Empire of Flame and Thorns (Flame and Thorns #1)

Chapter 32

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

A ll 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.

The panic inside my skull builds into a blaring crescendo as I dart from side to side, desperately trying to keep the tree between me and the death waiting for me.

Another roar of anger echoes from the beast’s throat. And instead of trying to run around the trunk to get to me, it charges right into it.

Wood cracks as the wolfbear slams its shoulder into the trunk. Leaves rain down around me. A cry of fear rips from deep inside me.

Yanking out my knife, I grip the hilt hard as the monster pulls back from the trunk again. My breathing comes in fits and starts as I stare at the massive beast before me. It bares its teeth at me, saliva dripping from the sharp canines. I drag in unsteady breaths.

The wolfbear charges.

Every instinct inside me is screaming at me to run. But I force myself to remain where I am. Right as the beast crashes into the trunk again, I leap to the side and swing my knife.

Wood cracks, sending chips flying. Branches rattle and roots groan as the tree tips backwards from the force of the hit.

I aim for the monster’s throat as I slam my blade down at it from the side.

The beast twists right at the last second, and my knife buries itself in the animal’s shoulder instead.

The wolfbear roars in pain.

Gasping in shock and fear, I stumble backwards, yanking the knife out again.

Another roar tears from its throat. It swings its head from side to side, swiping madly with its paw. I use that brief moment of pain and disorientation to escape.

Whipping around, I sprint away between the trees.

My pulse thrums so fast in my ears that I can barely hear anything over the loud pounding of my own heart and my own ragged breaths. Ramming the knife back into its sheath, I throw out both hands in front of me and shove at the vines and thorns that are trying to block my way. The thorns slice at my arms, but I don’t dare to stop.

A tiny sprout of hope manages to flicker in my chest for one second when the forest behind me remains silent.

Then it’s promptly crushed and drowned in a cold black lake of fear and desperation as the wolfbear roars and charges after me again.

I yank vines out of my way while a whimper of terror rips from deep within me. Heavy thuds close in on me from behind. I sprint with everything I have while desperation rips through my whole soul. My feet pound against the ground. But the wolfbear keeps gaining on me. Fast.

The thick tangle of trees abruptly gives way to a clearing. I sprint into it while whipping my head from side to side, trying to find something that will protect me. On the other side of the clearing, a twisting nest of thin trees and vines rise up like a wall.

Hope surges through me again.

If I can just get there, I’ll be able to weave through the narrow spaces. But the wolfbear is too big. It will get stuck in the clearing.

My lungs burn as I race towards the safety of the tree wall.

Wood snaps behind me.

I cast a glance over my shoulder right as the wolfbear crashes into the clearing after me.

With my heart slamming against my ribcage, I sprint with everything I have.

But it’s not enough.

The beast leaps.

Diving forward, I throw myself flat against the root-covered ground right as the wolfbear flies past above me. My hair whips in the wind that its massive form creates.

It slams into the ground in front of me. I leap to my feet right as it spins around to face me.

Dread and terrible hopelessness wash over me as I stare into its yellow eyes. We’re right in the middle of the clearing, and the massive beast now stands between me and the safety of the thick foliage wall on the other side.

Channeling my magic, I try to force it to feel tired or bored or anything at all. But it’s useless.

Heavy snorting sounds come from its muzzle as it pants. My chest heaves as well. And I know, without a doubt, that this is it. When it attacks this time, I won’t be able to evade it.

The wolfbear growls and bares its teeth.

Then it raises its massive paw and lunges at me.

A roar that could have shattered the heavens explodes through the air.

Then something huge slams down behind me with enough force to make the ground shake.

I gasp in shock as a massive dragon head swings around from behind me.

Another blood-curdling roar splits the darkening sky as the dragon opens his gigantic jaws and bellows at the wolfbear.

Stunned shock pulses through my body as I slowly turn my head and look over my shoulder.

A massive black dragon crouches behind me.

My heart flips.

Draven.

He has lowered his head and curved his neck around me, keeping his massive body behind my back, his neck protecting my right side, and his head slightly in front of me as he roars at the wolfbear again.

I whip my gaze forwards again to see the wolfbear jerk back. Then fury seems to pulse across the animal’s face, and it rears up on its hindlegs. I flinch and turn my head to protect my face as it swipes its claws towards me.

Fire sears through the air.

Another gasp rips from my lungs as a torrent of flames streams through the air. From this close, the heat is so intense that I can feel it vibrating against my skin.

The wolfbear only has time to shriek for one second.

Then the fire incinerates it completely.

My heart slams against my ribs as I straighten and turn fully towards the wolfbear again. Only embers and ashes remain. They float in the air, pulled up towards the darkening sky by a cold evening wind.

For a few seconds, all I can do is to stare at them.

Then I turn towards Draven.

He pulls his head back from around me and straightens.

Awe pulses through me as I stare up at his massive form. His huge black wings are spread wide to the sides, and red light from the dying sun reflect against his night black scales. My heart clenches. Goddess above, he really is breathtaking.

Black smoke explodes across the clearing, and the massive dragon disappears into it.

A moment later, Draven in his fully human form stalks out of the smoke. As usual, he is wearing his black dragon scale armor, complete with his massive sword.

I open my mouth to thank him for saving my life. But I don’t even manage to get the first word out.

Because Draven is looking at me as if he’s about to murder me next.