Our village has been warded for decades. Protected. Sacred to those in need. It isn’t lost on me that it’s been infiltrated now by the kingdom. Especially when someone who knows Loxley as well as I do stands at the king’s side.
I bite the inside of my cheek and close my eyes. There is so much anger brewing inside of me, I feel as though I’ll come undone. Burst right out of my clothes. My jaw clenches and that’s when I hear it.
A howl.
Elora bolts up, her eyes wide. “The wolves,” she says, grappling for the curtains. “They said someone’s out here.” She bites her bottom lip, pulling the curtain shut.
“And who might it be?” Thaddeus’ eyes are barely open as he asks, his gray hair sticking every which way.
“Hunters.” Elora’s knee bounces, so I place my hand on it.
“We’ll pull off and take care of this,” I say. She grabs my arm as I lean forward toward the driver. If it had been my way, we’d have taken horses, giving us more discretion. “I won’t leave you, love.” I kiss her forehead as the caravan comes to a stop.
“I’ll join you,” Calix says, eyeing Elora for a moment.
“The wolves can handle it,” she says. I glance at her over my shoulder. “Ruse says not to go.”
“Does she now?” I chuckle, kissing Elora again. “We’ll be right back.”
“I’m going too then,” she says.
“Elora—”
“I’m going if you’re going.” I open my mouth to argue, but I know it won’t matter so I shut it.
We take a timid step out, the breeze nipping at my ears, swollen droplets of rain landing on our cloaks. There's rustlingbehind me, leaves crunching. I turn just as a mass of black fills my peripherals.
Ruse.
Her lip curls over her teeth, and Calix flinches next to me. “Mother above,” he says, his voice dropping low.
“She’s harmless,” I say. Not quite the truth, not quite a lie.
Elora wraps her arms around Ruse, the massive wolf’s head dipping low to rest atop Elora’s. Alaric joins them next and Elora wraps her other arm around his neck. They sit like that for a moment, the moaning of tree branches the only sound between us.
“Where? “Elora asks, pulling back, wiping at her face.
Ruse trots ahead, Alaric at her rear and as we crest over a small hill, a dozen hunters sit around a fire.
“Good girl,” Elora whispers, running her fingers along her shiny, black coat.
The hunters sit with their backs facing us, their fire crackling, sending plumes of heat into the waking forest. Grizzly badges and vials litter the ground, as if they’ve been here awhile.
Camping out.
Waiting.
“What’s the plan?” Calix asks, his eyes glancing at Ruse and Alaric. His throat bobs as Ruse shows her teeth again.
My fingers twitch, the anticipation of a fight getting the better of me. “My plan is to treat them as well as they’ve treated my girl.”
I catch Elora’s smile out of the corner of my eye, before I pull my bow and nock an arrow. I’ve never been a fan of killing, but I’ve always done what I had to do to keep my people safe. Andsheis my person. I’ll be damned if I let anyone who thinks causing her or Enchantresses pain live a moment longer.
“Do it,” Elora says and that's all it takes. The first arrow lands, hitting a hunter in the side of the neck and then it’s nothing but chaos.
The rest of the hunters are on their feet, weapons drawn as the wolves sprint forward. Ruse meets the first hunter teeth first, then Alaric does the same. Calix falls backward, and I’m beginning to wonder why he came at all. Elora pushes past me as I let another arrow fly, hitting the farthest hunter square in the chest.
The men shout, only about a half dozen left when the forest shifts. My heart slams against my ribs as Elora lifts her hands, and pulls the weight of the falling rain down across the camp, engulfing the men that remain in a giant orb. She holds the water steady until the men floundering inside of it begin to still and only when there is no movement whatsoever, she lets the orb fall. It crashes to the ground in a thunderous wave, wetting everything in its path.
