In Love With The King Of Beasts

L

forest of twisted trees under an indigo moonlit sky was

erson House at the University. And she'd

y the face of a woman with a very thin, angular face, til

, her hands scrabbling on dirt. She very definitely wasn't at the unive

here

ce was kind, but her features were very sharp. "You're in Wildwood," she said in a high voice and tipped he

-wh

ck robe swinging like a bird's wing as she opened her hand to the f

ther. The trees were silhouetted in moonlight so bright it made everything look silver and cast shadows

whispered behind her and was immediately sh

erd and you'll have to wait another year for your coming out." T

t the trees were thicker behind her, so she found

Where am I? How

s. The ritual is about to begin. You would do better to make pea

are these people?" her voic

ed and fluffed

u were brought here as a sacrifice-one who fights for the pleasure of the King. It is a rare honor, though I know you were not raised in your world to appre

"A sacrifice? What king? Wh

nly bring more questions. Hear me, then prepare yourself: When the drums begin to beat, the other

not fight

d the robe again. "If you do not fight you w

m not dying. This is a-a dream,

s. Soft, tiny feathers. But Elia didn't have time to consider what that meant before the woman continued, her eyes fixed on Elia's with a fierce light. "This is not a dream. You are no longer in your

you know

ng in the direction of the moonlight. "He comes," she said breathlessly. "And the other sacrifices also. Give your life to please him and you will be honore

time with the drums' beat. There didn't seem to be lines or order to how the people were gathered, but they moved in clusters, all of them walking before a tall figure, sti

m the shadows and she could finally see them in the

ere al

f some kind of paint that glowed white in the moonlight, making

paint... they were a

who were these people? And what were they going to do? But everywhere she turned, she met eyes

e drums

this King the woman had spoken of, finally steppe

circle bringing with him an air of violence only barely leashed, a sense of sheer animal power. His hair fell into his e

s knees, he wore leather pants and no shirt. His biceps,

er laid eyes on, and he scanned the clearing a

spaced themselves around the circle, each of them facing him with their heads bowed. Everyone, that is, except Elia. Sh

her, and for a split-second the light of recognition burned in them. There was a crystal moment d

and sucked

d his gaze to her left, and as he continued to sc