footspan apart. Fuck.
Two long horns jutted from its head above glaring yellow eyes, burning with crazed hunger. It caught sight of the bodies and roared again, its gaping maw stretching wide, revealing rows of serrated teeth.
One of Asinia’s bolts flew through the air, wedging itself into the creature’s flank. It snarled, but the arrow had barely even pierced its bark-like skin. The creature ignored it and slowed, trotting toward the bodies.
Not ideal. But my fae-made dagger was more likely to be able to penetrate its skin.
Stepping out from my hiding spot, I slashed my knife across its neck. Blood sprayed, but the creature kept moving, barreling into me. My back slammed against the cave floor, the air driven from my lungs. I lifted my knees to my chest, protecting my body from its gaping mouth and long, sharp teeth.
Asinia fired again, this time hitting below its neck, where the skin was thinner. Her bolt stuck in its throat, and its next roar was one of pain. It lowered its head, snapping its teeth at me and bathing my face in its hot, rancid breath.
I drove my knife up beneath its chin. Blood poured, drenching my face.
Demos dropped onto its back. He’d managed to slide neatly between the spikes, right behind its head, and he slashed his sword into the side of his neck, slicing flesh and muscle.
I wedged my knife deeper, driving it up, until I caught a glimpse of it in the creature’s mouth. Above me, Demos sliced, his teeth bared as he held on to one of those horns, and the creature tossed its head in an attempt to throw him off.
Asinia darted forward.
“Don’t,” Demos snarled.
She ignored him, nimbly dancing around the creature’s huge legs and shoving her own knife into its belly.
The sound it made was terrible.
Asinia ripped the knife through its vulnerable skin, gagging at the ropes of intestines that slipped out. She’d mortally wounded it. Impressive.
The creature lashed out with a leg, slamming it into her chest.
She flew across the cavern, hit a wall, and slumped to the ground.
“Sin!” Demos roared.
“Keep slicing,” I ground out, yanking on my knife until the creature let out another snarl. It was fighting to get away now, attempting to rip itself free from my knife in its mouth. Demos continued to cut, but his knife had less effect, as if his blade were dulling against the creature’s skin.
The beast dropped to one knee, and I rolled free, leaving my knife in its mouth.
Pulling my sword from its sheath, I slashed at the side of the creature’s neck. It howled, and slumped, falling either unconscious or dead.
Fucking finally. I caught my breath as Demos leaped off its back, dropping to his knees next to Asinia.
“She’s alive,” he said, his voice tight. “But she’s unconscious.”
My eye twitched, and I pressed a finger to the muscle. Now we needed a healer. Demos was also wounded, although trying to hide it, and if Asinia was still limp, utterly defenseless, her head wound was serious.
Stalking over to her, I gently ran my thumb over the back of her head. The lump showed distinct swelling. Fuck.
My body would naturally begin healing as soon as we were out of these fucking caves. My plan had just changed. I’d get Demos and Asinia to a healer, and if they were unable to travel, I’d find Prisca alone.
I could feel her. She was still alive. But she was the single greatest threat to Regner. If I didn’t get to her soon, she was dead.
Everything in me rebelled at the thought.
Demos hauled Asinia into his arms. I studied the blood matted in her hair. “We’ll find her a healer,” I told him. Just as long as we didn’t run into any more of Regner’s little surprises.
Demos just nodded. I gathered my weapons, and we continued our slow progress toward freedom.
