The three of them pushed deeper into the dense woods where truffles grew, their senses focused on the marks left behind by a wild boar. When Helena saw the size of the hoofprints, her chest tightened. She’d seen them before, that was true, but never with the intention of getting close to one of those mythical creatures—always the opposite. Until now, it had always been about avoiding them, steering clear at the slightest sign of their presence. But this time was different. This time, she wasn’t just following them—she was meant to confront one, and, as demanded by ancient tradition, face it with nothing but her bare hands and body.
“It’s a massive beast,” Leofrik whispered when he saw the same tracks Helena had noticed. “But I’m afraid there’s more than one. My sense of smell tells me the
