“Sit in a chef’s kitchen and talk food for a few hours? Ya, Doggie! Getgoing!”
I chuckled and put all my effort into eating up the miles with my four paws. Through the night, the terrain changed from grassland to hills to mountains back to valleys as we sped through the Harrowlands. I let her sleep through the next day of travel, breaking only to eat from the pack and drink from the streams. Every time Fallon climbed off, she was a little stiffer, a little less enthusiastic. I pretended not to notice when she took a swig from the bottle I’d nabbed. She never told me why she missed some days in the kitchen, or grew irritated with small, simple things at times.
This was finally my chance to know everything about her and for her to really understand me. As she climbed on my back for one last push to Sombermane, I yipped with joy. The wind in my fur, mate by my side. This might have been the worst week of Fallon’s life, but it was absolutely the best week of mine.
Chapter 3
Ned
Ishook my kill in my mouth, snarls filling the frigid air. The towering pines witnessed my flawless hunt, and I liked to think they would shout their approval if they could. The wind shifted. Suddenly, the giant wolves surrounding me bayed for blood. Someone had approached their territory and the pack would let no one further than the border of Sombermane.
They streaked into the dark, parting the cold mist around them like swirling shadows. I pushed to keep up with them, muscles straining with every stride. Snow sifted down on us as we flew through the gloam, pounding pine needles into the forest floor with our speed. Great chuffs of air helped me run faster, but also brought the scent of my favorite person. The carcass of my latest kill clamped in my mouth, I bounded forwardinto the night–jaw tight, teeth sharp. I was fearless. I was the wind and the fury. I was a good boy.
Chapter 4
Fallon
Irubbed a hand across my eyes, blearily taking in the pine forest looming around us. Branches, dotted with snow, reached through the night with shaggy fingers. Who knew a wolf the size of a horse would make such an easy mode of transportation?
We’re here, Honey. Get down, but stay behind me.
We faced a field of pine needles and more trees. Not-at-all ominous mist billowed around us. “Is something wrong?”
It’s best to treat the border with care. You’re never sure what lies beyond.His body filled with an out-sized amount of tension for that bland statement.
Declan wasn’t exactly mysterious with the amount he was always chatting with all of us, but sometimes he said stuff like that, and it made me wonder. He hid a lotbehind that constant smile. Nothing men hid from you was ever anything good.
What lies beyond, Declan?I asked as the hairs rose on the back of my neck.
The perfectly normal, if eerie, nighttime forest shouldn’t have been a cause for concern. My skin felt otherwise, pebbling. Anticipation peppered the air, as if the land itself held its breath. An owl hooted in the distance, a plaintive sound in the night. Running my hand through Declan’s dark fur, he sniffed the ground and let out his own bass howl that raised every hair on my body, not just my neck.
Nightfell might have gone Ajak.
Don’t bother to explain whatever the seven hells that is. It already sounds scary enough,I said into his mind, unwilling to add my voice to the dreadful silence of the wood.
Without the Old Magic, we can turn strange.
Strange wasn’t a very encouraging word. Suddenly, the night didn’t look as friendly. Rustling came from every direction. My breath fogged the air before me. I stepped to the left to make sure the forest wasn’t at my back until I realized the wood was everywhere. So was the mist twining through the old-growth trunks, curling around my ankles, hiding Declan up to his elbows.
Is there… a road or a line, or a big glowing magical sign I’m supposed to stay behind?I clutched my cloak closer around by body.
Behind me, Honey. Stay behind me.
Declan puffed up to an impressive, cuddly size, but the wolves that slunk out of the mist were veritable monsters. My legs loosened at the joints. Easily the size of Ward’s massive bear, their lupine grins skidded to a halt a measly three feet from us. Claws that could cut me in half dug into the pine straw that covered the earth. I resisted the fruitless urge to run. I didn’t move at speed except to get to the next cooking station. Which, granted, was its own workout, but it wasn’t “fighting giant wolves" in-shape.
Their fur bled to black and white in the moonlight, teeth dripping as a low growl filled the space between the pines with menace. Though he was big enough to ride like a horse, one of them easily outmatched him, let alone three of them.
Where’s–
But Declan didn’t have time to finish before a golden streak burst from the forest and barreled into him. I screamed with all my lung power and searched for something useful to do with my magic because I sure as seven hells wouldn’t win with my fists. Gathering whatever I had left in me, I squeezed the closest wolf. Her eyes bugged out and a wet cough started before I called all the food out of her stomach with a violent wretch. No matter how big you were, throwing up against your will was a bad day. A larger wolf lunged at me and I did the same to him. I didn’t care if it was my only trick. It was working as he collapsed into the pine needles, retching.
I checked to see how Declan was dealing with the fourth predator.
Faced-off against one another, Declan and the golden retriever each had one end of a giant stuffed bear clamped in their jaws. Declan was shaking it gently but the dog flopped around on the end of the bear like a fish out of water, threatening to tear the bear in half. Hopping, kicking out, the dog finally hung from the bear Declan lifted high, panting for all he was worth with an ecstatic smile on his face.
A gigantic muzzle blew hot breath into my hair and I screeched, scrabbling toward Declan and the worn-out dog. Looking a little worse for wear, the three wolves would not cross some invisible barrier that I scrambled to the other side of. They milled around, whining, sticking their snouts out to scent the air.
“So, before I lose my mind… I have questions.”
