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"Okay," I said, cracking my knuckles like a budget superhero. "We've trained. We've bonded. I just lit a tree on fire—accidentally, but still. I feel ready. Let's fight."
Lucien didn't share my confidence. He was staring at the treetops like a storm was about to fall on us. His jaw clenched. "There are too many of them."
"Oh come on, how many is too many?" I asked, spinning my dagger like I knew what I was doing.
A series of glowing red eyes blinked to life in the shadows.
Then another.
And another.
And another.
Suddenly, the woods looked like a Black Friday sale at a monster convention.
Lucien gave me a side glance. "That many."
I squinted. "Okay. Yeah. That's... a lot. So, Plan A—fight?"
Lucien raised an eyebrow.
"Right. Plan B—RUN!"
We bolted.
Branches slapped me in the face as I charged through the woods, dress torn, hair a mess, dignity somewhere back by the burning tree. I could hear the creatures snarling behind us. They were fast. Like Olympic sprinter fast. And I—well, I was more of a "I fake asthma to skip P.E." kind of girl.
"This is not what I trained for!" I yelled.
"You didn't train!" Lucien shouted back.
Fair point.
Celine, my wolf, was barking in my head.
"Let me take over! I can outrun them!"
"Great idea, but I like having working ankles!"
Diaris chimed in.
"I say we turn and fight. I'll even glamour your hair so you look cool."
"Not helpful, Diaris!"
We ducked under a low branch and slid down a steep hill like uncoordinated penguins. I lost a shoe. Lucien lost patience. We crashed into a muddy patch that smelled vaguely like old broccoli and regret.
When we finally stopped, breathless and covered in mystery goo, Lucien wheezed, "Still feel ready to fight?"
I laid on my back, arms spread dramatically. "Absolutely. As long as fighting means lying here and hoping they trip over me."
He chuckled—actually chuckled—and pulled me to my feet. "Come on. There's a hidden passage nearby. We'll lose them."
"Will it involve more running?"
"Yes."
I groaned. "I miss being a maid. The worst thing back then was getting bleach in my socks."
We sprinted again, diving into a narrow cave just as the horde of glowing-eyed creatures thundered past. I collapsed onto the cold stone floor.
"I'm officially retiring from being brave," I gasped. "From now on, I'm strictly sarcasm and snacks."
Lucien smiled, that rare real smile of his. "You did well."
I blinked. "Seriously?"
"You didn't die. That's a start."
I grinned, still panting. "Put that on my tombstone: Didn't Die. Mostly Screamed."