“Thank you,” I said, my heart soaring.
We had absolutely no more trails to follow to find the missing women. At this point, we doubted they were even still alive. However, the attack on me yesterday had sparked a new sliver of hope. Had it simply been spite, they would have just gotten the Djarins to kill me. But they stole the medallion. According to Pharos, had we not recovered it, once I died, the remaining parts of my soul would have sought to reunite with the Amulet the moment it left my body. Then, a powerful necromancer could have used it for their own purpose.
The question was who had tried to appropriate it? My gut screamed Elliot, but it was the Oracle who coveted my soulandmy body to use as her own. Elliot rescued her in the Sanctuary before we could finish her off. Considering she never relented in her efforts to get me back even twenty-five years after the Templars freed me, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to think she was behind all of this.
Either way, there was no point speculating for now.
We met Remus outside the inn, standing next to a flying mount. He was a very handsome man, wearing nothing but a tight pair of black shorts as he would discard them once he reached the edge of the Haunted Woods. He was bigger than most of the other Lycans—despite them generally being quite large and muscular.
At a glance, he would have struck me more as the Alpha than Ulric—who was also quite impressive in his own right. He had long, wavy, dark brown hair, almost black, that fell to his chest. Fur of a similar color covered his shoulders, the sides of his arms down to his wrists, and his chest down to his chiseled abs in a happy trail. Some more fur adorned the sides of his legs.
He smiled, exposing a sharp set of fangs as he watched us approach, his golden eyes brimming with intelligence. Like his mate, he had pointy wolf ears. Then again, he was the one whohad given them to her when he turned her into a Lycan a little over a year ago.
After quick introductions, we set off, with Lyall carrying me in his arms like a bride. However, he didn’t do so in his Gharlakan form, but using his light wings. Pharos informing him that they were now fully functional had also made my man crazy with excitement.
As per her training, Pasha had returned to the Inquisitor’s Sanctum at the end of the battle, after Lyall took me back from her. That had caused Prefect Ewan to believe I had met with my ultimate demise until I reassured him upon my return home last night. I intended to fetch Pasha later today or tomorrow. But with his new teleportation powers, I suspected Lyall would multiply the excuses to no longer require her services so that he could carry me instead.
As soon as we reached the start of the Haunted Woods, Remus dismounted, removed his shorts—which he hung on a branch—and shifted into his wolf form. Moving at impressive speed, the Lycan headed straight for a specific area, deep inside the forest. Nothing particular about it made it stand out, as was the wont of any good hideout.
Remus stopped and shifted back into his human form. He looked up to watch us land next to him a few seconds later. Only then did we realize this was exactly the spot Lyall had drawn out of the cultist’s memory. From a bird’s eye view, it looked deceptively different.
“This is it!” Lyall exclaimed as he put me back on my feet. “This is the place we were looking for!”
“Is that so?” Remus asked with a burning curiosity.
I nodded. “We believe close to a dozen women—clerics like me—are held captive in there.”
Remus recoiled, his face contorting with anger. “We will help,” he hissed.
“No!” I said in a tone that brooked no argument. “It is far too dangerous. If we are right, this is the hideout of some extremely powerful arcanists. We will not put you in harm’s way. It could be a trap.”
“Our shamans saw no such signs,” Remus said pensively. “But you could be right.”
“You’ve done more than enough, my friend,” Lyall said in a grateful tone. “You not only saved my mate’s life, but we also never would have found this place without you. We are in your debt.”
“No you’re not. You seem to forget you saved my own mate as well as my own life,” Remus countered.
“I guess that makes the two of you even,” I replied teasingly. “But the Order and I are in your debt.”
He waved a dismissive hand but didn’t argue further. The look in my eye must have made it clear it would be pointless.
“Are you seriously going in just the two of you?” he asked with a sliver of worry that touched me.
“We’re going in, but I’m calling for backup, just in case,” I replied. “So do not be surprised if you see a number of clerics and Templars dropping by.”
“Good,” Remus replied, visibly relieved. “Just don’t get yourselves killed. My mate would never let me live it down. Stay safe.”
“We will,” I replied with a smile.
Remus turned away from us, ready to initiate his shift back into his wolf form, but he paused then glanced at my man with a mischievous expression.
“By the way, sorry for making you stare at my cock again,” he said with a shit-eating grin.
I gasped, my eyes all but popping out of my head in shock. The Lycan didn’t wait for my mate’s response and shifted into his wolf form before taking off. I glanced at Lyall in totalconfusion. Yes, Remus had been standing naked before us as was normal under the circumstances. But this sounded like some sort of inside joke that I clearly wasn’t a part of.
Recovering from his own stupor, Lyall snorted before shaking his head with amusement.
“Wretched pup. I’ll get you for that,” he mumbled to himself as he turned to look at me. “I’ll tell you about it later.”
