Page 138 of Where Darkness Falls

“Mae-Mae,” Riordan teases. “We’re elite soldiers. I assure you that if there were someth?—”

A deafening roar reverberates through the trees behind us, closer than before. Startled, my starlight flares at the sound, allowing the horrifying silhouettes of our intruders to be illuminated.

It’s too late,I think to myself, as a group of enormous Minotaurs, wielding axes, come into view. They’re so close.

Too close.

“Elite soldiers my arse,” I murmur.

“Bloody Celestae,” Riordan gasps.

Emyr kicks Danté’s side. “Run!” he commands.

Then, we’re galloping through the foliage as the creatures pursue us. Axes whiz by our heads as they plant themselves into nearby trees—missing us by mere inches.

Saoirse’s right.

We should’ve left when we had the chance.

We’re going to die.

“I suppose now isn’ta proper time to address that I warned you,” Maeva yells over the wind. Shadow horses are quicker than typical horses, even with a rider on their backs. Somehow, the bloodthirsty Minotaurs match our pace.

“Now isn’t the time, Rosey,” I reply. I turn Danté sharply to the right, hoping to lose the trailing monsters. The best thing we can do at this point is to remain together as a group. If they were to single us out, I’m not sure we’d stand a chance, even with our shadows, due to their preternatural strength and speed.

I should’ve listened to her the first time she said to run, but I didn’t sense the creatures lurking—nor did I feel them.

How’d she know the Minotaurs were coming?

Another ax whirls past my head, lightly grazing my ear.

Not the time, Emyr,I scold.

A nefarious grin is plastered on the leader’s face as he runs closely behind—no doubt he’s the one who threw the weapon. The creature is taller than Danté, with the face and legs of a bull, but the torso of a muscular man, and a gold ring through its black snout.

Though my anger boils within me, calling to my shadows, I don’t unleash it while holding on to Maeva. However, once I can figure out a plan to give us the advantage, I’ll be driving Scrisis through the brute’s heart.

“Emyr!” Laisren shouts.

From the outer borders, more of the clan surround us. While they’re still several paces away, the group is rapidly gaining. Within moments, they will be close enough to drive their axes into our hearts before devouring our flesh.

Riordan ducks as another flying ax soars past his head. “What are your orders?” he interjects.

“Agreed,” Laisren yells. “We need a plan, Emyr. Unless you relish the thought of becoming Minotaur bait.”

“Thank you for those words of encouragement, Laisy,” I shout.

My mind races with hundreds of possibilities to get out of this mess, but every calculation ends in death for us.

Think, Emyr, think.

Then, as if an answer from Siorai himself, a large grove of brambles, with thorns the size of a small child, comes into view ahead of us. If I can time it right, they won’t be able to stop their momentum before running into the sharp spikes. It’s a long shot, but it’s our only chance now to gain the upper hand.

I encourage Danté to hasten. “Go left on my signal,” I command.

As the grove draws near, Maeva’s body tenses beneath my touch. “Emyr,” Maeva yells cautiously.

We’re only yards away.