FOUR
GRIM
Huldra blood still dripped from my knives as I breeched the clearing where we’d found Mimir. Normally I’d have taken the time to care for my weapons, but the second my blade had plunged into the monster’s heart and the adrenaline of battle eased, a sense of urgency that still hadn’t released its hold gripped my lungs and pulled me back. Back to Annabel.
I quickly took in the space, prepared to sling my magic out if something had crept up on the omega while I was away—but nothing but gray grass met my eyes. Gray grass and an empty tree stump where Mimir should have been.
Despite the urgency still clawing at my lungs, I lowered my weapons with a curse. I knew exactly what had happened. No beast had taken the prophet, nor savaged the omega I’d ordered to stay put. She’d simply…
