I hate him! I hate him and his entire kingdom. I should’ve let those vines kill Torrent. I should’ve escaped with Tawdrey and his men. I should’ve let Lorna die.

“Idalia, stop! The lights!”

Does he think I’ll listen to him? What can he do? He can’t grab me and drag me back. He should’ve known that I wouldn’t stay after hearing him spew such lies.

I try to ignore a growing discomfort in my palms and shake them relentlessly as I press forward. Now it’s hard to breathe, and my eyes overflow with tears, blurring my vision. The line of golden orbs comes to an end. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him.

“Idalia… Idalia! Sparrow! Look out!”

I slam into something warm and drop to the ground with an agonized moan. I rub my head and curse Braizen’s name. Heaving, I try to collect myself before standing. A long, sticky substance dangles in front of me. What in the four hells? I look up and scream.

A giant wolf towers over me. No, it can’t possibly be a mere wolf. It’s far too large. It’s something else, something more. Sleek onyx fur that gleams in the moonlight coats its mass. Above its snarling snout lie a pair of forest-green eyes that teem with hunger. The trail of saliva hanging from its fangs finally drops to the ground.

With a low growl, it bares its teeth, dark with the dried blood of the prey that came before me. It lifts a paw to strike.

“Duck!” Braizen shouts.

Instinct takes over, and my head swoops down as a small dagger spirals overhead and pierces the beast in one eye. It yelps, violently shaking its giant head.

“Get up!” Braizen yells. “I can’t carry you! Get up and run back to the lights. Now!”

I stand, shaking, and see him waiting for me. I take one last look at the beast and, with my hands on fire, sprint back to Braizen.

He lets me pass him before he joins. “Don’t look back! Keep running, no matter what!”

I propel my legs faster than I’ve ever moved them before. Exhaustion quickly overtakes me. But I don’t falter, not for a single step. I run and run.

I see the square and sprint even faster until I reach it and fall to my knees on the grass, panting, and wheezing. Finally, finally, I can draw a deep breath. I roll onto my back.

“Is it still chasing us? Is it coming?” I gasp and hold a hand to my racing heart.

Braizen flings his body onto the ground near mine.

“We’re back in the perimeter; I don’t think it can pass through.”

Relief washes over me. So, that is why Nuri suggested we stay within the lights. “What. Was. That?!” I pant.