Only it wasnt just a wolf, was it? Itshehad used these blankets, worn these clothes, chosen the now-broken knickknacks. Candida, she thought, glancing over at the motionless form, not sure if what she was feeling could be classified as pity, revulsion, confusion or all of those things at once. Probably the latter. She pitied the woman who had hung an abstract slash of color on the wall, yet reviled a species that, even in war, could enthrall, seduce, use and then discard women. It was a long time ago, she reminded herself. But still. The potential was there. More, the power was there.
Yet Candida had died trying to protect her blood-drinking friend.
Apparently finished gathering what he wanted, Dayn moved away from the racks to cover Candidas body with a heavy woven robe. He stood for a moment, whispering what she thought was a prayer, or maybe an apology.
Her heart bumped lightly in her chest and a new warmth moved through her, strange and unfamiliar. Tenderness.
Hes a blood drinker, she reminded herself, but the warning bounced back with a rebuttal that came from deep within her: perhaps, but hes also a prince. Those things were both his birthrights, and both were labels that did nothing to describe the man himself. Dayn the blood drinker was dark and sexy; Dayn the prince was driven and determined to fulfill his promises. But at the same time, Dayn the man was very real.
Back home, her friends said she was too picky, that every man came with a mix of good and bad things, that she had to find a mix that worked for her rather than holding out for Mr. Perfect. What they hadnt gottenwhat she hadnt been able to make them understandwas that she wasnt looking for a flawless man; she wanted one that was larger than himself, who cared about more than his car and flat-screen, and whether or not he got promoted at work. She wanted someone who combined her fathers rigid code of ethics and military heroics with her mothers empathy, whimsy and lust for adventure.
Back home, her friends said she was too picky, that every man came with a mix of good and bad things, that she had to find a mix that worked for her rather than holding out for Mr. Perfect. What they hadnt gottenwhat she hadnt been able to make them understandwas that she wasnt looking for a flawless man; she wanted one that was larger than himself, who cared about more than his car and flat-screen, and whether or not he got promoted at work. She wanted someone who combined her fathers rigid code of ethics and military heroics with her mothers empathy, whimsy and lust for adventure.
She wanted the woodcutter, the storybook prince. And she had found onefor the next forty-eight hours, at least.
Finished, he turned to her, caught her watching him, but said only, You ready?
Standing, she slung the rucksack over her shoulder, where it joined the unstrung bow. Did you find what you were looking for?
He nodded. I got the poison I wantedwhich she didnt finish testing, so I have no idea if itll work or notalong with a good supply of wolfsleep sap, which is roughly like chewing gum in your world, but also works on wounds. And this could come in handy. He dug into his battered rucksack and held out three small lumps of greenish stuff that had the consistency of putty and an oily sheen.
Reda wrinkled her nose, though any smell they might have had was buried beneath the foul smoky taste that coated her mouth and throat. What are they?
Wolfsbene.
She eyed the stuff with new interest. A repellant?
Not bane, he corrected, bene. As in benefits. It enhances their human forms, giving them added strength, speed and stamina. Itll work for us, though not to the same degree. Think of it as rocket fuel for human forms. He tipped the lumps into a small envelope made of smooth tree bark, and handed it over. Keep this on you. Ive got more, but I want you to have your own in case we get into a situation where you need it and cant reach me. He paused. There are side effects, so only use it when you absolutely have to.
She stilled. What kind of side effects?
It doesnt just energize the bodyit, ah, dials the other systems up, too.
What is it with this realm and roofies? she asked, flushing slightly because her first gut-level response to the idea wasnt nearly as negative as it should have been.
Whats a roofie?
Apparently this is. But she pocketed the envelope, because she felt suddenly very tired, as if her body had been waiting for her to notice the ache of fatigue. She didnt know how long she had been in the vortex, didnt know what time her internal clock thought it was, but she could use some rest.
That wasnt in the cards, though. If the pack was after them, they needed to move.
Oh, and here. He held out a roll of thick laminate that reminded her of the place mats at the waterfront lobster shack back home. In case something happens. She unrolled it and found herself looking at a map of entirely unfamiliar names and places, with Meriden Arch marked in ink and a couple of notes about trails and things to avoid. He said, Basically, just head west, cross the canyon at the bridge and then angle almost due northwest from there at another days hard march. The landmarks and stuff are on there.
A lump gathered in her throat, but she nodded and managed, Thanks.
Although she tried not to think about making the trip alone, it nagged at her as they retraced their route down from the wisewolfyns cave. She kept thinking of the furry gray body and the dead, staring white eyes, which started whispering in her mind, It could happen to you, too.
More, as they turned from a main road onto a narrower path that forced them to walk single file, with her following his rangy, seemingly tireless form, nerves tingled to life within her, tightening her stomach and making her want to curl up and hide.
Breathe, she told herself, hating the misfiring instincts that poured adrenaline into her bloodstream, making her too jittery to fight, to flee, to do something, anything!
The moon seemed too big, the crater shadows too irregular, the trees on either side of the trail too smooth, their joints too regular. The night crowded in on her, pressed on her.
Breathe, damn it. She focused on the trees and the darkness, the feeling of the bow on her back and the arrows shed stuck in easy reach. Youre okay. Youre doing this to yourself. Youre
Brush crackled suddenly on either side of her and huge shapes emerged, furred, fanged and growling. Wolfyn!
Run! Dayn shouted to her. Go!
Reda gasped and whirled to bolt, but there was already one behind her, then another and another. Within seconds, she and Dayn were surrounded by more than forty of the creatures, all with their heads down menacingly and golden fur spiked down their spines.
She fell back, gaping at the terrifying beauty of them. Candidas inert body hadnt prepared her for the shifters sheer presence. The wolfyns shoulders came up past her waist and their bodies stretched out, looking almost more like those of huge lions than wolves. Their coats had saddle marks that glowed reddish even in the moonlight; their heads were narrow triangles that made her think of wide-open spaces rather than dog parks, and their eyes were a vivid, vibrant amber.
A huge male stepped up to face her. He was the biggest among them, had the brightest markings and thickest fur. His forehead was broad, his eyes wise; they seemed to look into her and whisper, Come to me. I can protect you, cherish you, adore you.
Heat flared through her as she stared, transfixed.
Come to me.
She took a step toward the gorgeous creature. Reached out her hand to touch the thick, luxurious fur.
And all hell broke loose.
CHAPTER SIX
NO! DAYN BROKE free from the betas surrounding him, grabbed Reda and jerked her behind him. Then he got right in Kenars face and shouted, Shes a guest! By rights and tradition, back off!
The pack surged forward, but then subsided, growling as Kenar snarled a full-throated roar and sank back onto his haunches and then sprang erect, his form blurring as he changed. When the magic cleared, he stood there in his human formslightly shorter than Dayn, bullnecked and square-featured, with heavy, powerful muscles and boxing-glove hands. His face was flushed, his eyes narrow with hatred. She doesnt have any rights if shes traveling with a fucking bloodsuckerand, more, a Forestal murderer. Because thats what you are, isnt it, Prince Dayn?
And, just like that, twenty years of peaceful coexistence were nullified by the crimes of a long-ago war. The wolfyn surrounding him growled and scuffled, their canine faces wrinkled with hatred. They werent just there because their alpha had led them; they truly wanted him dead. He didnt see Keely, didnt know what that meant. As for Kenar, there was hatred in his eyes, but calculation, too. He was using this somehow, or planning to.
Fumbling a little in his haste, Dayn palmed two blobs of wolfsbene from his pack and jammed one into Redas unresisting hand.
Fumbling a little in his haste, Dayn palmed two blobs of wolfsbene from his pack and jammed one into Redas unresisting hand.
Did the witchs messenger tell you that shes a blood drinker herself? he demanded solely to buy time. Pretending to scrub his face, he gulped the wolfsbene, which was slimy going down, with an aftertaste somewhere between mint and mud. He grimaced but continued. Or that she tortured and killed Candida?
He heard Reda cough, hoped that meant she had taken her dose.
The pack members shifted restlessly, some whining at the news. But Kenar bared his teeth. We killed her servant, which makes us even, claw for claw. More, he was loyal, which was more than I can say for the wise-bitch. How long had she known about you?
The first shimmers of heat and power filtered into Dayns bloodstream, which was good, because the pack was closing in, shifting tighter, backing him and Reda into each other. Talking fast now, he said, Youre believing the witchs messenger over Candida? Did he give you any proof, anything more than a good story?
Yes! Kenar roared, and the sound was echoed by his betas. Yes, he offered proof. He used a spell to show Keely the sick, twisted things you made her forget! She was your lover. How could you feed from your lover? Oh, right, the alpha sneered. Because youre a prince of the realm and you could make her think whatever you wanted. Fucking bloodsucker, disgracing my sister like that. Using her.