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“Forgive me for not immediately believing every word you say,” I said through clenched teeth, my body quivering with anger at the disrespect she was showing my goddess. “I had to know for sure. From my experience, witches aren’t often innocent.” I sighed and ran a hand down my face. “Look, I am trying to make things right. Now that I know you committed no crimes, I am seeing the past few days through a different perspective. And I can’t help but imagine how horrifying this has all been for you. So yes, I am apologizing for my behavior, but also for my skewed perception of the whole situation.” I broke off with an exhale, then continued in a gentler tone. “It is perfectly understandable if you do not accept my apology. Given everything you’ve been through, I wouldn’t blame you in the slightest.”

For a moment, she regarded me with an impassive look on her face. Then, something softened in her eyes, and she dropped her arms. “All right. I accept your apology.”

My chest warmed at the conviction in her words, as if she actually meant it. Heat climbed up my throat, and I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling uncomfortable. “Good. Well, let’s be on our way.”

I led her through the castle and out to the courtyard, feeling awkward and uncomfortable. We both remained silent, and I wondered if I needed to make conversation or not. Beside me, Cerise kept restlessly fidgeting with her skirts.

We passed through the outer gate and made our way down the road toward the portal. It only took us a few minutes to reach the curve at the end of the road, which led directly to the forest.

“The portal is right here.” I gestured to a gaping space between two birch trees, where a thin sheen of light shimmered. Energy swirled in the air, warm and familiar.

“Ready?” I looked down at Cerise, my hand outstretched.

She took a deep breath and placed her hand in mine. Her skin felt warm, and my large fingers enveloped hers.

I steered us straight toward the gleaming portal, and we stepped through. She held her breath and squeezed my hand slightly as if anticipating the same level of pain as before. I squeezed back to reassure her.

Power engulfed us both as if we’d stepped under a waterfall, the magic as stark as a deluge of ice-cold water. Cerise stiffened for a moment, then relaxed as the enchantment brushed over us both. It seemed to recognize us, and within seconds, it released us.

We stepped onto the soggy bank of the Alavern Lake, now facing an entirely different forest. The brilliant morning sun was almost blinding. I was so accustomed to the moonlight of Kenibore that my eyes burned from the intensity of the daylight here.

“Alaric,” Tavik suddenly warned, just as a sharp, garlic scent met my nose.

My spine went rigid, the hairs on my arms standing on end. From between the trees, a pair of glowing gold eyes watched us. A low growl rumbled as a huge, white wolf emerged, lips peeled back to reveal bloodied fangs. It prowled closer, its eyes full of darkness and rage.

Seventeen

THE WOLF

Icould scent him immediately, and I knew exactly who he was: the Rogue that Reid and I had been hunting. The smells of spice and rich loam surrounded me, mingled with something sharp like garlic. The wind swirled around me, whispering, Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

The wolf’s fangs were tainted crimson, along with the white fur surrounding his snout. He had likely just killed someone. His eyes were still gold, but as I stared at him, red started to bleed through.

Shit. The disruption between the two entities within him was about to get volatile. Adrenaline flooded my system, my pulse pounding loudly in my ears.

“Alaric,” Tavik said, his voice full of warning. “He’s fixated on her.”

I scrutinized the wolf. His eyes were aimed not at me, but at the spot to my left.

Cerise.

My chest tightened, and rage filled my veins. I carefully positioned myself in front of Cerise, who was trembling. The wolf snarled and took a step forward, threatened by my slight movement.

Cerise sucked in a sharp breath. “What’s wrong with him?” she whispered.

I tried to move my lips as little as possible as I responded. “He’s about to rupture. And we can’t be here when that happens.” The wolf’s soul would be literally ripped apart, causing a devastating explosion. If we were too close, we would get shredded as well.

Her breath shuddered, and I sensed her pulse quickening. The potent smell of her fear drifted in the air, and I mentally cursed. It would only spur on the wolf. But I couldn’t exactly order her to not be afraid right now.

“Can you take him down?” I asked Tavik.

“Yes,” he replied, his voice dark with fury.

“Without hurting Cerise?”

Tavik huffed, offended by this. “You should know better, Alaric. I won’t hurt her.”

The white wolf loomed closer. I could smell his foul breath, along with the metallic scent of blood.