“Over there,” I called out.
Zephyr pulled up, flapping his large wings to hold us in place as he surveyed the area. The eagle’s head shook, and he let out a cry.
“What do you mean,no? That’s where I need to go.”
The tuft of his tail slapped me, and he leaned down so I could see his face. His head moved back and forth as if to indicate to the city before us. Lights, boats, people, cameras. Too much activity to risk a mythical creature being seen. Zephyr couldn’t get any closer, not in this form.
“Fine. Then let me go.” The eagle’s head shook rapidly, his white feathers swishing with the movement.
I was too close to turn back now. The hum in my chest from Bowen’s connection was faint, but stronger than it had been on Malterra. Anger and determination filled me. Closer. I had to get closer. A growl was building inside me. “Letme go, Zee.”
The griffin hesitated, and I could see him trying to look for another option. Enough of my wolf pierced through, and I growled out, “Fucking drop me!”
The talons wrapped around my shoulders flexed but didn’t open. Unable to wait for Zee to fight his conscience, I let my fangs break free and bit the one on my left. It wasn’t enough to crunch or break anything, but enough to make him release me as he let out a surprised cry. With all my weight hanging from one talon, we pitched sideways. A large huff of hot air blew out of me in warning, and he seemed to get the message. Reluctantly, his grip loosened, sending me into a freefall. His clothes flew out of my arms as I tumbled end over end as the tree-covered hill rapidly approached.
Flying sucked, and I hated every second of being in the air, but, as it turned out, falling was so much worse. This was going to hurt like hell, but in a body that constantly mended itself whenever my wolf retreated into me, pain was nothing new and nothing I couldn’t handle, especially with the tug in my chest pulling tighter.
Somewhere between Zee’s talons and the ground, I shifted into my werewolf form. Long, clawed hands swung out, grasping at any tree branch they could reach. I was flung from side to side as trees and bushes didn’t break my fall as much as they added more obstacles for me to hit on my way down. I landed with a large thud, knocking the wind out of me. Once I couldbreathe, I assessed my hairy body, seeing through my wolf’s vision. Aside from bumps and scrapes and the pounding in my head, I was relatively uninjured considering I’d fallen hundreds of feet.
Pushing up to my feet, I realized I was only a couple of miles away from the city. Gods, the connection with Bowen was stronger. I nearly collapsed from the relief of feeling him now that I was on the same island as him. Though the relief was short-lived, as the connection was tinged with fear and a sense of disorientation.
“Hang on, Bowen. I’m coming.” I pushed the thought as hard as I could and began running toward the town. As it grew nearer, awareness of the populated city slowed my steps. As with the first time, I’d come to this island for a brief stop before continuing to ours, I knew I couldn’t run around as a werewolf. I wouldn’t be able to help Bowen if I got myself captured. My wolf recognized it as well and sank back into me. Change and change again. It was the most frequent I’d ever been able to transition and the most in control I’d ever been, despite howout of controlI felt not having Bowen with me.
We worked together, seeing when one form was needed over another, without fighting and without losing myself. When my claws and fangs were out, I was there, and when I was in human form, my wolf was there. Maybe it was the adrenaline and the need to keep going, but I didn’t feel any fatigue after shifting either.
Smells, sounds, and sights pummeled me as I came upon the outskirts of the small but busy port town. Tourists, boats, food, and engines; it was overwhelming to my heightened senses, senses that I opened fully, trying to lock in on the only one that mattered. Closing my eyes, I forced myself to calm down and block everything out. My nostrils flared wide as I inhaled deeply.
There! I caught it. Orange marmalade. I took off running, not caring if I looked like a weirdo. At least a weird man was less likely to get hauled off than a normal werewolf. At each corner, I drew in a breath, following the trail of his scent. A row of small shops appeared, and I felt in my gut that I was near where he’d been when we talked.
A stronger burst of Bowen’s scent drew me into a narrow alley as my sharpened vision searched every inch of the small space. I squinted at the wall, practically able to see where his hand must have rested against it. He’d been dizzy. Had he stepped in here to try to steady himself? Leaning closer to the wall, I sniffed it deeply, taking in every last speck of his scent I could. When I moved, something rattled as my foot kicked it. I looked down and saw his phone.
My heart seized in my chest at the sight of his abandoned phone, covered in shadows, in an empty alley.Feelingthat something had happened was bad enough, but having physical evidence was far worse. I picked up his phone and staggered on myfeet, leaning against the same spot on the wall he had, as if touching the space he had touched could bring him closer.
“I’ll find you, I swear it.”
Bowen
Darkness. It was all around me and inside me. I blinked hard, but there was nothing to see. Not even a hint of light. I couldn’t even see the frames of my glasses or tell if my eyes were actually open, so I blinked them again to no avail. My mind felt just as black as my vision. A soft scratching at the back of my head was the only thing I could track. Cold, crisp air circled around me, and I felt a slither of motion around my hands, tightening to hold them in place behind my back. There was a musty smell in the air that tasted of metal.
The darkness surrounding me was so complete that it was dizzying. Or maybe I was still seasick. Somehow, the illness seemed to dissipate slightly when I’d been talking to Rudy, as though his voice was the very thing I needed to counter my symptoms. Had he felt me? Is that how he had known to call?Shit! Rudy!
The last thing I could remember was leaning against a wall, trying to keep the world from spinning, when he called me. There had been an edge to his voice, but I was so relieved to hear it that I hadn’t dwelled on it. Then the shadows…
A shiver racked my entire body, making whatever I was sitting on wobble. The shadows. They found me. It happened so fast, and I hadn’t been able to say anything. Before I knew it, I was cloaked in darkness, shadows covering my entire being. When I opened my mouth, I felt them rush inside me, cutting off any chance of speaking. Gone was my ability to focus on anything at all.
Now, I was here—somewhere cold, lightless, and with thick, musty air. My head was still foggy, and I couldn’t find the place that allowed me to speak with Rudy mind to mind. Again, that itch in the back of my head came, but an ache rolled through me when I tried to concentrate on it.
Leaving the itch, I searched the rest of my body, nearly crying out loud when I felt that warmth in my chest, which I knew came from Rudy. It was laced with fear, and I hated to think of what Rudy was going through, not knowing what was happening. Did he feelmyfear? Would it drive out the mindless beast and send him reeling out of control? He was so reactive to me, something I truly loved about him, only now I dreaded what it might doto him.
Despite the dense air, I took several deep, calming breaths, trying to keep my head and, in turn, hoping it helped Rudy keep his, too.Think, Bowen. If my sight was of no help, I needed to rely on other senses. I closed my eyes, which seemed pointless, but it helped me feel less adrift in a world without reference.
A drip sounded in the distance. It was a tiny ping against something solid. It wasn’t much to go on, but it helped anchor me. With my body and mind understanding that I wassomewhereand not just floating in endless darkness, I felt the tightness in my chest loosen slightly. Focusing on the drip, holding onto it, I held my breath to try to hear beyond my own noise that seemed to echo in my ears. A huff sounded to my left. Someone was here! Or…something.
I did the only reasonable thing, which happened to be the thing you should never do according to horror movies. I talked to the ‘something’in the dark.
“Hello? Who’s there?”
Another huff sounded in response. Okay. I could work with that. At least it was responsive to a prompt. If I could get a little more out of it, then I might be able to communicate more easily. My first priority was finding out if I was intended to be its next meal. That was a crucial detail when dealing with unknown creatures, although, in my experience, even a hungry predator would pause in the face of something they didn’t understand. Beingunderstoodwas a hard thing to understand.
