Selene’s POV

The creature crawled out of the crack.

It was no bigger than a wolf cub, but nothing about it looked like a living creature. Smoke curled around its body, mixed with thin streams of red light that pulsed beneath its dark surface.

It had no eyes.

No nose.

No face.

Only a mouth.

And that mouth was smiling.

Dawson moved closer to me.

“Mother,” he whispered. “What is that?”

“I don't know.”

I drew my sword, and silver fire spread along the blade.

The creature turned toward me.

Its smile widened.

“Hello, little queen.”

The voice made my skin crawl.

It was not coming from its mouth alone....