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She stands to her full height while I weave my hands into her fur. “I—Weare getting ready.”
Kai reigns his horse around us, drawing tight circles as it prances. “I should be skeptical, but oddly enough, her being with you makes me feel a little better. So, let’s go.”
Luri reveals herself and the crowd of men gasp, recoiling backward as if they’ve seen a monster. Fresh and dried blood covers the fur of her legs, coating her chest and teeth. Splatter has sprayed across her face, painting a rather terrifying picture.
“Oh my god… Who did you eat?”
“The better question to ask is who I didn’t eat.”Her tongue lashes out, licking across her lips.“Let’s just say, after I brought the one man to Lucifer, he permitted me to rid our enemy of all of their stray creatures. They sent them ahead to gather information, and I made sure they never got out of those woods.”
“Damn…” I’m not sure of what else to say to that.
“What the fuck… Luri,” Kai growls as if she’s a domesticated animal who got in the trash. His rounded eyes prowl over the bloodied fur on her body.
“She killed the runners. Your father told her to.”
“Well, it’s certainly a fucking statement.”
He shakes his head, pulling his horse around to continue toward the center of the line, where Lucifer and Finn are waiting. The sickening sound of branches snapping hits my ears as creatures pour out of the brush on the far side of the clearing. Some creep with lengthy extremities and others crawl, baring low to the ground like spiders. Orc-like monsters sleuth through the trees, carrying massive axes and hammers. Then a howl rolls through the clearing, packing enough power to move the wind.
Our battle drums pound, but it’s quickly smothered by a herd of wolves joining the howl, drowning out everything else. then more wolves join the other, drowning them out. The hounds run out into the clearing, fanning into a line and rolling back their lips, baring their teeth for all to see. Tall, thin, stick-like creatures unfold from the trees, towering up and still growing taller until we have to careen our necks to see their faces. Hooded figures are next, swarming behind the wolves, and leading leagues of armed men who file into rows. It’s methodical, practiced, as the cadence of their steps rings out and the battle drums cease.
The High King steps through, riding a horse that looks to have two feet in the grave. Half of its face is gone, revealing its skeleton, and tendrils of dark smoke stretch out like tentacles from its mane and tail. A bugle sounds as he strides forward into the clearing, stopping halfway between us and his forces.
“What is he doing?” I ask as me and Luri stop next to Finn’s horse.
“He wants to meet.” No sooner do the words leave his lips, Lucifer steps forward, accepting the challenge. The lump in Finn’s throat bobs as he swallows. “He wants to make a deal.”
23
Alice
Lucifer’s horse stops feet away from the self-proclaimed High King, but neither of them bother to dismount.
Luri shifts beneath me, cowering low to the ground.“This isn’t a good idea. We should go while we can.”
“What are you talking about? Nothing has even happened yet.”
“You can’t feel that? You can’t hear its call?”
Lowering my head, my gaze prowls over the clearing, searching and listening for anything she might be reacting to. “No. I mean, yeah, some of those things are creepy as much and look like they’ve crawled out of my nightmares, but I don’t hear anything.”
Finn gasps, letting out a shaky breath as his eyes lock on his horse’s head. “She can hear him too…” he mutters, low as if it’s a thought to himself more than to me.
“Hearwhat?”I snap. Still trying to figure out what the hell they’re talking about.
“You’ll know soon enough. Listen, Alice. I’m sure Kai’s already told you, but if things go south, you run. You don’t stay and try to be a hero. You fucking run. Understand?” His blue eyes lock on mine, swirling with something I’ve never seen lurking within them before.Fear.
“Ready!” Kai yells as his horse gallops in front of the men, holding his sword up in the air. Roars of men follow in his wake and Lucifer’s horse spins on his haunches, galloping back to meet us.
Finn sucks in a breath and turns his horse around. “Come on, Princess.”
I nudge Luri, who is still cowering low to the ground. “What is wrong with you?” I snap, “Maybe I should’ve stuck with my horse,” I say, pulling on her hair to try to get her moving. She’s frozen in place, not budging an inch. “Luri!”
Something squeals as the hooded figures lift their hands, and sparks zap around collars worn by some of the monsters on the battle lines. The noise sends a spike of pain through my teeth. My hands fling up, covering my ears as a dragon-like creature bursts from the treetops. It spirals in the air before leveling out.
“That. That’s why.”Luri crawls, scurrying across the ground with her tail tucked between her legs.“You didn’t tell me they had a fury.”
“A fury?” I breathe, watching as the skeletal creature flies through the air, circling toward us. The cavities between its bones are filled with fluorescent blue flames, stoked with every bat of its powerful wings. Lightning crackles through the air, clapping as it smacks into the ground and rumbles the world around us.
