Once we’re through the gates and a safe distance away, Daciana stops and turns to me, her eyes wide.
“Why does nobody seem to notice us?” she asks.
I can’t help the chuckle that escapes. “Because we’re little more than wallflowers at this point.”
“Wallflowers?”
“The spell I used is a stealth enchantment, but not the kind you’re probably thinking of.” I guide her forward, keeping us moving. “As we pass people, they get the feeling that somebody’s walking by, but their senses are dulled. They don’t focus on us. Their minds just…slide off.”
Her eyes light up with understanding. “So, they know we’re there, they just don’t care?”
“Exactly. Only somebody who has magic, like a witch, would be able to distinguish what’s happening. And even then, they’d need to get close to us to understand what I’ve done.”
A grin spreads across her face. “That’s a useful spell.”
“It is,” I agree, feeling warmth bloom in my chest at her delight. “It’s one of my favorites. But I can only maintain it for so long. That’s why we need to hurry.”
We walk quickly through the outer grounds, leaving the palace behind. With each step, I feel the tension in my shoulders ease. The pressure of being the alpha, of the constant political maneuvering, of the threats that seem to come from every direction—it all falls away.
“Where are we going?” Daciana asks, slightly breathless from our pace.
“It’s a surprise.”
She shoots me a look. “You’re really not going to tell me?”
“Where’s the fun in that?”
We reach the edge of the grounds, where the carefully manicured gardens give way to dense forest. The trees loom tall and dark, their branches creating a thick canopy overhead. But there’s a dirt road—a well-worn path that cuts through the forest, leading toward the human town beyond.
When we reach it, I stop and turn to her.
“Hold on,” I say.
“What are you—Oh.” Understanding crosses her face. “We’re running?”
“The walk would take us two to three hours at least.” I grin at her. “But if I shift…”
Her eyes light up. “I’ll shift, too. We can—”
“No.” The word comes out before I can think about it.
She blinks. “No?”
I step closer, cupping her face. “I want to carry you.”
A slow smile spreads across her lips. “You want to carry me?”
“Is that so hard to believe?”
“You just wanna show off.”
“Maybe.”
I let the shift come, feeling my bones reshape, my body expand. Within moments I’m on four legs, towering over her. I lower myself so she can climb on. Daciana doesn’t hesitate. She grasps the fur at my shoulders and swings herself onto my backwith athletic ease. Her thighs grip my sides, and her fingers tangle in my fur.
I take off.
The world blurs around us as I run. Trees whip past, the road unspooling beneath my paws. The wind tears through my fur, and I can feel the steady rhythm of Daciana’s breathing against my back, the way she moves with me, anticipating every shift and turn.
