“Do you think they’ll get there in time?”I manage.
“They’re fast, very fast, and they know the warren of secret underground passages as well as they know their own paws.”He nods though his eyebrows draw together.“We have to hope.”
I take a shaky breath.“We can’t have three innocents attacked, that’s just...”
“They’ll get there.And perhaps they’ll return with new information.”
“Or get infected themselves.”
He grimaces.“They’ll be careful.I hope.”
“I know there isn’t a cure, but is there a vaccine?”
He rubs his temples.“Not that I can think of, but perhaps the elders will know.”
I look around and suddenly feel chilled despite being hot only moments ago.“I think we should go.”
“Yes.”He stands.“You’re safest at home.”
We leave the room and as we step outside into the tunnel-like corridor, an elderly man walks toward us with a gnarled stick.His face is wizened with lines and his eyelids droopy.When he sees us, he stops and his chin snaps up.He breathes deep, big nostrils flaring.
“Raif.”Elias nods his way.“Good to see you.”
“Who isshe?”Raif steps closer with his attention glued to me.
“This is Maisey Shaw.”
He comes closer still and takes my hand.“You remind me of someone I used to know.”
“I do?”
“Yes, but...”He shakes his head.“I can’t place who right now.”
I stare into his eyes, he has one vivid blue and one chestnut brown.
“Perhaps we have met before.”He frowns.
“I can’t recall where, sir.”
And then he lifts my wrist to his nose and sniffs.I’m becoming used to this.
“Ahh, yes.”He frowns at Elias.“It is coming back to me.A cold, cold night long ago and—”
“We have to go.”Elias curls his arm around my waist.“I’m really sorry, but there’s lots going on, Fraser will fill you in as soon as he’s back.”
“Yes, yes, I’m sure he will.”Raif continues to study me as though I am an intriguing puzzle he’s busy solving.
But Elias doesn’t want to hang around, and soon we are rushing back the way we came.I’m breathing hard by the time we reach the outside world and I’m glad of the nip of cold on my cheeks.
Elias scans the alleyway then urges me toward the light of the main street.It’s snowing, not heavily, just tiny ballerina flakes dancing in the air.
“The moon has gone behind the clouds,” Elias says as we head toward my apartment.“But the wolves can see well in the dark, so don’t worry about it hindering them.”
“I hope they are where they need to be.”I shiver and hold my coat closer to my throat.I wish I had brought a scarf.
The street is deserted as my apartment entrance comes into view.There is a sudden rush of air to my right, and a big object lands in front of me.A shocked scream erupts from my throat and adrenaline punches into my veins.I snap backward.
“What the fuck, Branson,” Elias snarls.
