little creatures. He was too slow, though. They dodged his claws and raced between his legs, chittering laughter all the time.
Charity kicked another, barely stopping herself from using her magic. It wasn’t her only defense. She’d taken martial arts lessons since she was twelve. She moved through her fighting styles, punching and kicking the small creatures with ease. They were fast, but she was faster, fueled by adrenaline and nearly a lifetime of practice.
One launched into Steve’s mane. He roared and shook his great head, flinging it off, but another dropped onto his back from God knew where. Andy lunged forward and punched it off before stomping on its head.
Another violet explosion lit up the wood to Charity’s right. A second, larger explosion flared to her left before zinging out in all directions, sending sparks directly at a handful of creatures. Those sparks detonated as they hit their targets.
“Your magic is insanely good for attacking,” Penny murmured, at Charity’s side. A strange thing for her to say, given that she was the one who’d created the second, more impressive spell.
The area to the right of them lit up with an even brighter spell. It almost seemed like they were one-upping each other. Their blasts of electrified light zapped ten or more creatures on each round.
A wolf snarled, followed by a creature howling. Steve caught one of the things between his teeth. Blood squirted in all directions.
Another explosion went off. Squeals crowded the air. That did it. The creatures took off, scattering back into the wood, beaten.
Like a bubble popping, suddenly the full spectrum of sound rushed back. Leaves rustled and feet crunched the dirt.
“First ambush down, who knows how many to go,” Emery said into the following hush.
Chapter Seventeen
By the time the murky orange glow filtering through trees lightened, reminding Charity that they’d technically been traveling at night even though the entire time her eyes and brain had said it was day (common in the Realm, she remembered), the edge of the wood loomed within sight.
Their party had been deathly quiet the last couple of hours, traversing the danger with keen eyes and exhausted bodies. Strangely, though, they’d only encountered one other group of hostile creatures— a group of exiled gnomes who clearly didn’t give a fuck, and were intent on fighting regardless of the odds.
They were now deceased exiled gnomes.
“I thought you said this wood was the most dangerous you’d come across,” Penny said, her voice soft to match the false tranquility of the wood. Her eyes continually scanned their surroundings and her hands stayed near her chest, ready to work magic.
“It is,” answered Emery, who’d drifted closer to her and stayed there. “This trip has been unnaturally quiet.”
“Is it because we have a larger crew?” Penny startled and her hands jerked. A strange sheen spread through the trees before winking out. “Oops. I thought I saw something.”
“I saw it too. And maybe the size of our party has scared some attackers away, though from the stories I’ve heard, a large party is usually an invitation for the wood’s more cunning inhabitants. They take it as a challenge.”
Penny looked back through the line. “Everyone is still here, right?”
“Still here. No one has eaten anyone else,” Andy replied.
Emery leaned around Charity to see her side of the wood. “It doesn’t make sense.” His brow furrowed before he scanned his side again.
“The elves?” Charity guessed. “It seems everyone in this place is terrified of them.”
“For good reason.” Emery scratched his face. “But if they’d taken over the wood, someone would have stopped us by now.”
Penny tensed as they crossed the tree line, the path opening up as it led up a gradual incline toward a small mountain. Trees and brush still dotted the way, but the early morning glow bathed them in soft light, chasing away any dark shadows or easy hiding places for predators.
Charity sighed softly, giving in a little to the tremors racking her body and the fatigue that made each stop arduous.
“We’re almost to a secluded resting spot,” Emery said, and if it wasn’t for the comforting smile Penny gave her, Charity wouldn’t have known he was talking to her.
“I’ll be okay,” she assured them, wondering how Devon was faring. He probably wasn’t showing his fatigue, trudging on with the confidence that befitted an alpha, but he was just as tired; she could feel it.
Emery was true to his word. Not even an hour’s trudge later, he held up a fist and slowed. Everyone slowed with him. Well,