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Soren’s eyes narrowed as he looked behind us. “Doubtful. Too dangerous to run, but we can pick up the pace and try to beat the weather.”

Soren held out his hand. I stared at it for a moment, then took it, allowing him to lead me through the treacherous and steep climb.

“I wish we had a helicopter,” I whined several hours later.

Soren’s teeth flashed. “Good thought, but it wouldn’t be able to land.”

“Indulge my whimsy, Soren. If only for a moment.”

He chuckled. “A helicopter loaded with missiles would be better. Then we wouldn’t have to land.”

“Ooh. Good one.”

Soren tugged my hand and helped me over a large fallen tree.

Not that I needed his help, but it was sweet.

“How about we get the helicopter, load it with missiles, but also install it with lasers just to be double sure no one gets out alive?”

Soren grinned. “Missiles and lasers. Huh. How about a chute full of poison grenades we can open right when we’re overhead?”

“Poison is a little unreliable. You have to be quick and clever to administer it.”

Soren’s grin turned into a full-on belly laugh. “You seem to know a lot about poisons. Should I be concerned?”

“I’m a tea brewer, and poison is a woman’s weapon. I studied up on it because it was interesting and to make sure I didn’t accidentally poison someone with the brews I was making.”

“Looks like you did alright.”

“No poisonings to date,” I said lightly.

Soren stopped and pulled a map out of his pocket and unfolded it, smoothing the edges against his thigh. “I think we’re close. Half a mile, maybe a little more away.”

I bent and touched the ground, brushing my fingers over the cold soil. “Everything is still living. Winter is close, but snow’s still a little ways off. Her radius isn’t as far out this time.”

She probably learned her lesson from Evie. I bet she didn’t have a single seed in that cabin.

A smile touched my lips. I’d never have to worry about Liaza again. And soon, I wouldn’t have to worry about my mother, either.

The sky continued to darken. “I don’t think we’re going to make it.”

Staying out here another night in a storm did not appeal to me. “We can’t put the tent up in poor weather, can we?”

Soren’s lips twisted to the side. “If we can find a cave, there’d be enough shelter inside to cover us. We wouldn’t need the tent.”

The area was littered with caves, but I had no idea how to find one.

“I’ll shift. Follow as closely as you can.” He shoved his pack at me.

Without waiting for an answer, Soren shifted in a bright flash of light. A massive wolf stood before me—black and silver with a tuft of white dotting the end of his tail.

He looked larger than before. Had something happened to Soren between the time of the witches and now? He smelled different and now his appearance had slightly changed. Before he’d smelled of silken sheets and sin, a hint of cinnamon with a touch of pine. Now he was vanilla and spice. Both pleasant, but different than before.

Soren snapped his teeth and jerked his head, his way of telling me to hurry. He bounded off into the wilderness.

It was cold enough outside to make my teeth chatter, but not even close to the below-freezing temps at my mother’s cabin. I wished I could use my travel potions to get us to her faster, but the topography was dicey and I couldn’t risk putting us on the edge of a cliff or worse.

Soren bounded like a happy lamb through the woods, his enormous form easy to follow. He led me up and over fallen trees and stumps, around patches of unfamiliar plants and trees until we reached the sound of running water.