Stepping back and drawing his swords, Stellen takes another moment, a hint of frost dusting his features, icy power growing around his form.
His pale gaze sweeps across me and now his voice grows softer. “As long as you’re safe, all is right with my world.”
My lips part, the cold air I drag into my chest cooling my rising dread.
Before I can reply, Stellen focuses on the shapeshifters and begins stepping toward them, staying slightly ahead of me in a protective position.
Every step we take brings us closer to their ferocity.
With wild grins and sharpened teeth, the shapeshifters study our approach while Stellen keeps his swords raised and I brace for an attack at any moment.
“Close enough,” Stellen murmurs when we’re twenty paces away from the nearest shapeshifter. Then he raises his voice. “Where is your leader?”
Movement from within the gate draws my attention.
Brunkil finally lumbers through the opening,dragging Lilis beside him.
Her face is bruised, blood clotted across her temple, and her silver armor has deep vents. Claw marks. I can only imagine how much damage has been done to her flesh beneath her armor.
Her hands are bound with the same rope from which the Silverstens hang, and she appears barely conscious, her eyes closed.
Brunkil stops just outside the gate, behind the rows of shapeshifters, where he drops Lilis to the ground. She lands heavily and doesn’t stir.
The alpha wolf maintains his distance, a hunkering form in his thick fur coat, his beard braided in three places, his scars stark in the midday sun.
Again, I look for Fable and finally, I spot her.
She’s in her wolf form, a dark-gray shape keeping to the shadows within the gate. I don’t want to fight her if we can help it. Selfishly, because I need information about her mother. Less selfishly, because she showed restraint when she could have killed me.
Stellen follows my line of sight. We’re too close to the shapeshifters to speak privately now, but I’m certain he won’t target Fable if he doesn’t need to.
“Frost King,” Brunkil calls, moving to block Lilis from view. “Are you ready to lose your head?”
Stellen’s posture remains relaxed. “I’m here for my soldier. Give her to me, and I’ll let you leave this place alive.”
Brunkil grins. “You wish us to leave. Can’t have us fortifying ourselves behind these walls and making a home here, can you? I’m afraid we’ve gotten quite comfortable here in the last two days.”
My instincts prickle. I take a hard look at the bodies hanging against the wall, my dread rising when their state of decomposition supports Brunkil’s claim. If they’ve been deadfor days, instead of hours, then the nameless man’s attempt to warn Lilis in the city was already too late—and focused on the wrong enemy.
I look for that man now, trying to recognize him in the crowd of shapeshifters, not finding him.
Brunkil grins at Stellen before he shouts to his pack. “We’re not leaving, are we?”
The shapeshifters all bare their teeth. Except Fable, who remains in the shadows.
“Well, then,” Stellen says, inclining his head.
Brunkil sucks his teeth. “Indeed.”
A moment of silence descends, the breeze carrying the soft caw of a white crow sailing on the wind from the east.
Stellen flinches, an unexpected response, since he’s remained calm until now.
His gaze pulls to the bird as it lands on the compound wall, his focus distracted from the threat in front of us.
“Fear will not control me,” he whispers. “Chaos will not control me. Loss will not control me.No more.”
I’m shaken by his murmur.
