Azura's POV
The rogue was close enough now that I could hear it breathing. That low, wet sound with every step forward was the worst part. It wasn't the sheer size of the beast or the rows of yellow teeth that made my blood turn to ice. It was just that breathing. It was slow and patient. It sounded like the creature already knew how this ended and was simply enjoying the walk toward its prize.
My leg was on fire. When the tree trap had swung and thrown us both off Liona's back, something in my hip had shifted out of place on landing. It wasn't broken. I knew what broken felt like from the scraps of my childhood. This was different. The joint was in a position it was not supposed to be in. Every time I tried to put weight on that side, a sharp, white pain shot straight up my spine. It made my vision blur. I stood there, stubbornly alone, with nothing else.
