She was the girl in the paintings.
I couldn't tear my eyes away from her. She was everything the legends had whispered about and more—a monstrous beauty, something between a queen and a nightmare. Her tall, lupine ears perked atop her head, twitching slightly as if they caught every sound. Her luscious, curly brown hair cascaded like a river of shadow, blending seamlessly into the black fur that covered her back, arms, and legs. The gold-plated armor she wore gleamed against the muted tones of Aeaea's strange light, accentuating her strong shoulders and sculpted biceps. But then there were her legs—sleek, fur-covered wolf legs with taloned feet that scraped against the ground. Behind her, her tail swayed, deliberate and calm, like a predator toying with her prey.
She was mesmerizing, terrifying, and absolutely real.
