“Not tonight.”I pointed out where the damage had been done.
Chloe’s voice was tight. “That was done recently.”
Deshawn’s grip tightened on his weapons. “They waited until she escaped. They wanted to funnel us here.”
The shadow-male, Oren, swore under his breath. He turned to the liar with accusation.
“I couldn’t have known. I’m sorry.” He ducked his head, but I alone saw the slight smirk on his face.
I would kill him, but I knew he had a purpose.
I looked to Khal’ Sira.“It’s a trap.”
Oliver moved closer to Chloe, shielding her with his body. Deshawn shifted beside her, jaw clenched.
Good pack.
Protective.
Smart.
“If you try to open it, they will feel it. They will come with chains and blades and fire.”
Reverie’s voice cracked. “We have to get Chloe and the others home.”
I stepped into her path and lowered my head until my snout rested inches from hers. Her scent trembled—fear, fury, love, all bleeding together.“Stay. Fight. Kill those who hunt you. Then cross when the way is safe.”
Chloe looked between us, her eyes shone with fear and defiance. “I wouldn’t leave without you, anyway.” She turned to me. “What if they find the portal on the other side first and attack from there?”
“Then we kill them there too,”I growled.“I follow you through worlds if I must.”
The forest screamed a warning—snapped branches, distant shouts, metal on stone.
Hunters.
Dozens.
The fire-male snarled. “Reverie, they’re close.”
“Too close,” Oren, the leader, bit out.
Oliver slipped forward, blades drawn. Deshawn rolled his shoulders, ready for blood.
Chloe whispered, “We can do this.”
Khal’ Sira looked at every one of them, including me.
Her voice broke open with something ancient. “We make our stand here.”
I roared so deep the ground around us vibrated.
Good.
Let Bellona learn what it means to hunt monsters now that our queen has returned.
The first hunter broke through the trees with the stench of fear and sweat.
Then another.
