I stopped short and glanced around. Now that I actually was looking, I saw that telltale glittery shimmer in the air and the way everything had the faintest blue tint. We were in the middle of the trees, not on any designated path whatsoever.

“What are you looking for?”

“The trail.” I pointed to the ground. “The pathway.”

“The magic of this land will not affect you the same from this side.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Do not get excited too soon,” he spoke softly as he stopped and faced me. “Brace yourself.”

“For what⁠—”

An ear-piercing scream ripped through the trees. I didn’t want to look. I knew better than to look, nothing good happened here. But there was another scream, and another. Their voice moving closer like they were running. The trees rustled over our head, whole branches swaying in the screamer’s direction. My stomach rolled. I gripped Everest’s arm as hard as I could just as a flash of long red hair sped between two trees up ahead. Like the flip of a switch, the trail appeared up ahead, curving a path through the forest. The person with long red hair was fleeing yet not faster than the thing in the tree. A dark shadowy figure dropped from the branches and pounced on the red head. There was a scream, but it was cut off after a second. Two of the sentinels appeared beside the creature, like they were there for the prize.

Everest dragged me against his body then darkness claimed us.

I only barely caught my breath when we stepped into the blueish shimmery light again. In the distance I heard screams, both male and female. I also heard that low, steady rhythmic beating of drums that seemed to mimic a heartbeat. Humans darted between trees, their steps already doomed because they’d left the trail. Members of Sweyn’s Court lunged like jungle cats from behind trees.

Everest spun me away, dragging me in the opposite direction except we only made it about ten feet before Sweyn shot like a rocket up ahead. She cackled and the sound echoed off the trees in every direction. A group of athletic looking big guys stopped and huddled together. They raised daggers in the air and stood in a circle so none of them could be snuck up on. The idea was admirable even if foolish. They would be no match for this enemy.

Sweyn spun in a slow circle, and I spotted trails of blood running from the corners of her mouth. My stomach rolled and bile shot up my throat. I was going to be sick. Everest kept us moving, never lingering in one spot for more than a few seconds. No doubt so he could try to steer me clear of these human prey.

“Where are they coming from? The humans?” I whispered.