Page 49

“Khorrek,” Egon growled, and dropped her hand.

CHAPTER 19

Egon’s Beast growled as he recognized Khorrek’s scent and Lyric gave him a worried look.

“Do you know him?”

His jaw clenched. “Yes. He’s one of Lasseran’s favorites. A Beast warrior.”

Outside, Khorrek laughed. “The High King sends his regards, Egon of Norhaven. Did you think your little quest would go unnoticed?”

The wise woman was already lowering herself into the tunnel. “This was always a possibility. Khorrek has hunted many who sought to break the curse.”

Egon peered through a crack in the wall. Five warriors surrounded the hut, but it was Khorrek who drew his eye—leaner than most orcs, with tusks filed to sharp points and a deep scar across his face. Dark armor enhanced his menacing presence.

“Your brother plays at being chieftain while the real power grows,” Khorrek called. “The High King has plans for you, Egon. Surrender now, and the woman lives.”

His heart hammered against his ribs. How did they know about Lyric? How long had they been watched?

“We can’t outrun them,” he whispered to Lyric.

Her fingers tightened around his. “We don’t need to outrun them. Just reach the sacred pool.”

The wise woman’s head disappeared into the tunnel. “The stone circle. Remember.”

Khorrek’s voice grew closer. “Your time runs short, brother. The woman or your life—choose.”

Egon felt his Beast rising, demanding release, demanding blood. He fought it down. Not yet. Not with Lyric so close.

“Go,” he urged her toward the tunnel. “I’ll hold them off.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but to his relief, she closed it again and disappeared into the tunnel.

His veins burned with the familiar heat of transformation as soon as she was out of sight. His Beast, so carefully restrained, now demanded release. He took a deep breath, then stepped outside to face his enemy.

Khorrek stood in the clearing, flanked by his warriors. His lips curled into a cruel smile, revealing jagged tusks filed to deadly points.

“The prodigal son returns,” Khorrek sneered. “You could have been one of us, Egon. Lasseran’s finest.”

“I’d rather die.” His voice deepened as his body began to change, muscles expanding beneath his skin.

Khorrek dismissed his men with a flick of his wrist. “Leave us. This is between brothers.”

The warriors melted into the forest, but he knew they hadn’t gone far. They were simply giving their leader room to enjoy the kill.

“We are not brothers,” he growled, feeling his bones shift and crack.

“No?” Khorrek’s own transformation began, his lean frame bulking with corded muscle. “We share the same curse. The same Beast blood.”

He lunged forward, his partially transformed body a blur of motion. His fist connected with Khorrek’s jaw, sending the warrior staggering backward. But Khorrek recovered quickly, twisting away from his second blow with unnatural speed.

Pain exploded across his back as Khorrek’s claws raked through his tunic, tearing flesh. The scent of his own blood filled the air, triggering a deeper transformation.

Khorrek matched him change for change, his body contorting until he stood half-orc, half-Beast—the perfect hybrid warrior that Lasseran coveted.

They circled each other, two apex predators assessing their prey. Khorrek moved first, feinting left before driving a clawed hand toward his throat. He blocked, bones cracking under the impact, but used the momentum to slam his knee into Khorrek’s ribs.

The fight became a savage dance—neither fully Beast nor man, caught between worlds as they tore at each other. Blood slicked the forest floor. Trees splintered as bodies crashed against them.