I glanced at the large sundial they had placed in the center of the large archway. I had a few hours to spare before night fell. I had enough time to talk to Andrmeda and eat dinner. A real meal. Not just blood. I watched a few guards hurry past and remembered the queen’s words. She knew who I was so would she let me compete? She did give me a rucksack. Maybe I should check it for surprises. Who knew what I was given?

I was about to open my rucksack when I was stopped by Andromeda who looked fragile and scared. “Can we talk?” she asked and I nodded following her to a dark corner Donny not far behind.

“I want to escape,” she said.

“Tonight…” I began.

“Now!” she whispered staring at the empty halls that led to who knew where in this place. I remember the queen talking about a land shark. What was that? I glanced at Andromeda who looked at me pleadingly. I sighed raking my longer tresses with my hands and shifted the weight of the rucksack before nodding.

“Fine. Donny? Do you have everything packed?” I asked as Donny approached me sparingly. Andromeda saw this and glanced at me.

“I’ll explain later,” I mouthed and she nodded pushing back her bangs with jittery hands. There was something she wasn’t telling me. I’d find out though I always did.

Donny checked his pack and nodded. “Good to go, Matt.”

“Let’s head out then. Andromeda, do you know the layout of this place?” I asked as we started for the entrance to the big hall. No one lifted a finger to help us. I thought that was strange. Whatever, it was easy to step out into the hallway and run down the passage with no guards on our tail. Andromeda led.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“I know the way,” she said as we hurried through two hallways and down a third. I couldn’t help but notice the green texture of the walls, and the embedded onyx that glowed eerily around the entrances to other caves. We took a right when the shouting began. It grew louder and Andromeda shook.

“It’s started,” she muttered collapsing to the floor in tears. I put the rucksack down and held her, brushing my fingers through her silky hair.

She rubbed her face with her hands. “The massacre. Some people weren’t happy that the queen did nothing after the last Houl attack and were going to rebel but someone has contact with the Houls and made a bargain with them. I heard them planning a massacre. I couldn’t let either of you die… not again.”

Donny squeaked as a howl ripped through the cave. “They’re hunting us! Again!”

“Way I see it is we stand and fight these Houls and escape or stay and help fight these Houls either way we are fighting these things,” I said eyeing the long hallway as the howling got worse.

Donny rose his hand. “Can I just sit and watch?”

“Only if you want to die,” I muttered and Donny scooted far from me.

I rolled my eyes.”For Pete’s sake, I’m not the one that’s gonna kill you!” I said peevishly which didn’t help with the scared boy’s reaction.

Andromeda looked from me to Donny and back. “Matt won’t eat you, Donny. He’s not a monster.”

“Y-you w-weren’t there A-Andy. H-he a-ate that g-guard! Alive!”

“We needed to escape and I drank his blood I didn’t eat him,” I muttered dejectedly. I didn’t want Andromeda to know about that. The thought of Andy with fear in her eyes directed at me would kill me.

Andy’s eyes widened s she glanced at me. I tore my gaze from Donny feeling it growing hot. Maybe I should eat the little sucker? I closed my eyes and felt arms wrap around me. Andromeda’s warm apple cider and wolf smell combined for one hell of a strange olfactory sensation. I opened my eyes and stared into her dark ones.

“Whatever you did Matt, you did to save yourself and Donny so there’s nothing wrong. These people shouldn’t have imprisoned both of you.”

“I-I was going to be his snack!” whined Donny pointing to me.

“But you weren’t were you? I would have eaten you for being an annoying busybody,” she said and Donny paled.

I chuckled and leaned down for a kiss when a shudder ran through me. Elana was near. She and her sisters were close by. They were some of the Houls invited to feast on these people. A loud wail sounded and I winced.

“Ready to face these things?” I asked Andromeda who sniffed into my chest and nodded before kissing me. It was a desperate kiss. She clung to me like she was thirsty and I was a drink of water. The only one left. She drank from my lips pulling them into her mouth and swirling her tongue over them. I moaned and let my hands wander down her curvy form to her pert ass petting it. She groaned but we kept it there. As much as I wanted to take her against these walls now wasn’t the time and Donny was still here…making his usual disgusted face.

I kissed her plump lips and restrained myself while she kissed my ears and face. She pulled back a grin on her face. “Now I’m ready!”

I smiled and kissed her forehead. “Let’s go.”

We started walking back, the screaming becoming louder with every step we took.