Candido turned swiftly with a roar. The air shook, and the beast tumbled aside as if the ground had shifted beneath its feet. He let out a startled sound and landed with a loud thump. It seemed stunned as it slammed into a large rock nearby.
Where had it come from?
“Run!” Candido said, shoving me away from the beast and back towards the Estate.
I turned, clutching the book to my chest and scanning the area when my sense of being watched seemed to spike. There were people, several people around us. Something sharp filled the air, then flames rose up around us. The heat of the fire warmed the air, and the light painted the forest with a golden orange glow. I felt my fear start to rise as I realized that we were trapped. In the trees, I saw several figures crouched and looking down at u
