Page 293 of Cursed Evermore

Something massive was coming.

A roar split the dawn air. Not quite animal, not quite human, but something far worse.

The beast that burst through the tree line looked like something dragged up from the deepest pits of the darkest hell, an abomination of sinew and malice.

It stood nearly twenty feet tall on four powerful legs, its hide a slick, oily black that seemed to absorb light.

Spines jutted from its shoulders and back, gleaming like polished bones, while its elongated head featured rows of razor-sharp teeth and eyes that glowed with malevolent intelligence.

Behind the creature, more portals tore open. Rebels poured through. Gods, there were dozens of them, armed and ready for battle.

"Fuck," Wolfe cursed, pulling me behind him as the beast lowered its head and charged straight for us.

“Wolfe!”

"Stay down," he commanded, throwing up his hand. A shimmering barrier erupted around me, encasing me in a protective shield that hummed with raw energy.

It was so dense I couldn’t imagine anything getting through.

The skeletal half of Wolfe’s face became more pronounced, his eye socket a pulsing void.

He moved away from me, rolling his shoulders as shadows began to pour from his skin like smoke. His wings unfurled to their full, magnificent span, gleaming with darkness.

When he raised his sword, power crackled around him in bright blue energy, bending the air as he gathered strength.

"Let’s end this!” he snarled at the advancing beast, his voice echoing with inhuman resonance.

With that, Wolfe launched himself into the air with explosive force, his massive wings carrying him forward with unmatchable speed. He collided with the beast head-on, his blade slicing into its hide as they crashed together in a symphony of roars and steel against bone.

Gods above. This was a nightmare. A living nightmare.

How in the hells did things get worse?

The clash between the Fae prince and the hell beast was deafening. Wolfe's blade carved deep gouges into the beast's hide, spraying thick blood in wide arcs as the creature shrieked in fury. The sound was so loud it made my ears ring even through the protective barrier.

More rebels poured through the portals, their battle cries echoing through the forest.

Without breaking his assault on the beast, Wolfe extended his free hand and unleashed a barrage of crackling energy spheres. They streaked through the air like falling stars, each one finding its mark on the rebels with devastating accuracy.

They screamed as the dark magic tore through them, leaving behind the acrid smell of burning flesh mixed with blood.

The beast reared up on its hind legs, trying to shake Wolfe loose, but he held on. His wings beat furiously, creating gusts of wind that sent leaves and debris swirling around them in a chaotic dance.

With a roar that shook the foundations of the earth, Wolfe drove his sword deeper, twisting the blade until streams of blood poured out of the creature’s body.

The creature's massive claws raked across Wolfe's chest, tearing through his shirt, leaving crimson trails on his skin.

I screamed, expecting Wolfe to be ripped apart, but he didn't even flinch. Instead, he grabbed one of the beast's spines and used it as leverage to haul himself higher, positioning himself to attack again.

The beast was ready, too, despite the devastating blows it suffered. And more rebels came. Rushing towardme.

There were too many. I had no doubt that Wolfe could take them all, but what would it cost him? And they were coming for me.

That’s what this whole thing was about—taking me. The tracker. The path to finding the ring.

This battle was one big distraction.

And here I was, cowering behind a shield.