Thething, one of the horrendous creatures, just like the one Kole had killed in Inisville, was upon us before I could blink.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
I dove out of the way, taking Nathaniel with me, and the creature landed where I’d been standing only a second ago.
“Primelle!” Kole roared again.
I stayed crouched in front of Nathaniel and immediately drew upon my magic. I blasted the creature with the full extent of my mind-control powers, but it moved so fast that it was only inches away, its clawed hands reaching for me. By the time my magic seized its mind, it’d nearly grasped a hold of me.
I fell back, landing hard on my arse. The creature slumped to the ground at my feet. My magic had rendered it catatonic, but I scrambled upward just as fast, slipping slightly on the cold soil. I had no idea how strong the creature was or how long my magic would keep it down.
“Run!” I yelled at Nathaniel.
Kole bellowed his fury, but he sounded closer. He was obviously still mistphasing, moving from row to row, searching for me, but additional distant growls filtered to me as well.
Moresnarls.
Growing closer.
Stars and galaxy, there weremorecreatures.
“Oh Gods!” I wrenched Nathaniel around the next corner. “I’m running, Kole!” I called to the warrior. “There are creatures here! They’ve breached the wards!”
“I know!” he responded just as fast. “I’m coming!”
“What... How...” Nathaniel tripped behind me, nearly taking me with him just as another creature appeared in the bend that I careened around.
I stopped short, and Nathaniel plowed into me from behind, pitching me forward.
I landed on my hands and knees, soil sinking between my fingers and pain slicing up my wrists.
“I’m so sorry, Princess,” Nathaniel reached for me, but I ignored him and shot to my feet.
The creature stood in the shadows, fully erect, and its dead-looking eyes locked onto me. Vicious snarls emitted from its throat, and razor-sharp fangs hung from its gums.
“What in the realm?” Nathaniel stared at the creature standing before us, a stunned expression on the lordling’s face. “Is this real? How did that hideous-looking creature back there fall unconscious? Was it an illusion? Is all of this another trick of the maze?”
“No,” was all I managed a second before the creature lunged.
Magic blasted out of me, seizing thethinga second before it was upon us. Like the first, it fell limply to the ground, but it’d been close. Stars, galaxy, and all the moons, but the creatures werefast. I needed to react quicker. No waiting. Offensive magic only.
Panting, I surveyed the area and flung my magic out, unleashing it entirely.One, two, three...
My magic instantly catalogued everything around us as I counted the creatures that had infiltrated the maze.
“Dear Gods, there are so many.” Heaving in breaths, my heart felt like it was going to explode. They were still coming. For me.
“Primelle!” Kole’s roar sounded closer.
“Here!”
Nathaniel continued staring at the creature at our feet. “Whatisthat? And if it’s real, didyoudo something to it?” He eyed my cuff, and since he didn’t sound panicked, it was obvious he had no idea that theywerereal and incredibly dangerous.
A female’s scream rose in the distance, then another fairy’s cry.
“Lillith!” Koraline yelled, her voice faint.
My oldest sister’s call reached my ears just as two more creatures leaped over the hedges to surround Nathaniel and me.
