Rise of the Phoenix (Return To Avalore #2) Read Online Free Page B

through the air in the way of their people, using manipulated energy to cross distances at much greater speeds, but the beasts would see her bright energy like a glowing rainbow, and her mission would be doomed before she got anywhere near their camp.
    The rough terrain and oppressive darkness made the journey slower than she would have liked. She had never had to fend for herself in the Dark Lands, but her pack had taught her well. She knew the dangers of these lands inside and out. Staying south of the ridge, she avoided the nasty little bird-like creatures that could pick all the flesh from a body within minutes. The Grondas couldn’t fly, but their razor-sharp teeth could tear through just about anything. Okay, so she had never seen them attack a live animal, but she didn’t trust them. The fleshless carcasses they left behind made her wary. Something in their beady little eyes made her heart race whenever she spotted one.
    She had crossed the valley at a full out sprint, but slowed her pace now that she neared the camp. The thick brush, riddled with traps set by the Erritrols, took time to navigate. One false step and she would perish. Using a long branch, she poked and prodded the land before each step, more than once dodging a blade as it sprung from its hiding place in the damp vegetation on the ground.
    A twig snapped behind her, freezing Brienne in her tracks. There were no malicious energies around her, no discernable threats, yet her skin pricked and a coppery metallic taste slid over her tongue, not strong and acrid like that of the enemy, but there just the same. Lifting her nose to the air, she sniffed and allowed the breath she had taken in to escape. Squatting low to the ground, she turned on the balls of her feet. Nothing moved in the impenetrable darkness, but then she hadn’t expected it would. Two of her packmates had followed. Not that she could see them, she wouldn’t unless they wanted her to, but their energies were not far behind. Shaking her head, she rose, intent on continuing her journey. She was almost there.
    Nothing but rage flowed in the enemy’s veins. Vengeance would drive them to unthinkable cruelty. Death would be more merciful, but they would keep Evan alive until his usefulness was gone. At least, that’s what she kept telling herself. She swallowed hard, shoving the persistent thoughts trying to rob her of reason aside. She couldn’t let the knowledge of what would happen to her mate if he had not gotten away put her at risk. She wouldn’t be able to help him if she was dead before she got there.
    The tiny hairs at the back of her neck stood again. She scanned the energies around her. Confident the enemy wasn’t near, she grinned and quickened her step. She would not be dissuaded or taken off course, but she couldn’t keep from putting the men to their paces. Veering left, she took to thicker brush. Petite as she was, slipping around the brambles and ducking beneath low tree limbs was easy, but her pursuers wouldn’t be so lucky. She wasn’t crazy, she wouldn’t hinder them to the point of being unable to defend themselves or even her if need be, but they would know she was on to them.
    Moments later, a low growl rumbled a short distance behind her. They were closer than she had thought. Shaking her head, she took off again. The encampment was over the next rise, so they could catch up there.
    Each step she took closer to the enemy camp added weight to the dread pressing on her. The area before her was quiet—too quiet. Swallowing her fears, she plowed forward. The large camp would have taken hours to disassemble and move, even in the state they had left it. There was no way they could be gone already. A soft wisp of smoke rose above the knoll, curling in the breeze, carrying the scent of charred wood and her hope of removing Evan from their clutches with it.
    “We’re too late. They’re gone.” She didn’t have to look behind her to know her packmates had caught