The Duke's Reluctant Bride

Chapter 62: The Smitebearer

There, just beyond the edge of the path, something moved.

A giant salamander crept silently through the undergrowth, keeping pace with the wagon. Its long body slithered between the trees with unnatural speed. Its brown and moss-green skin blended almost perfectly with the forest floor, making it nearly impossible to notice unless one looked carefully.

Its eyes burned with a faint purple glow, while dark veins snaked along its neck.

Without hesitation, the creature opened its mouth.

A long, slick tongue shot forward.

"Philip!" Robert shouted, lunging toward the boy.

But he was too late.

The creature's tongue lashed out and wrapped tightly around Philip's body, yanking him from the wagon in a single violent motion.

The boy gasped, his eyes wide with shock.

Everything happened too fast.

Before he could even struggle, the sticky coil tightened around him as the creature dragged him toward the forest

"Father! Uncle!" Philip cried, desperation in his voice.

Fear flashed across Robert's face, but it vanished just as quickly. His heart pounded in his chest as instinct took over. Without thinking, he unsheathed the machete at his side and leapt from the wagon, charging toward the creature.

The wagon screeched to a stop at the side of the path. Gilbert jumped down as well, drawing his own machete and rushing forward.

The creature shifted when it saw them approaching. It stepped back slightly, its movements eerily silent.

Then its jaws opened wider.

Wider than any normal creature should.

Like a snake unhinging its jaw, its mouth stretched grotesquely as it swallowed Philip whole. The boy's small body slid down its throat, leaving a bulging shape along the creature's neck.

Both brothers froze in horror.

"Philip!" Gilbert shouted, desperation cracking through his voice as he charged forward. He swung his machete toward the creature's side.

But the monster moved faster.

Its massive tail lashed through the air and struck Gilbert with brutal force.

The impact hurled him across the ground. His body slammed hard against a large stone before collapsing onto the earth, motionless.

"Gilbert!" Robert shouted.

But the creature was already turning toward him.

It advanced quickly, its purple eyes still burning with an unnatural glow.

Up close, Robert finally recognized it.

A Verdant Gulper.

His breath caught.

That's impossible...

Verdant Gulpers were known forest creatures, reclusive and harmless unless provoked.

They didn't hunt people.

And their eyes certainly didn't burn with violet light, nor did veins bulge along their necks.

Why is it attacking us...?

Robert tightened his grip on the machete, his gaze locked on the creature.

And what happened to its eyes?

The Verdant Gulper opened its mouth again.

Then it lunged at him.