The creature hit River with the force of a collapsing wall.
Wood shattered. Glass burst from the windows in a shrill rain of splinters. The two of them slammed into the far side of the hall, tearing a painting clean off the wall as they crashed to the floor.
Evelyn screamed.
River rolled just in time, claws erupting from his hands as he blocked snapping jaws inches from his throat. The thing smelled wrong—rot and iron and something ancient beneath it. Not fully wolf. Not fully anything.
A hybrid.
The monster snarled, saliva dripping between its fangs as it pressed down on River's chest, strength fueled by something unnatural. River growled back, low and feral, muscles straining as his wolf surged forward, furious at being challenged on its own ground.
"Get off him!" Evelyn cried.
She didn't wait for permission.
