Page 22 of The Wild Hunt (Sold to the Fae Duet #1)

I turn and run as the male’s laughter echoes through the forest. I hoped Akari would stay hidden. I hoped her hunters wouldn’t find her. I hoped this would fucking work.

The river is fuller than earlier, racing and roiling like a mad snake.

That doesn’t stop me from splashing through its depths.

The water slows me down, and my muscles threaten to lock up with its freezing grip, but I push on.

Even with it being fuller, this part of the river is still not as deep as where I entered it earlier in the day.

Or was it yesterday now? It didn’t matter.

As the river pushes me one way, I fight to keep my path straight.

Eventually, I manage to slog out the other side, looking and feeling like an engorged sponge.

I glance behind me. The male stands at the riverbank with a grin on his face. He claps, slowly.

“That was a grand attempt and all, but you’ll have to try harder than that.”

He takes a running step and jumps. He fucking clears the river in one effortless bound. I stumble back from where he lands, just meters from me.

“Run,” he finishes with a feral grin.

I do.

He doesn’t follow me straight away. Thank fuck. I need this head start, what with the river giving me absolutely no advantage. I enter the forest at a relentless speed. Instantly, the moonlight fades, and I squint as I dodge trees and bushes that seemingly appear out of nowhere.

Skirting one such tree has me plummeting into the dirt as I trip on one of its obnoxiously large roots.

“Fuck!” I hiss, my knees and already battered palms screaming as they take the brunt of my fall.

I go to push myself up, but instead find myself shrieking and jumping to the side as I find myself face to face with a skull.

It lies half buried in the damp earth, its eyes and nose hollow, and its jaw agape.

A thin sheen of moss grows along its surface in places, while the bone itself is browning in age and dirt.

A sob breaks free from my exhausted soul.

It’s human. I have no doubt about it. Likely a Chosen.

It could be my mother.

“Why have you stopped? Come now, you can’t have given up so easily?”

He’s close.

With one last glance at the skull, I push myself up, praying I don’t become just another skull in the dirt of this horrible forest, and run.

I run until my legs ache and tremble. I run as my lungs burn, and every breath is a rasp. I run as tears of hopelessness, anger, and pain stream down my face. I run even as I stumble and slow… to… a… walk.

Eventually, my body refuses to cooperate, and I fall. I sob, fisting the earth in utter despair. It’s over. The male is going to catch me. Cage me. Rape me. Destroy the very essence that makes me me . There was nothing else I could do to save myself. I just hoped I had at least saved Akari .

I hear him enter the clearing I have collapsed in. He strolls in a circle around me, as if he has all the time in the world. And he does. My body isn’t moving. Eventually, I sit up and look at him.

He watches me like a curious dog, head tilted to this side with a pout on his face.

“Why so sad, fierce one?” he hums.

I just sneer at him. I don’t think my voice would even work right now. I’m too tired. Bone sore. I can’t suck in a solid breath.

“It’s ok,” he soothes. “I will take care of you now. Let me take you home.”

I fling the dirt I have clutched in my hand at him. It falls harmlessly at his feet.

He laughs. “Good. I thought I’d burned the fire within you out already.” He reaches for me. “Come, take my h-“

He’s cut off as a shriek splits the air, and out of the shadows the Skraeming Dhevilkin launches itself upon the male.

The male shouts and tries to fight off the beast, but it has already sunk its horrible teeth into his neck, its bone-like nails are in his chest, and the rusty stench of blood fills the air.

The struggle is over quickly, the male hanging like a rag-doll in the Skraeming Dhevilkin’s relentless hold. It’s horrifying, eyeless face rises to look at me.

I struggle to rein in my breath enough to speak.

“A gift,” I finally manage to croak. “A truce.”

The creature smiles. It’s horrible and bloodied and has strings of flesh and arteries stuck within its teeth .

A truce. Thank you, my sweeting.

With that, the Skraeming Dhevilkin melts into the night, taking its prey with it.