Page 43 of Frost Bound

The height of her horse and twice as wide, the creature bore down on Flyka. Shiny black fur rippled over its robust body. Flyka’s mount kicked at the beast as it swiped its long claws at her. Despite its short legs, the creature moved quickly. It bared its long teeth that were nestled in a short snout.

There was no way the giantess would be able handle the beast alone, and the others were too far away. They wouldn’t make it in time.

It’s not your job to protect Flyka.

She’s a Haunt.

Dahlia swung Anwen around and urged him toward the giantess, her heart pounding.

She couldn’t just stand by and watch the giantess fight for her life, even if she was a Haunt. It was wrong to stand on the sidelines. Lia needed to help.

Chapter Fifteen

Neve

He’d made a mistake.

Neve had assumed that Flyka could handle anything.

He hadn’t counted on a bloody dimedon.

Rage fueled him as he raced toward his Haunt.

A curse flew from his lips when thevallesturned her mount around and raced toward Flyka. She was going to get herself killed. The creature swiped at Flyka, catching her thigh. His Haunt didn’t cry out, but pain rippled across her face as she tried to keep out of the beast’s reach. His mouth went dry as the princess released her reins and pulled a slingshot from her cloak, holding on to Anwen with just her thighs.

She fired, hitting the dimedon right in the forehead. The creature snarled, its attention now on the princess. Flyka maneuvered her mount behind the beast, slashing at its hindquarters. It bellowed and charged at thesaloes. The princess didn’t slow and fired once again, hitting the dimedon. The bear roared as the projectile lodged in its eye. Horse andcreature met. Anwen reared up, catching the human off guard. She scrambled for the reins and wasn’t quick enough.

Neve’s heart stopped as she tumbled off the back of the horse and into the mud and sand.

Thevallesdidn’t move.

Almost there.

He urged Alastor faster, and hissed out a breath when the princess pushed her hood back and crawled away from the prancing horse and snarling dimedon. He balanced in the stirrups just as the creature spotted the human on the ground. It released a roar and lunged.

Neve launched off Alastor and onto the dimedon’s back. He yanked his sword from the sheath at his hip and stabbed the creature with all his strength. The beast cried out and shuddered, trying to claw him off its back. He didn’t let go of the pommel, putting all his weight into the blade. The dimedon wobbled, and then crashed to the ground beneath him. Neve didn’t move but held on tight, counting in his head. It was possible the creature was playing dead. They were intelligent.

Olwen, Eyri, and Flyka circled, their steeds prancing.

“It’s dead,” Eyri called, adjusting his foggy spectacles. “Its gaze has gone murky in its one good eye.”

Neve pulled his sword away and slid off the dimedon’s back, landing in thick mud. He held up his blade as he rounded the creature, his boots squelching with each step. His shoulders slouched as the cloudy eye stared sightlessly back at him. He stowed his sword and approached the animal. He ran his fingers around its broad head, searching for a marking. His lip curled as he found what he was searching for.

A circle with three twisting lines.

A brand. Qovving humans.

Neve cursed and ran his hands through his hair. This wasn’t one of the wild beasts that were native to the area. It was ananimal trained to hunt by scent that had been sicced on them. It made him sick. He ran his hand through the dimedon’s wet fur and offered a few words to the beast.

“It wasn’t your fault,” he whispered.

He turned from the animal and looked to Flyka. “How bad is it?” he asked in Loriian.

“Manageable, but I need stitches.” Silver blood leaked through her fingers.

They needed to be out of Asteranow. “Can you make it another two hours?”

“I’ll bind it tightly. I’ll let you know if we need to stop sooner.”

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