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The monster from the ship … I'd never forget that red gaze.

A scream built inside my chest, and I barely tamped it down — those glowing eyes were all I could see of the creature, but the screech of metal chains dragging against the stone floor told me it was moving towards the bed.

"Mirrim!" I screamed, lurching forward.I couldn't just leave her to that monster!!

Once more Kaiya held me back. "Liam, please!"

"Let go," I demanded, tugging against her surprisingly firm grip. "I need —"

"It's alright, Liiaaaaam." The creature's voice was a harsh rumble in the darkness, grating against my ears, sending a shiver down my spine.

Kaiya and I froze.

"She dreams," the voice continued. "Of you and your family."

My hairs stood on end as I yanked myself free and dashed back into the darkness.

Whatever the fuck it was doing, I was going to get Mirrim away!

Vines twined themselves around me, stronger than Kaiya, yanking me back.

"Let go of me!" I shouted, eyes burning, heart racing as panic flooded through me.

Metal screeched against stone once more, closer this time.

"Do not get closer," Rien said from just behind me. "The Giant — he is not well. I don't know what he'll do to you."

As he spoke, the area around us illuminated in a soft red glow that seemed to come from red flowers blooming on Rien's vines.

I winced, looking for the bed, and froze as my gaze found my sister's still form resting atop it — directly in front of a wall of massive metal bars — bars holding back the hideous, massive creature from the ship.

Shadows hid most of the creature's body, but gray skin hung loosely from angled cheekbones, his wide lips were cracked and broken. And those eyes — red orbs that neither winced nor blinked, even from the sudden light.

I would have thought the thing was blind if his eyes didn't track me as I moved.

"Who among us is … well?" the monster asked as it wrapped one giant, knobby hand around the bars, and used the other to pull the bed closer with another ear-splitting screech.

"Stop!" I hollered. "Please don't hurt her!"

The creature dropped his unblinking gaze to Mirrim. "Do not fear, Liaaaaam. She is not hurt. She dreams."Those unblinking red eyes lifted to me, pausing to examine me for one breath. Then another. "I can show you."

My heart galloped in my chest as I tried to make sense of the creature's words. Show me what? Gods! I needed to get her away from that thing! Maybe … maybe it could take me instead of her.

"I see that look," Kaiya hissed. "Whatever you're thinking, it's too dangerous!"

No. Nothing was too dangerous to free my sister — to make sure she was safe.

Ignoring Kaiya, I called out to the beast. "Please." I strained against her and Rien with all my strength. "Take me instead of her. Show me."

"Baerloe!" Rien called out to the creature, voice loud and strong from behind me. "Stop this. You shouldn't have the girl. And you're scaring these two. They think you're a monster!"

Thinkhe is a monster? He WAS a monster. And howdid Rien know the beast?

"Monster?" the creature asked, turning those horrible eyes away, looking around, as if confused, before turning to the bed, then back to Rien, and finally at me.

"Yes, I suppose so."

Then a massive arm slid the bed to us, and I grabbed it, relief filling me as I rushed to get my sister away from him.