cry of pain from the wolf and was spurred into action.
Focusing through the ringing in my head, I blasted the log off me, the repercussions reverberating through my head in a throbbing headache. My ankle was starting to swell already, but I limped to my feet and tried to focus on the two dark shapes fighting to the death before me.
One shot. I would have one shot if I were lucky before I passed out from using so much magic.
A yelp of pain drew my gaze. The brackenbeast had the wolf pinned down, the wolf’s throat exposed as the beast pulled back his clawed hand. They were too close. I couldn’t hit one without hitting the other.
“No!” I shouted in fear.
Gobbersnot rushed out of the grass, a silver knife glinting in his hands as he jumped onto the beast, stabbing it in the side over and over again.
The brackenbeast howled before grabbing the goblin with one hand, his claws digging into Gobbersnot’s skull as he stood up and tossed the goblin farther down the gully and into the raging river. His body disappeared under the dark water.
“Nooo!”
Amid my grief, I realized Gobbersnot had given me my only opening. I wasn’t going to waste it.
“Enchanti fiergo!” I screamed, and with a blast of fire that almost ripped my head in two, I engulfed the brackenbeast. I heard his cry of pain as his fur caught fire, and then the beast dashed into the river. But it was an enchanted fire and could not be so easily extinguished, unless Gaven shed the skin. I heard his strangled cry as he ripped the burning fur from him, but I could not see him, nor did I want to imagine the pain it must have caused. I chose fire for a reason; it had a purifying property, and removing a burning skin would be as painful as being skinned alive.
Gaven’s cries of pain continued for a moment, and then they fell eerily silent.
The wolf lay on the ground before me, and I found myself wobbling over to him. The world faded in and out around me, and I knew I wouldn’t be conscious long. Falling to my knees, I ran my fingers along the wolf’s body and felt the warm pool of blood. His tongue was hanging out of his mouth, and he was panting fast. He was dying.
He whined.
“Shhh,” I whispered to him. “Hold still, will you.” His ears fell back under the weight of my command and another whine came forth. “It’s okay,” I murmured soothingly.
The wolf looked at me, his amber eyes pleading, then becoming fearful as they flickered to the sound of the hunters and their hounds. Laying my hands on where he was injured, I sent a trickle of magic outward, searching for the source of the bleeding. First, I needed to fix the internal injury, and then I could reknit the muscles and skin.
Got it. Sealing it with a whisper, I pulled my hand back and felt the first wave of nausea hit me. Gritting my teeth, I tried to stay awake. No. I’m stronger than this. I had to stay awake and help him. I would not let Gobbersnot’s sacrifice be in vain.
Tears burned in the corners of my eyes as I pressed harder on the wound and focused more of my energy. It was going slowly, the wolf’s body fighting my magic. But then it was done, the bleeding stopped and the wound healed. The fur beneath my hands shifted and disappeared, leaving baby-soft skin.
“It’s okay. I know. You don’t have to hide from me.” The wolf let out a growl, and then he got up and shook his fur. I watched in fascination as the copper wolf transitioned easily into my copper-haired prince.
Xander. A werewolf. It didn’t shock me once I’d figured out his curse, but seeing him as the wolf was another thing altogether. Part of me was frightened, but part of me was curious. His skin was warm to the touch, and I could see the slight trail of silvery scars that were years old.
“You’re not scared of me?” Xander asked softly.
I shook my head. “You were the one who killed those kidnappers in the woods that night. You rescued me. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Xander nodded. “I had done a terrible thing. I murdered two men to protect you. And yet, I still had doubts about who you were. You were still a daughter of Eville.” His words, meant to be comforting,