238 Running Scared

ELIA

Startled, Elia crouched, eyes wide. But then…

The strangest feeling of calm overcame her as she stared into the bright, malicious eyes of the wolf-woman, smiling at her over the prone form of her dear friend.

"What a surprise. The Queen is hiding," Lucine said, her voice still a harsh rasp. She stepped out of the bush and Elia noted that her steps were stilted. Not nearly as free as usual. She was still hurt from whatever harm Reth had done, throwing her across the Crevasse.

But she was here. Holding a bow with strange arrows—the heads, rather than the thin triangles of bone or slate, were thick, round clubs.

Then she looked at Candace on the ground and understanding dawned.

"You wanted to take us alive?"

"Correction, I wanted to take you alive."

Elia let the shudder rock her body visibly. "Please… no…" she whispered, fixing her eyes on Candace's body and letting her horror show. "Please."