“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” Slate stalks from the trees with his hands in his pockets. Bruises and welts pebble his skin, and he has a limp to his walk. “You look lovely, Elora. Although, personally, I’m not a fan of the violet eyes. But maybe I can break that out of you.”

Jules’ teeth clank together as he growls. “You come near her and I’ll break both your legs.”

He rolls his eyes. “You and what army?”

Jules positions himself in front of me. “My guards.”

The smile that curls at Slate’s lips send a chill slithering down my spine. “What? These guards?” He whistles, and a few deafening heartbeats later, ten of Jules’ guards appear from the bushes and trees, their swords drawn, the sharp tips aimed at me and Jules.

“Sorry to be the one to break it to you”—Slate looks anything but sorry—“but as of last night, most of your guards now work for your father. So do I.”

Jules spans his hand to his sides protectively. “You will all be killed slowly and painfully for your betrayal,” he warns in the coldest tone I’ve ever heard.

Slate throws his head back and laughs. “That’s quite a big threat for a wolf in your position.” He gestures at the wolves circling us. “Take a look around you, Jules. You have nowhere else to go.”

“We’ll see about that.” Jules reaches for his knife, but stops when Slate clucks his tongue.

“The moment you draw a weapon, I sic them on her.” He points a finger at me then winks.

A violent growl rumbles from Jules’ chest, rage rippling off him in violent, potent waves.

Slate smirks, pleased. “I like this side of you—all rage and growls and threats. Too bad you couldn’t have been this way a little earlier. Maybe then you would’ve killed me sooner instead of torturing me. Unfortunately for you, that’s not the case. And unfortunately for you, your guards and I can be bribed by your father.”

“Bribed with what, exactly?” An edge etches into Jules’ tone.

Slate’s smirk broadens. “The fountain of youth. Everlasting life. To live forever. Something you two do not get the pleasure of experiencing.”

Wait … Does that mean his father can make other creatures immortal?

Slate hobbles forward, leaves and branches crunching underneath his feet, reminding me of my gift. “Now, here’s what’s going to happen. Lake is going to come with me so the king can kill her personally and make sure she’s good and dead.” He stops just short of us. “As for you, Jules, I’m afraid your time in this life has come to an end.”

My lip twitches as I spread my fingers wide, whispering to the leafy vines that hang from the trees. Like snakes, they slither down the trunks and move across the ground.

Jules clutches my wrists.

“And to be extra certain you obey, I brought a little surprise.” Slate claps his hands, and two more guards stride through the trees, dragging a bound creature with them.

No, not a creature.

“Legend,” I whisper in horror, momentarily losing hold on my magic.

He stumbles forward, snagging my gaze. “Lake, whatever you do, don’t go with him.”

My gaze skims over him, inspecting for any wounds or injuries. Then I remember he’s a vampire, and while he can be hurt, cuts, scrapes, bruises, and broken bones never last long.

“I have to say that your little friend right here must really care about you.” Slate roughly pats Legend’s shoulder. “No matter how hard we tortured him, he wouldn’t tell me where you were. Lucky for my sake and the king’s, one of Jules’ guards informed me that Lake had shifted last night and fell asleep in the woods.”

Legend’s fangs descend from his gums. “When I get loose from these ropes—and I will—I’m going to rip your throat out.”

Slate just smirks. “Sorry to break it to you, but none of you are walking away from this.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” I whisper. “You’re the one who’s not going to be walking away.”

Then, like a bursting thunder and lightning storm, I unleash my magic. Vines and branches burst through the air and rip from the ground, slithering like venomous snakes and wrapping around Slate and the guards’ bodies. Cries and howls haunt the air as the vines and branches squeeze tighter and tighter and tighter, crushing their bodies, squeezing the life from their veins. Eyes bulge, last breaths gasps.

I ball my hands into fists, fingernails cutting into my palms, as I watch the scene unfold in terror, until finally Jules and Legend pull me away. Away from the wolves trapped in the tangled web of deadly vines and branches I created.