Page 121

He stood to his full height and stepped closer, slowly, deliberately, like he had all the time in the world, until his claw-tipped toes barely reached the water. The monster’s head tipped up slightly, his nostrils flaring like he was scenting the air, before turning his glowing eyes back to me. “I am Marrex, and you are mine. My mate. There is no ‘letting go’ of fate.”

Mate.What did that even mean?

“My mate,” he growled, louder this time, and then his wings shot out from his massive body, opening wide and fully, then flapped in slow, graceful movements until he hovered feet above the water. It was the most surreal thing I'd ever witnessed.

His words hit me, sending a violent shudder through my body, and then I ran.

I allowed instinct to fully take over as I sprinted fast through the forest, totally naked and not caring. All I could think about was running—to anywhere but here.

I heard him growl, low and primal, somewhere behind but above me. And I knew… Iknewhe liked the chase, the hunt.

I knew he’d catch me. But nevertheless… I ran.

Naked, wet, and terrified, I tore through the underbrush, ignoring the way the branches scraped against my skin.

My only thought was of escape.

But the rush of wings overhead told me I wouldn’t get far.

I barely had time to glance up before he swooped down. The air pressure shifted, and then claws clamped around my waist. But it wasn’t painful. It was as if he was purposely trying to be gentle.

A scream tore from my throat when my feet left the ground. The world spun as the creature yanked me upward, and I dangled in the air, only secured by the creature’s hold.

“No. God, no. Please, no.” I twisted, kicking and thrashing, but his grip was iron tight.

“Shhh, my little human,” he murmured, pulling me against his chest. His arms curled snugly around my body, his hold unyielding. “There’s no escape. Just accept our fate.”

I gasped, my breath stuttering when he pressed me more firmly against the hard expanse of his massive body. As the chilled wind whipped around me, I noted how warm he was, his heat sinking into my skin.

We were rising, climbing higher in the air, the forest shrinking below us. My stomach lurched as I saw nothing but trees and razor-sharp mountaintops in the distance. And the longer we flew, the closer we got to what I assumed was his destination.

The mountains.

He landed on the cliffside, his movements graceful and smooth. We were so far above flat land that I knew I could never escape—not unless I wanted that escape to be plunging over the rocky edge to my death. His “home” was carved into the stone, a cavern with a gaping entrance. It was a dark, yawning mouth in the cliffs. And I knew exactly what this was.

My prison.

4

FREYDIS

Ifelt his grip tighten around my body as he carried me into the massive cave, its gaping entrance promising secrets, danger, and the unknown.

The chill of the night air contrasted sharply with the warmth of his hold, his arms securely but gently wrapped around me, and with every step he took, my heart pounded louder, echoing in my ears. I struggled feebly, knowing I’d never find a way down this high up in the mountains, yet needing to at least put up a little fight, because I refused to just give up quietly. But the monster just held me tighter.

The longer we travelled, my eyes adjusted, and I noticed the writings and drawings on the cave walls, markings and ancient-looking symbols, making me feel like I was transported into another realm.

The rules of my world no longer applied.

As we crossed the threshold of a narrower tunnel, the atmosphere shifted. The air was humid, filling my nose with the earthy scent of damp stone and the acrid smell of something mythical. Inside the tunnel, the darkness was almost tangible. Itwas a dense, smothering presence that cloaked every surface and made everything ominous.

The monster, who called himself Marrex, pressed me closer to his body as he moved with a predatory grace through the pitch-black pathway. I couldn’t see a thing now, but I felt his immense form and presence dominating the space.

The tunnel was wide enough that I heard him stretch out his bat-like wings and felt the air from the motion move all around me.

Unable to see, it took me a moment to realize Marrex was flying, carrying me upward with such strength and security that it belied the cruelty of this strange, fated-mate bond he thought we had. As we ascended, my tummy dropped as I felt him pick up speed, the oppressive darkness of our confines gave way to wonder.

We emerged into a vast cavern, where a colossal opening in the cavern’s craggy ceiling spilled moonlight over ancient stone. I could imagine how warm and beautiful it was when the sun was high, painting everything in ethereal hues of gold.