Leaves crunch in the distance, and something jumps from tree to tree in a blur of speed. A limb falls.
“Werewolf.” Charen pulls his darkness out in tendrils of black. “Nothing else moves like that except—”
A howl cuts through his words and sets my teeth on edge. I grip the hilt of my sword. We don’t have time for this.
“I don’t think this is the king’s emissary.” Selene clacks her teeth then whistles high and sharp.
The movement stops.
“Do you see it?” Everett asks.
“Of course I do.” Selene jumps down from her unicorn. “Here, puppy!” She walks forward, arms wide, and the movement in the trees begins anew, this time even more furious.
Charen gives me a perplexed look.
I shrug. If we can dispatch this creature, then we can continue on our journey to Emma. That’s all I care about.
“Come here, puppy.” Selene whistles again as it approaches, and I finally get a look at its gray fur and yellow eyes.
It growls low and creeps from behind a large tree trunk, its body fully illuminated in moonlight. Large, hulking, and with teeth that already have bits of flesh hanging from them—the beast focuses on Selene.
“Come, come.” She motions it forward.
“Is this wise?” Everett asks, his arrow pointed at the creature.
“I’m a dog person.” Selene cackles and moves toward the monster.
It growls louder, saliva stringing from its mouth and dripping on the ground.
I draw my sword and dismount as my warriors surround me. “You can’t trust a slave to the moon.”
She turns and gives me a bemused look. “Is that so?”
“The moon is wily, ever-changing in its shape and pull. Watch yourself.” I keep behind her, my sword at the ready.
“Don’t scare him.” She waves us away. “Come here, puppy, and I’ll tell you a secret.”
It approaches on all fours, its growl steady as it eyes Selene.
“He sees you as prey, Selene. You should step back.” I don’t want to slay the beast—after all, there’s a fae or a changeling trapped inside it, but I don’t have time for this. For all we know, King Sigrid’s legion is forming right now, waiting to ambush us. We have to move quickly.
“No, he’s a good boy.” She eases toward it.
The growls increase, and when she reaches for it, it snaps its teeth at her.
“Be a good doggie.” She doesn’t stop moving, just continues slowly until she’s so close the beast could rip her throat out.
It towers over her. Then, she leans forward and whispers to it.
It howls so loudly that several night birds launch from the trees, and Charen sends out his darkness to pool at its feet. But then it sparkles in muted gray tones. Ripples and eddies of magic surround it, and as Selene takes a step back, the creature shrinks and changes until a lesser fae stands before us, his eyes still that deep yellow as he stares at the witch.
“Nice to meet you.” She gives a pointed look to his naked crotch. “All of you.”
“How?” He looks at his hands as if he’s never seen them before.
“Long story.” She shrugs. “Quick question.”
He blinks, clearly still unsure.
