4. Jessa

4

JESSA

H e materializes in front of me. That is the only explanation I have. One second there is nothing but empty air before me, and the next, there’s a tall, pale man standing just in front of me with long, black hair whipping on a phantom wind. I have no option but to slam straight into him.

“What are you doing out here?” His voice is so perfect. Smooth and deep like a rich warm drink, and I want to drown in it. It muddles my senses as his hands grip my shoulders and steady me.

It takes me a minute too long to realize that he doesn’t let me go, though. He keeps me in his grasp as I stare up at him, absolutely dumbfounded.

He is gorgeous .

You’d think growing up around dark elves, I wouldn’t be shocked by another’s beauty, but where the dark elves seemed to bleed cruelty, this man doesn’t. He looks almost human if it weren’t for the ethereal beauty coating his symmetrical and striking features.

"What's a little human like you doing wandering these woods alone?" His musical voice drips with amusement and something far more dangerous. Dread begins trickling down my spine.

I try to tug away, panic rising. "Let me go."

His grip only tightens at my resistance. "Now why would I do that? We were just getting to know each other."

"Please." My voice trembles as I meet his burning stare. "I'm just looking for the wildspont base. I’ve heard there’s a place for humans. For safety."

At that, he lets out a chilling, melodic laugh. In a flash, his face is inches from mine, eyes swirling with something I don’t want to understand. "Poor, stupid girl. You wandered right into the arms of a monster."

Fangs slide from his smile and terror erupts within me. I twist away, his razor nails tearing my shirt as I break free. Whirling around, I bolt into the trees, weaving through the close trunks. Loud footsteps fall behind me as he gives chase and I realize that he must have let me go on purpose.

He wants me to run.

But I don’t have another option so I push my aching legs faster even as my lungs burn. Risking a glance back, I see his silhouette gliding between the branches, dark eyes locked on me. He's playing with me.

Before I can gasp in another breath, he appears again in front of me in a blur of darkness. I careen into his chest, a shriek escaping me. He wraps me in the powerful cage of his arms and wings, eyes glowing with wicked delight.

"Please," I beg, trembling against him. "I just want safety."

"And what makes you think you deserve such a gift?" His voice caresses my ear, sending chills down my spine.

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to calm my racing heart. "I ran from the dark elves. I'm not like them."

He tilts his head, studying me with those burning eyes. "No. You're weaker. But perhaps that weakness could be entertaining."

I clench my fists, anger kindling through my fear. "I'm not weak! And I'm not some toy for your amusement." I suck in a deep breath, knowing I need to find my way out of this situation. “I can give you information! Something to use against the dark elves!”

The man – or whatever he is – throws his head back and chuckles. “We have more than enough humans feeding us what is really useless information about the dark elves. We don’t need another.”

I bare my teeth at him. “You don’t know what I know. I’m worth more to you than you think.”

In truth, I know he’s right. I know nothing, but godsdammit if I won’t fight for my life.

His brow arches in surprise. Then a slow, dangerous smile curls his lips. "Look who found her courage. How long do you think it will last, little pet?"

I jerk in his hold, but his arms have no give. He leans closer, until I can feel his cool breath feathering across my face, the heat of his body pressed to mine.

"The question now is, what shall I do with you?" One clawed hand trails down my cheek in a seductive caress at odds with the violence simmering in his gaze.

My mind spins frantically, trying to think of some way to break free. But as his fingers trace along my hammering pulse, I know I'm completely at his mercy. Whatever twisted game he has planned, I'm trapped with no escape.

His touch makes my skin crawl with revulsion. As his nails skim down my neck, some primal instinct takes over. I stomp my boot down hard on his foot, and when his grip loosens in surprise – I know I didn’t hurt him – I smash my head back into his face.

He curses, hands flying to his nose. I don't hesitate despite the pounding in my head from how hard his bones are, darting away into the shadowy woods. I weave between the trees, heart pounding wildly. Risking a glance back, I see him gaining, blood dripping down his chin as he barrels towards me.

"You'll pay for that, you bitch!"

I push harder, lungs burning, but he's too fast. A root snags my foot and I go down hard. Before I can scramble up, his weight slams into me, pinning me facedown in the dirt. I twist and fight beneath him.

"Thought you could escape me, little pet?" His breath hisses in my ear.

Desperate, I jab my elbow back into his gut. Pain radiates down my arm from how hard his body is and he laughs in my ear, making my bile rise in my throat. I have to find a way out of here.

My hands scramble across the forest floor, looking for anything. The vines are crawling toward us, I realize, as we struggle, and I make out little petals along the vines. My hand swipes forward, grabbing the small flower and rolling it between my fingers.

I’m acting on instinct, and when I feel it grind to a fine dust in my palm, I fling it backward into the man’s face. I have to assume it’s no ordinary flower if I’m in the wildspont...

And I’m lucky I’m right.

He recoils with a scream. Whatever was in it makes his skin break out in red splotches, and I take advantage of the forest’s help. I leap to my feet and run, his enraged shouts chasing me.

I race blindly through the woods, barely avoiding trees in my panic. But gradually his voice fades away. I chance a look back – no sign of him.

Then a low snarl sounds nearby.

Heart seizing, I turn to see a likar crouched, tail lashing as it stalks toward me. I'm trapped between two deadly predators in this cursed forest.

Tiera's warning rings in my ears. Only one way this nightmare ends. But I refuse to go down quietly – if this is where I die, I'll fight 'til my last breath. With a scream of reckless defiance, I charge straight at the likar's slavering jaws.

Before I reach it, a dark blur tackles the great beast from the side. The likar yowls in surprise as the pale man I escaped wraps his arms around its neck.

They crash to the forest floor, leaves and dirt flying into the air. The likar writhes and claws desperately, but the man's grip around its neck is unbreakable. He wrestles the snarling beast onto its back, straddling it with his knees pinning its front legs. The likar thrashes its head, powerful jaws snapping, but the man brutally grabs its muzzle, wrenching its head to the side to expose the throat.

His head dips toward the vulnerable flesh. The likar's wails reach a fever pitch as the man's teeth sink into its neck. Blood wells up around his mouth, matting the fur red. His throat works as he gulps the vital fluid. The likar convulses, back arching and legs kicking weakly.

I’m frozen in horror as realization hits – he's drinking the likar's blood. I can’t move – can’t even look away – as the creature's struggles grow feebler. The man is relentless, lips sealed over the ragged bite while his hands ruthlessly hold the likar's head in place.

He drinks deeper, making wet, frenzied sounds. The likar whimpers, claws scraping the ground one final time before its eyes roll back and its body goes limp beneath its killer. He lifts his head, eyes glowing in the moonlight, dark blood dripping down his chin.

This is no human predator. I'm helpless prey being hunted by a true monster. Fear roots me to the spot, unable to look away from the demon wearing a man's face. He rises slowly, pale skin speckled with blood. Fresh terror claws up my throat as he prowls toward me, an inhuman smile full of sharpened teeth stretched wide.

"No one can save you now, my prey," he rasps, blood dripping from his grinning maw.

Before I can even scream, he lunges, moving faster than before. And I know this time...

I won’t be outrunning him.