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Someone’s war cry shook the surrounding air. Wolf’s hands fell on my shoulders.

Another body fell behind Ashlani.

A vampyre.

We weren’t the only ones fighting out here. We weren't the only danger to one another.

“Ashlani, we have to go,” I urged, pulling her toward me. “We can patch your wound as soon as we get somewhere safe. Come with us!”

Ashlani’s features cracked before her knees gave out. I tried to catch her as she fell against me, sinking to the ground.

More chaos, more screaming.

“We have to go,” Wolf hissed behind me. “She’s fatally injured. She won’t make it!”

“I’m not leaving her!” I yelled. “Just help me carry her and we can help her when we get—”

“Huntyr,” Ashlani interrupted me, her words slurring. “You have to go,” she said. “You’ll make it to The Golden City, I know you will. You were born for this.” The soft smile on her face was one that I had seen too many times.

Ashlani was too kind, too innocent. She didn’t deserve any of this.

My stomach hurled. “I’m not leaving you!”

Her hands moved to grip the handle of the knife in her belly. Before I could object, she pulled out the blade.

Blood poured from the open wound.

“Go,” she said, voice fainter now.

I shook my head. “I’m no—”

“Go!” she rasped.

Wolf was pulling me, holding me, carrying me through the scorching forest of death and teeth and evil.

But I couldn’t take my eyes off Ashlani. She fell to her knees as Wolf dragged me further and further from the chaos. A few moments passed, and a scream split the air before I realized it was mine.

Ashlani fell to the ground motionless before her body was engulfed in flames.

No.

But Wolf kept moving, dragging me further and further away. When I stopped screaming, he set me down but gripped my wrist as we marched. When he stepped over a burning log, I followed, not even feeling the pain.

And then we were running.

He pulled me along, keeping me on my feet. I focused on my breath, matched my inhales with the pounding of my boots against the forest floor. The worst of the fire was behind us, giving us a clear view of the trees ahead.

It was infinitely dark. There was no moon, no stars keeping the shadows at bay. Even my fae eyes struggled to see the next step.

But every time I fell in exhaustion, Wolf was there, pulling me up.

My lungs burned, and my muscles ached, but I welcomed the pain. It was the only thing I could hold onto that reminded me this was real. It wasn’t a sick dream that I would wake up from tomorrow.

This was actually happening.

We had to have run multiple miles, covering ourselves in dirt and mud and scrapes from the thick forest, before Wolf finally slowed down.

“What is this?” I asked. “If this is the final test, what was that slaughter? Why did—why did—”