Cornered Prey

(Neva’s POV)

Rough bark scraped against my shoulder blades each time my chest rose. The forest spun in a dizzy circle of black branches and gray dusk. My arms pulled taut behind me, the coarse hemp rope biting deep into my skin until my wrists burned with fire.

I strained against the binding, but my limbs felt like lead.

Wolfsbane burned through my blood. The poison was heavy and toxic, turni