Page 71 of Not Another Happily Ever After

I startle, and start to turn, but then I remember…

“Frog, your blade! It’s at camp!” I cry.

“I’ll be alright,” he promises, nodding over his shoulder. “Just go.”

The lupin drops to all fours and prowls ever closer to my painfully shy knight—though he looks anything but at the moment. His normally bashful form stands firm against the wolf-like creature. He doesn’t look at all afraid of the foam frothing from its mouth, or the heat of its amber glare. Ifit weren’t for the creature’s unnaturally long claws, I might actually believe Frog’s lie. Believe that he’ll be alright.

But life has a habit of taking what’s most precious and snatching it away.

“Frog…” I breathe, but the weight of that one word is heavier than just a name.

It’s a confession. A plea for the life that’s grown to mean so much to me.

It goes unanswered all the same.

The werewolf and the knight circle each other, but when the werewolf’s sharp gaze cuts to me, I realize too late…

He’s here for me.

My stomach bottoms out as the lupin lunges past the dark knight and sprints toward me. But just as his claw is about to slice through my face, he’s tackled to the ground, Frog’s roar ripping through the trees and rattling my bones as sharp teeth and bloodied flesh collide.

“Run, Princess!” he yells. “Now!”

With unshed tears turning the forest into little more than a blur, I run. Ignoring the sting in my feet and the dark curls and loose vines whipping at my face, I don’t stop. I can’t. Because the fear of what I’ll find is greater than knowing what’s coming for me.

Twice, I stumble.

Twice, I catch myself.

I can only hope there isn’t a third time. My strength is waning just as it did in the tower, only this time, there will be no Gally to soothe me.And there might not be a Frog either.

I will the heavythu-thumpof my heart to quiet. Plead for my legs to not give before I make it back to the others. They’re so close. Just past these crimson-covered bushes.

I start to wave my hands high above my head, hoping they’ll see me. But no one is awake.

“Please.” A whimper bleeds between pants. “Help!” I yell louder, using the last of the air in my lungs.

Merrek is the first to roll to his feet, with Myrrdin and Rhidland right behind him. Without shoes or armor, they sprint through the field my way.

“My lady!”

“Princess!”

Voices call out, but I’m already falling to the ground.

“Frog,”I breathe.

Then the darkness closes in and claims me.

Heavy footfallsand raised voices stir me from my dreamless sleep.

“…I’m just sayin’, her body wasn’t that blue before!”

A dark figure leans overhead, his voice low, but no less snappy. “Why are you looking at her body to begin with, Sir Leeralot?”

Myrrdin?I wince, the harsh glow from the fire forcing me to narrow my eyes.

“Oh, I don’t know,” another figure huffs, throwing his long arms in the air. “Maybe cause it’s my job, Sir Dimblewit!”