Page 94 of Empire of Flame and Thorns

Energy floods my veins once more, and a tingling sensation starts in my forearm. I heave a deep sigh of relief. Now, my body can finally begin to heal the burns properly.

Feeling much more clear-headed, I climb the rest of the way back to the ground.

The sun has slipped even lower towards the horizon, and a murky haze has now crept into the forest around me. I swallow down a sense of dread as I scan the gloomy trees around me. I have no idea what this forest is like at night, and I would prefer not to find out. After all, there is a reason why the people who go into this forest rarely come back out again.

After checking the knife I still keep strapped to my thigh, I turn in the direction I now know to be south and start forward at a brisk pace. I need to find somewhere safe to sleep before all light is gone from the world.

Branches and thorny vines snatch at my clothes and hair as I hurry across the uneven ground. I shove them away while whipping my head from side to side, desperately searching for something that will provide me with a bit of protection.

My gaze snags on something to my left.

Trailing to a halt, I turn towards it fully and squint as I study it.

Gnarly branches have grown from the tree trunks and down towards the ground, creating an almost cave-like structure with an opening at the front. Hope sparkles inside me. This is perfect. If I sleep in there, I can stay hidden both from other contestants and whatever else lives in these woods.

Rolling my shoulders back, I start towards the large opening in the curving branches. Acracksounds as one of the roots that cover the ground snaps in half underneath my weight.

Right as I’m about to glare down at the root, another sound drifts through the forest. A low and rumbling groan.

The blood freezes to ice in my veins.

Stopping dead in my tracks, I stare at the dark opening ahead. My heart slams against my ribs.

The deep rumbling comes again.

“Oh fuck,” is all I manage to say.

Then a monster charges out from the tree cave.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

All blood drains from my face as a wolfbear charges straight at me. It’s exactly what it sounds like. A mix between a wolf and a bear. Except it’s three times the size of a normal bear.

I scream as it lunges for me. Diving sideways, I barely manage to escape the swipe of its knife-sharp claws. It crashes into the tree next to where I was standing only a second before. I roll across the roots and leap to my feet.

The wolfbear swivels its massive head towards me.

I bolt.

A furious roar comes from behind me.

Fear slashes through my chest as the wolfbear gives chase.

My heart hammers against my ribs as I dash through the forest. Heavy thuds and loud crashing sounds echo behind me, getting closer with every second. A whooshing comes from behind.

On instinct, I duck and throw myself sideways.

A massive paw swipes through the air where my head used to be one single second afterwards. I crash into a thick tree trunk. Pain spikes up my shoulder as I slam into the rough bark.

The wolfbear roars in frustration and skids to a halt.

Shoving off from the tree, I barely manage to swing myself around the trunk before the beast charges into it. Leaves rustle and branches rattle as its heavy weight smacks into the tree trunk with enough force to make the tree bend.

Panic grips my heart.

I jerk back, trying to sprint away again, but the animal lunges towards me. Gasping, I yank myself back behind the trunk. With my heart slamming against my ribs, I circle the thick tree trunk, keeping it between me and the monster. The wolfbear growls at me as it fails to reach me once more.

Heavy panting comes from its mouth, and saliva drips from its sharp teeth as it opens its maw and makes another attempt. Its jaws snap shut mere breaths away from my face as I jerk backwards.

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