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Somehow, I don’t think he means companionship.

“I don’t think I’m right for you.” I say the words before I think what they might mean.

“You don’t get to decide,” the creature growls, fangs extending past his lips. “You are a female, correct?”

All I can do is nod my head.

“Then you are my mate. My kind do not produce females.”

“What are you?” I breathe.

The creature pulls himself up to his full height, which has to be close to eight feet. “I am the Lambton Wyrm, scourge of the Night Lands.”

A shiver runs through me. Everyone knows of the Wyrms. They once terrorised our lands before being confined to the Yeavering. The dragons of legend, they were only banished when the Faerie queen agreed to it in return for…I can’t remember what she got. But whatever it was, the dragons left and became mere stories to frighten children with.

But this Wyrm hasn’t eaten me yet. I pull myself up to my full height of just under five foot six.

“I’m Alice,” I say.

Perhaps he won’t eat things with a name.

“Alice.” The Lambton Wyrm hisses the word, wrapping his dark tongue around it as his incredible eyes rake over me.

“I presume you have a name?” I decide to push my luck, see if I can make some sort of contact with this monster. Any sort of contact which might result in me staying alive.

He glares at me.

“Fenrother,” he says haughtily, as if he’s handing me the world’s best kept secret.

“Fenrother, I need to pee,” I blurt out.

“Pee?” He rubs his chin.

“Come on, everyone needs to pee, even creatures of the magical forest,” I say, exasperated.

“I piss,” he rasps. “And shit.”

I actually don’t know whether to be grateful or horrified at his candour. All I can do is cross my legs and blink.

“So pee,” he says.

“Here?”

“Yes, here. Why not here?”

“Turn around,” I say desperately. “Don’t look.”

“No.”

“Fine.” I glare at him, jerking down my jeans as I squat close to the ground, my bladder bursting.

The Wyrm stares down at me, head cocked on one side like he’s observing a science experiment.

If I thought it was bad that he’s watching me at all, when I finally encourage my bladder to do the business…he drops to his hands and knees and shoves his face right under me.

FENROTHER

She has no pizzle.