What!??

The loud crack that had interrupted them echoed again, this time closer.

"Did you hear that?" she whispered, her voice low.

Xavier nodded, his gaze fixed on the shadows ahead. "Stay behind me," he murmured, his tone calm but firm.

Another sound came—a low rustle, followed by the faint crunch of leaves underfoot. Whatever it was, it wasn't far.

Then, from the dense undergrowth, figures began to emerge. At first, Lula tensed, thinking it might be some sort of predator. But as the forms came into view, she realised they were human—faces she recognised.

It was the same group of warriors they had encountered during the battle with the Grasping Bloom.

"Lula! Xavier!" one of them called out, relief evident in his voice as he waved them down. The group looked worse for wear, their clothes torn and their faces weary.

Xavier relaxed slightly, though his posture remained guarded. "You again," he said evenly, his tone neither welcoming nor dismissive.

The young female warrior from the previous encounter stepped forward, her arm in a makeshift sling. "We're lucky we ran into you," she said, her voice strained. "There's… something else out here."

Lula frowned. "Something else? What do you mean?"

The group exchanged uneasy glances before the same female continued. "After we dealt with the Bloom, we decided to press on further into the forest. But… there's something stalking us. It's not like anything we've seen before."

Another warrior, a man with a deep scratch running across his cheek, added, "It's fast. Too fast. We can't tell if it's one creature or more, but it's been following us since last night. We haven't had a moment's rest."

Xavier's eyes narrowed. "And you led it here?"

The group bristled under his sharp tone, but the female warrior shook her head. "No! We've been moving carefully, doubling back, trying to lose it. We thought we did… but now we're not sure."

Lula glanced at Xavier, concern flickering in her eyes. "What do we do?" she asked softly.

Xavier's jaw tightened as he considered their options. He wasn't thrilled to be dragged into their mess again, but he couldn't ignore the clear distress on their faces—or the potential danger to Lula.

"We'll set a trap," he said finally, his voice steady. "Whatever it is, it's been hunting you. We might stand a chance."

The group nodded hesitantly, clearly relieved to have someone taking charge.

"What kind of trap?" Lula asked, her curiosity cutting through the tension.

Xavier glanced around the area, his sharp eyes assessing their surroundings. "We'll use the terrain. This spot has enough cover to keep us hidden and enough open space to force whatever it is to expose itself. We'll need bait… and someone brave enough to lure it out."

The warriors exchanged uneasy looks, but Lula stepped forward. "I'll do it."

Xavier's head snapped toward her, his expression darkening. "Absolutely not."

"Xavier, I can handle it," she argued, gripping her dagger. "I'm fast, and I've been training for this. You'll be right here to back me up."

"No," Xavier said firmly, his tone leaving no room for discussion.

Before the argument could continue, the distant sound of rustling leaves returned, louder this time. Whatever was stalking them was drawing closer.

Xavier looked at the group, then at Lula, his jaw clenched. "Fine," he said at last. "But you stay within my sight. Always."

Lula nodded, her determination unwavering despite the growing tension. The group quickly moved into position, readying their weapons and taking cover.

As the forest grew silent, all eyes were on the trees ahead.

At first, it was hard to tell what it was. It moved low to the ground, its body hidden by the shadows, its long, spindly limbs clawing at the earth. Its head turned sharply, and glowing, amber eyes locked onto the group. It let out a guttural snarl, its maw lined with jagged teeth.

"What is that?" Lula whispered, her voice barely audible.

The creature slinked closer, its movements cautious yet calculated. It was testing them, gauging their strength. Xavier raised his hand, signalling the group to hold their positions.

The creature moved forward, its body now fully exposed in the open space. It was larger than they had expected, its wiry frame stretching unnaturally, its sharp claws scraping against the ground.

The group sprang into action. Spears struck true, pinning the strange, wiry creature to the ground, while arrows thudded into its sides, weakening it further. The creature let out a guttural scream, thrashing violently, but the warriors closed in, their movements swift.

Xavier struck the final blow, his sword slicing cleanly through the creature's throat. It stilled immediately, its glowing amber eyes dimming as its body collapsed. The group stood frozen, panting from the effort, their weapons lowered as silence settled over the clearing.

"We did it," one of the warriors murmured, their voice filled with disbelief.

But before they could celebrate, the creature's body began to shift. A dark vapour seeped from its wounds, curling into the air like smoke.

"What's happening?" Lula asked, stepping closer to Xavier.

The smoke thickened, swirling unnaturally. Then, with a sudden burst, the creature's body dissolved entirely, vanishing into a dense, inky mist. Those closest to it, including Lula, breathed in sharply, their startled gasps pulling the strange vapour into their lungs.

Xavier grabbed Lula's arm, pulling her back from the dissipating cloud. "Don't breathe it in!" he barked, his voice sharp with urgency.

Lula coughed lightly, shaking her head as if to clear her thoughts. "I didn't mean to… it just—"

Her words cut off as she blinked, her expression suddenly distant. She turned to Xavier, her eyes darkening, not with fear, but with something else entirely.

Desire.

Her gaze fixed on him, her pupils dilated, her breathing shallow. She took a step closer, her fingers brushing his arm lightly as if testing his reaction. "Xavier…" she murmured, her voice softer than he'd ever heard it, almost dazed.

He frowned, watching her carefully. Her behaviour was strange—off. "Lula, are you alright?"

Before she could answer, Xavier's instincts flared. He glanced around and noticed the other warriors, particularly the males, watching Lula intently. Their expressions mirrored hers—hungry, possessive, their eyes tracking her every movement.

Xavier's jaw tightened, his grip on his sword firming. His golden eyes narrowed as he stepped in front of Lula, blocking her from view.

"Back off," he growled, his tone low and threatening.

The nearest warrior blinked, shaking his head as if coming out of a trance. "I… I didn't mean to—"

"Stay where you are," Xavier cut him off, his voice like steel.

Lula, oblivious to the tension around her, tugged on Xavier's sleeve, her touch lingering longer than usual. "Xavier," she whispered again, her voice laced with a strange desperation. "I… I'm so hungry."

He turned to her, his concern deepening as he saw the way she looked at him—like he was something to be devoured.

"Lula," he said cautiously, his hand brushing against her cheek. Her skin was warm, too warm. "Whatever that smoke was, it's affecting you."

She leaned into his touch, her eyes fluttering shut briefly before snapping open, filled with that same unsettling hunger. "I can't help it," she whispered. "It's like I need—"

"Not here," Xavier said firmly, pulling her behind him as the other warriors shuffled uncomfortably.

"Xavier," one of the male warriors began, his tone defensive, "it's not just her. It's—"

"I don't care," Xavier snapped, cutting him off again. "Keep your distance."

The group was clearly shaken, the remnants of the smoke's strange influence still lingering in their dazed expressions. But Xavier had no patience for them now. His focus was entirely on Lula, whose grip on his arm tightened as she leaned into him.

Without another word, he guided her away from the group, his protective instincts flaring as he moved them toward a safer, more private area. The others didn't dare follow, wary of the icy look in Xavier's eyes.

As they disappeared into the trees, Xavier glanced down at Lula, his mind racing. Whatever had been in that smoke was no ordinary toxin.