POV: Nixie
It lunged directly at me.
I had barely time to suck in a breath before the creature slammed into the earth where I'd been standing. Dirt exploded upward in a violent spray. I threw myself sideways, landing hard on my shoulder, pain cracking down my arm like lightning.
I rolled, scrambling to my knees.
The creature lifted its head.
Its golden eyes locked onto mine— ancient, furious, starving.
My pulse stuttered.
It wasn't shaped like any wolf I'd ever seen. Too large. Too dark. Its outline flickered as if the shadows themselves clung to its fur. Its fangs were long enough to be seen even when its mouth was closed, and each exhale steamed like smoke against the cold night air.
“What are you…?” I whispered.
It snarled-low, vibrating, not quite wolf, not quite monster. The
