CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

HAZEL 

They growled fiercely, showing their long fangs, and my breath stopped, as my smile ran down. 

The middle one opened its mouth wide, ready to bite into my head, and I just pushed my hands forward, scratching it behind its ears vigorously.

Like magic, it closed its mouth, and whined, enjoying it. With shock still on my face, I continued to scratch, and my tears ran down freely. 

Books had saved me. 

Hurriedly, I reached out to the other heads, my breath coming out sharply. The fear that they'd suddenly pounce on me was still there, eating at me.

I pulled on a wobbly smile, and they...