Primrose's eyes widened as Callen dashed through the forest, his speed almost unnatural. The trees and shadows around them blurred into streaks of color.
She had never moved this fast in her life, not even while riding in a horse-drawn carriage.
But no matter how fast Callen ran, the tiger beasts chasing them were just as fast. Some were already dangerously close, their growls echoing through the forest.
Salem, running alongside them, suddenly spoke up. "Your Majesty, you hired me to be your poison tester," he panted. "This…" He paused to catch his breath. "This wasn't part of the deal. You didn't hire me to fight off a pack of bloodthirsty cats!"
"Stop calling them cats!" Callen snapped. "Cats wouldn't cause this much chaos!"
"Oh? Because they're weaker?" Salem shot back.
"No!" Callen shouted. "Because they're smarter and they'd wait until you're asleep to kill you!"
