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	Chapter Twenty-Three (excerpt)
	A shiver of apprehension slithered down her spine, sending chills reverberating through her in its wake. She huddled deeper into the meagre warmth in the folds of her mantle. Her breath came out in soft puffs of steam. It hung suspended for a moment, before floating away in the cool night air. She forced one foot in front of the other, again and again, pushing herself deeper into the gloom of the woods. As she walked along the edge of the road, she listened for the usual sounds of the night above the pounding of her heart. She was suddenly startled to realize there were none. No sound of crickets, no gentle hum of wee creatures emerging to hunt for food. No frogs calling back and forth. Nothing but sharp, fearful, silence. Rianna swallowed as dread crawled up her spine. It almost felt as if someone was…watching her from the shadows. Her step faltered at the thought. She forced down the rising lump of fear, recalling the last time she’d felt the terrifying sensation. Stubbornly, she scoffed at herself for being so silly. She could not possibly be attacked by a wolf—twice. It was nothing more than her imagination getting the best of her. Her gaze scanned the deeper shadows of the forest, but saw nothing. No one is watching you, she scolded. But the feeling persisted, seeming to grow with each passing moment. Rianna quickened her pace. Her cold fingers tugged on the cloak, for all the warmth seemed to have drained from her body. Her gaze darted about, searching the gloom but found nothing. Crack. Her heart jumped at the sound reverberating like a thunderclap through the still forest. A gasp tore from her lips. Eyes wide, she glanced into the shadows behind her. She stood paralysed, her heart hammering with all the speed of a galloping horse. A deeper shadow moved in the darkness. Rianna inhaled sharply, seized by terror. Unable to move or draw another breath, she watched in horror as a massive wraith lumbered onto the road. Brigands! her mind screamed. Run, you fool, run! Picking up her skirts, she broke into a dead run. The massive hooves cut into the sucking mud, rumbling behind her as the horse broke into a gallop. Looking back, Rianna screamed as the monstrous charger bore down on her, its intent clear. Pushing herself harder, she scrambled through the slick mud. The low rumbling became louder as the horse closed in on her, the dark silhouette of the rider barely visible. Her hood flew back, her loose hair streaming behind as she darted down the road like a frightened doe, unable to think for the dread claiming her. S uddenly the thunder became a raging storm. Looking over her shoulder, she saw more riders join the hunt, destroying the remote hope it was Reynard coming for her. Rianna shrieked, feeling a hot blast of breath against her neck. If she did not escape, the horse’s hooves would trample her into the ground. Abandoning the road, she ran into the woods—momentarily losing the horses. Rianna darted through the trees like a hart running from a pack of ravenous wolves. She leapt over fallen logs and felt the sting of branches smacking her face, but still she pressed on. The sound of hooves pounding into the soggy forest floor rumbled in her ears as the brigands gave chase. With her heart beating like the wings of a caged bird, Rianna ran. Soon her body began to tire, growing heavy, slowing as the ground beneath her trembled with the closeness of the horses. Giving a startled cry, Rianna tripped—her foot catching on a tree root. She landed hard, sprawling onto the forest floor. Twisting onto her back, she watched in horror as a massive black shadow vaulted over a log, its flailing hooves mere inches from striking her. Shrieking, Rianna rolled out of the way. Rising to her feet, she gasped, pain shooting up her leg. She turned to see the rider reining the massive charger after her. Panicking, she ran, pain throbbing through her as she limped, the same injured ankle as before. What a fool you were to leave Reynard! her heart cried out. Horrified, Rianna looked back to see an arm reaching for her. It snaked about her waist and yanked her off her feet. Floating weightlessly for a moment, she was slammed onto the saddle, caged by a hard wall of flesh. Her scream was suddenly cut short by a hand clapping over her mouth. Squeezing her eyes shut, Rianna was certain her life was about to come to a grisly and terrifying end...
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