breath. A heart beat later, it was gone. I licked the Sea Wolf’s blood from my lips and hungered for more. In some ways I was as wild as he.
He pulled away, running a hand over his face. I whimpered at the loss, but when I reached for him, he drew away further still. He tugged the ropes from around my wrists and ankles, freeing me. His head was bowed.
Rising up, I caught his face in my hands and brought his mouth to mine. I kissed him with everything I had.
When our lips broke apart, his chest heaved against mine.
I looked into his bright eyes. “I am yours. I do not want to leave. But I must stop Dòmhnall. He will listen to me.”
“No,” the beast roared until my ears rang. He kissed me again, his lips frantic and feral. The wild part of him knew he was losing his prey.
A tear rolled down my cheek unchecked. His eyes were so sad. “I must. I’m the only one who can save them.”
He wrenched away from me, leaving me cold and naked on the bed. I clutched a pelt to my chest, wincing when he kicked the water bucket down the stairs. He leaned against the hearth, every muscle in him tight as if ready to do battle.
“You can’t keep me here forever,” I told his back.
Ægir punched the stone again and again. I cowered as the tower shook. A crack formed in the wall. A few rushes rained down. Shouts from downstairs told me the other warriors had felt the foundations shift.
“What is it?” Hawk called from the stairs. “What’s wrong?”
I slipped off the bed, setting my feet to the floor gingerly. This tower might not stand much longer.
“Go,” Ægir muttered, facing the dead fire.
I sucked in a breath. I did not expect his permission to feel like a dagger driven into my heart.
I’m sorry. I swallowed the bitter words. I had to go.
I rushed to the window and climbed onto the ledge. I must use my magic now. If I did not hurry, I’d be too late.
A crash made me grab the side of the window lest my feet slip. Hawk stood in the doorway, the pitcher he’d dropped in pieces at his feet.
“Lass, what are you doing? Come down from there.” He raised his hands slowly, as if a sudden movement might make me fall.
“Go!” Ægir roared.
For a heartbeat, I balanced on the windowsill clinging to the jagged, rain-slicked rocks. The wind whipped my hair and raised goosebumps over my bare flesh. A single step—
“No,” Hawk cried.
I spread my arms and dove into the air.
The air hit my face, driving my hair back. In the next heartbeat, the Change came over my body. The magic tingled over my body, gripping and stretching me like I was the dough Nanny kneaded for bread. Half of me tore away but there was no pain, only a glorious rush, my body becoming light and small as a bird’s. My hands outstretched, fingers growing long and turning to black feathers. The water surface rose to smack me, but my wings caught the wind.
With a harsh cry, I flipped in the air, and settled into an air current. I spared a glance behind me.
Hawk stood at the window disbelief written on his face. I cawed once and winged away.
Ahead rose the two rock columns. Beyond them, the mist. I’d have to trust my senses to guide me from this magical haven. You can do it, daughter, my mother whispered.
Behind me rose a wild, keening cry. The sound spurred me on, through the portal and beyond. Ignoring the Sea Wolf’s song of sorrow, I flew in my raven-shape towards home.
4
The mist was thick on the water, but no storm raged. My mother’s voice called to me when the way was unclear. I did not know how long I flew, but by the time the mist broke I was half fainting from hunger. My bird wings struggled to catch the air. A gentle gust, a warm current from the south, guided me the rest of the way. I cawed with relief when the island appeared.
There were men on the beach—my father and some villagers, the ones I’d seen dead in my vision. Warriors in boats were rowing towards them but were still some ways out. Dòmhnall had come to destroy my father. The punishment for the disgrace of losing his bride.
But I hadn’t come too late to stop the destruction.
The wind brought me to the