Fight The Monsters

>>Aelin

Ruoxy stood barely a step away, her grotesque, elongated form hunched over, her pitch-black eyes locking onto mine. Blood—fresh and glistening—streaked her mouth, dripping down her chin. The smell of iron and rot hit me, choking me.

"You didn't break," she drawled, her voice low and almost playful, a mockery of civility.

I couldn't move, couldn't breathe. My hands trembled as I instinctively stepped back, but my legs felt weak, like they would give out at any moment.

She tilted her head, her neck bending at an unnatural angle as her claws flexed, glinting in the dim dungeon light. "It's a shame I couldn't use you as a sacrifice," she mused, her tone almost wistful. "No doubt, you would have been a great one."

My throat tightened but I couldn't show her my fear, even though it felt like it was consuming me.