Page 182 of Daughter of the Serpent

A massive shape barreling through Bjorn’s men - a bear, its fur thick and matted, now streaked with blood. On two legs, it roared, fangs bared, claws like daggers as it tore through flesh with terrifying precision.

And then more screams came.

Sylvie’s mouth opened in shock.

She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think.

Bjorn’s axe was raised. His attention had turned.

But she couldn't leave. All she could do was watch as the animal kept going, kept defending - defendingher?

The creature stepped in front of her, shielding her with its enormous body. It roared again, so loud the air itself seemed to tremble as if in a warning - a threat.

One of the attackers lunged - but to his own folly as he was instantly sent hurtling backward, his body slamming to the earth witha sickening crunch. Another charged and met the same fate, their bodies tossed like playthings.

“Aberserker!” Bjorn shouted, his eyes wide with disbelief and something more - fear, or was it delight?

“There’s no such thing!” one of the others shouted.

“Then explain this!” Another snarled, gesturing to the carnage.

Sylvie knew she should run. This was her chance -her only chance.But something held her still.

She couldn’t leave.

Not now.

Not when this creature had stood between her and death.

A laugh, sickening as it was vile dripping from Bjorn’s mouth. “What trophies the gods deliver to me,” Bjorn’s eyes were alight as new dawn - his face brimming with madness. “The daughter of darkness… and a berserker for my glory.”

His gaze snapped to hers, and the hunger there made her skin crawl.

“I shall savor the sound of your screams.”

His hand shot up. And before she could process it, his ax spun through the air, hurtling straight toward her.

Her heart stopped.

She didn’t have time to summon magic.

Didn’t have time to scream.

She dove, bracing for the blow -

But it never came.

A roar tore through the forest, guttural and earth - shaking. It split the night in half. Trees quivered. The earth vibrated beneath her palms. She looked up just as the bear collapsed in front of her, the ax buried deep in its flesh.

“No.” Her voice fractured, the air caught in her lungs.

She crawled forward, palms scraping against jagged rock, her body numb with disbelief. Blood - warm, thick, andreal - spread across the earth, soaking into herfingers.

Her hands shook as she reached toward the wound, desperate and useless.

But then it turned its massive head toward her, and she was pinned into place.

Eyes. Glittering gold. Swirling with amber.