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They wrapped their horses’ reins around branches and headed further inside the woods. Weaving around the close-knit tree trunks, they searched among the thick grass, the ferns and tall weeds for the plant with orange leaves. After about twenty minutes she found it. “Here.”

The sound of raindrops plopping all around hit her senses before it dampened her skin and clothes. She quickly jerked the pottifer by its base and the snapping of roots followed. With a couple shakes the dirt clods dropped and with the plops came something else.Thump, thump, thump… What is that? Not the rain, not the storm…With her skin prickling, she turned in a slow circle.

“Piper, what is that?”

Piper took out her sword. “I’m not sure.”

Thump thump thump—faster this time.

Footsteps.

Running.

Layala whirled just as a pale one leapt at her, taking her to the ground. It was a small child. Eight at most.

Layala screeched, shoving at her chin, pushing her snapping mouth away from her face. She’d never seen a child turned. It was assumed they couldn’t survive the transition. The horrible high-pitched scream close to Layala’s ear caused a ringing sound that deadened her hearing. She drove her knee up and tossed the girl aside. Her small body crashed into a tree. Before Layala could fully rise, the creature was scrambling back toward her.

Tears burned as she pulled her sword free. How could she kill a child?

“Stay back or I’ll kill you.”

She growled and dropped into a crouch, crawling on all fours toward her.

“Cut her down!” Piper screamed.

Hel said she could command them right? “I command you to stay put, child!”

The girl froze, tilting her head back and forth.Maybe I can tie her up? But she’s a pale one regardless. She could infect someone else.Layala gulped, gripping her sword tighter. There was something familiar about the girl’s dress.

“Fine, I’ll do it,” Piper strode forward and raised her sword high. “It’s not a child anymore. It’s a pale one.”

Hot pain suddenly ripped into Layala’s thigh. She screamed, then slammed her teeth together and brought her sword down across the back of the neck of another pale one, a woman… and a child, together… She sucked in a sharp breath. These were the two from the farm she tried to save.

She never put down the father.

Layala stumbled backward, clutching at her thigh. Blood oozed down her leg and teeth marks marred her flesh.Holy shit. Holy shit… she bit me. A pale one bit me.

Piper stood next to the dead child, her sword hung at her side, as she stared at Layala’s leg. “Laya.” Tears filled her eyes. “Layala!” she screamed, and those angry tears flooded down her cheeks. She dropped her sword and fell to her knees. “I failed you. Oh, my gods, I failed you. I can’t—I can’t. You know what this means.” She was struggling to breathe.

Layala’s chest pinched, and panic squeezed. “Get up. We have to get back.”

Swiping her tears, Piper slowly rose. “There won’t be much time. Maybe Hel can… Run!”

Turning, her feet flew over the ground, dodging trees, panicked breaths coming faster and faster. The scenery around her became a blur.Holy Maker above, this can’t be real. How long do I have?Once she got to Midnight, she hopped on and she and Piper rode side by side. She pushed Midnight as fast as she ever had. His hooves thundered over the grassy plane around the Valley.

Once the castle came into view, she tugged back on the reins, and tore off her sleeve to use as a compress around her leg. If any of the guards saw a bite mark, she wasn’t sure what they’d do or if they’d even hesitate to try and put her down.

Thane’s face came to mind, and his words. “All it takes is one mistake.” Tears blurred her vision crossing the bridge. She dropped off Midnight at the front steps, boots hitting the ground and dashed up the front entrance steps. The guards dipped their heads and pulled open the double front doors.

“Go get him!” Layala shouted to Piper as she made a left turn toward her wing of the castle. Piper nodded and took off straight ahead toward the training grounds.

Thane, I’m sorry. I’m sorry.He warned her. He begged her not to go out alone.

Layala dashed up the stairs that led to the bedrooms. She didn’t stop until she saw his door. At the top she wobbled and pressed a hand on the wall. The corridor was a blur now, a hazy halo of light from the window at the end. A high-pitched ring flooded her ears.I have to make it.Shaking the fogginess from her mind she trudged forward.Please be here. Please. I need you,she thought.

Her fingernails scraped against the door as she pushed down on the handle and the door clicked open.

The light burst through the windows blinding her. Layala brought her hand up to shield it. “Hello?”