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Freya’s disguise worked almost perfectly. At one point we rounded the church, heading towards several of the better-off houses, and I got a full-on glimpse of the mob surrounding the church doors. More than a few of the men held ropes knotted into nooses.
But they didn’t give us so much as a second glance. We were invisible, shrouded creatures, beneath their notice.
“There,” Freya whispered, relief heavy in her voice. “She left a sign.”
The first cottage in front of us was surrounded by brambly blackberry bushes, but there was a bright blue veil hanging off a window. I thanked whoever might be listening that the window faced the wood; we could grab Aldis and run for it.
We strolled as casually as we could, and I felt awful for how heavily I leaned on Freya, but she bore it stoically. When we were out of sight, she rapped on the shutters and waited.
It was probably no more than a minute, but it felt like an eternity. The entire time, I was convinced the mob would decide to come after us and rip off our veils, and I would be staked to the church and burned.
But no one came for us. And finally the shutter creaked open.
“Freya?” Aldis whispered.
‘We’re here.” I extended a hand, and Aldis’s eyes widened.
“I’m coming,” she gasped, glancing over her shoulder.
She climbed onto something and practically tumbled out the window. Freya and I both caught her, and we surrounded the smaller, shaking girl.
“Now what?” Freya asked, looking at me. “Will they harm us if we cross?”
I shook my head. “Just go. Run as fast as you can. If we get separated, tell the Beasts that Salem sent you. You’ll be cared for, I promise.”
Aldis let out a quavering moan at the mention of the Beasts, but to her credit, she didn’t deviate from our course.
We walked, then ran, ducking under the blue barrier ropes closest to us. We grabbed Aldis’s hands, keeping her between us even when she stumbled with fear.
We were slow and weak. The monster within me refused to rise, and I felt like I would pass out among the roots and leaves at any moment.
But Vostok fell away. The trees soon surrounded us.
“They’ll be here somewhere,” I gasped, my side aching like I’d been stabbed.
“Indeed.” A branch cracked behind us, and I whirled to see Oleg and two other men. They both held bows, all of them held upright and aimed at us. “Is that my soon-to-be wife you’re dragging to hell with you?”
My lips curled back over my teeth. “She’s not your wife, and she never will be.”
Oleg grinned. “I beg to differ.”
He drew back the bow with one swift movement and released it.
I was fully expecting to feel the punch of the arrow through my chest or guts. Instead, a massive gray form blurred in front of us, appearing from the forest.
The arrow buried itself in Ash’s back, followed by several others. The men were already nocking arrows again.
I stared up at Ash in horror as he roared. “Go!”
He was going to die because of us… but he’d come for me. He’d saved us all.
An arrow flew over his head, but I heard the solid, meaty thwacks of two more meeting their mark. Blood dripped onto the forest floor around his clawed feet.
Aldis was frozen in terror, but I met Freya’s eyes. I would not allow us to be caught now that Ash had sacrificed himself for us.
“Drag her,” I hissed, and felt the first tingles of pain at my fingertips as claws stretched outwards. Freya gazed at my face with no small amount of fear, but she nodded, pulling Aldis after her deeper into the Wood.
I didn’t let them stop. Not when I heard Ash’s howl behind me and then a man’s scream.
