Brela yanked on the leash as black and purple embers collected around her. Cold, black flames became solid, wrapping around her body. Smoky teeth snapped and snarled at lizards. Liquid claws lashed out at any noglida still foolish enough to come near.
She stared up at the celvusa that sat next to her, tail wrapped around her legs like a familiar embrace. Like they were the same.
The shadow wolf turned purple eyes to her and blinked once.
Then bared its dripping teeth.
Brela’s smile turned feral.
They turned to the remaining noglida and growled as one. Their thunderous snarls shook the mountains as the rock at her feet cracked. Darkness erupted from the depths. Beasts tumbled off the cliff. Hisses turned to terrified whimpers and breathless whines as black fire shredded flesh and bone into dark green slop.
None escaped.
As thundering echoes faded into silence, as rocks settled and everything became still, Brela turned to the shadow wolf now standing and facing her.
“Please, what am I?”
The celvusa didn’t respond. Instead, the shadow wolf bent its front legs and lowered its head.
Bowing.
Four hells, it wasbowingto her.
Alei so’nim.The voice rumbled through her bones.You will soon be free.
Then it was gone. The shadow wolf faded into the night as smoke and fire.
Pain tore through her instantly. Brela panted and dropped to her knees, clutching at the shard in her collarbone while it screamed as loud as her own cry.
49
Broken Shadows
Cason stretched along the bed, muscles groaning from sleep. Good sleep, he realized, considering the sun was streaming through the window in his bedroom. When was the last time he’d slept this long? Never?
Blinking, he rolled over and smiled.
Brela.Even with her lips parted, snoring softly with wild curls and braids tangled around her, she looked like a goddess. Her legs were twisted in the sheets, arm draped over her naked chest. The sunlight outlined her skin with a soft glow, and even the obsidian in her collarbone seemed lighter, swirling with more purple than usual.
He reached up to run a finger over her nose.
“If you wake me up before I’m ready, I’ll stab you,” Brela mumbled.
Cason laughed and did it anyway. “I never know how you do that.”
His finger trailed down her nose, then brushed her brow. Weaved through her long hair. Coaxed a smile as they ran over her lips and cheek.
That smile. That’s the smile he’d so desperately wanted to wake up next to every morning. She was here, in his bed, smiling.
Cason’s grin faded. Brela was here. In Aelstow.
His fingers paused at the hollow of her throat.
She moaned, squishing her nose as her eyes remained closed. “Wait, no, don’t stop.”
“How did we get here?”
Brela’s grin didn’t fade, chin arching to move that touch lower. “Mmm, I seem to remember starting this on the couch, then riding you on the floor, then the wall for a bit before we finished on the bed.“
