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“Let me catch my breath,” I heaved.

He let me go, and I drooped against a tree, watching more of them come through the trees. There were at least fifteen of these males. All different shades and sizes, but all intimidating and holding weapons.

“What are you?”

“Weask the questions.” The one with the machete pressed the blade under my chin, making me lift my face. They were dressed in clothes similar to the Lord’s. Loose linen shirts and old-fashioned trousers.

“She’s a human. Stupid and unknowing,” the one to initially grab me said, peering into my eyes. When he faced me, I saw he had a gash running across his forehead. “We are Novians. We want to kill the monster in there.” He exaggeratedly pointed to where the castle peeked through the tree tops.

They knew about humans, and they knew abouthim.

“How do I get back home?” I blurted. Machete boomed a laugh and slid his blade into the scabbard at his side. He was suddenly in my space, the front of his body pressing against me. He gripped my thigh harshly and yanked my leg up. A tear ripped down my skirt, and he ground against my bare sex, his trousers rough.

I gasped, shoving at his chest.

“As stupid as humans are, they’re still good to fuck,” Machete said.

“Let me go!” The cloying stench of rot clung to him.

Disgust curled through my stomach.

“She may know a way inside, brother,” the nicer one drawled. Machete gyrated again, and his hard length shoved against me.

I squeezed my eyes tight, trying to breathe through the nausea. With all the violence the Lord directed at me, at least he didn’t stink.

“Kill the human and let’s destroy the creature,” a male voice bellowed from the direction of the others.

“Use her as a lure,” a different voice called.

A thundering roar echoed so loudly that the trees shook. The Lord of Shadows, who was completely naked, landed on the ground with an explosion of leaves. Shadows whipped around him madly.

“Mortal, come here,” he ordered. The guy gyrating against me banded a hand around my throat and turned, yanking his blade out of its scabbard as he did so.

“You need this?” Machete shook me, pressing the blade to my throat. My eyes flicked around at the Novians, all aiming weapons at the Lord, yet he didn’t look . . .anything. Not concerned, not angry, just blank.

“Release her,” was all he said, his head cocked.

“We have had enough, Corvus Zypher. You will not steal any others,” the male with the scar said.

“You were warned.” An inky tendril wrapped around Machete’s throat, and it squeezed so fast, I didn’t even have time to process it, because with my next breath, the shadows beheaded him. Blood splattered across my cheek.

“Run,” he stared directly at me, and his shadow tugged me. That was all I needed to hear to take off.

My split skirt parted to allow me more freedom to escape. I dug deep and ran as hard and as fast as humanly possible. Battle cries broke out behind me, and I looked over my shoulder to see shadows creeping across the ground, engulfing it and expanding like a living creature.

Screams and squelches erupted, and I whipped my head in front of me, focusing on getting away.

I swatted the thickening foliage, trying not to pay attention to how different it looked compared to how a human forest would look. There was a break in the trees a few more feet ahead. I narrowed in on it and broke through, only to stumble to a stop. The ground cut off abruptly, dropping into a deep canyon where a river rushed at the bottom. The inky color of the water reflected the overcast gray lighting of this world.

I turned around to face the way I’d come. The screaming hadn’t tapered off yet, maybe I should just wait here?—

A decaying hand exploded from the ground and grabbed my ankle, squeezing so hard that something popped. I screeched and jerked my other foot back to stomp on it. More rotted hands clawed at the dirt with such fervor that it wouldn’t take long for them to emerge. Time ticked, and with each breath, I ran out of options. An animated husk managed to free itself and clambered to its feet.

I turned back around. I’d rather splat than be eaten and torn apart by these things.

Gripping my cross, I catapulted myself over the edge.

With my shadowscoating the various Novians, I fed on them all, devouring their souls. I took every single atom making up their essence until they were nothing but dust.