Rhona.”
Her grip on the microphone tightened.
Turning on my heel, I lead the way through the crowd. Valerie did her best to stride beside me, but Billy didn’t seem to have his heart in it.
It’s over, my wolf said.
It is. That was about five times as horrible as my worst fears.
But it was over.
My awareness of my wolf strengthened with every step. The movement was helping push the drug out of my system.
We can free our hands if you want, she said.
There was a slight push at the base of my nail beds. I could cut through the ropes with my claws, but there wasn’t any point. Nah, they’ll remove them soon anyway.
We’re leaving? It’s a risk.
No. We’ve got to find Wade. I won’t leave before then. After that… we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
I didn’t really want to see Sascha again before going, but I probably had to if I wanted to have the best chance at finding Wade.
My wolf wrenched us to a halt.
Her growl ripped through my mind, and then I smelled it too.
“What are you doing, dog lover?” Valerie spat. “Keep moving.”
Spice.
The black wolf was here. Behind me. Behind the stewards. With the Luthers.
As I inhaled again, my insides froze to ice.
He was moving closer.
To the scent of vanilla and cut grass.
To Rhona.
“Come on, Andie. We’ve got to go,” Billy said, half apologetically.
Ears buzzing, I stumbled forward, hunching slightly as I extended a claw and began to saw at the ropes. The angle was awkward, but my claws were powerful and sharp, capable of slicing through bones.
Picking up the pace, I sawed harder.
“Slow down,” Valerie snapped.
“I only have two hours. There’s packing to do,” I caught the ropes as my hands came free.
Ready? I asked my wolf.
Rhona betrayed you. Leave her.
But my mind was cast back to that moment after Herc’s death when we sat together in his office, holding hands. The split second where Rhona decided to take a tranquiliser dart for me rather than save herself. We’d climbed under the blankets after scattering some of Ragna’s ashes and spoke of our mothers until near dawn.
I can’t, I thought to her.
Whirling, I ripped the guns from my captor’s clutches, bursting forward at a speed just within human confines.
Their shouts rang after me, but I ignored them, sprinting toward Rhona.
The spice grew stronger.
He was closing in on her.
The stewards turned at the shouts behind me, rearing back and eyes wide as I catapulted through their midst.
“Move,” I told them in a voice only half mine.
He was too close.
But how was he getting so close to Rhona while Sascha remained back with the other Luthers?
I shoved through the final row of stewards.
27
The Luther marshal.
His spice scent filled my nostrils. My body ached with the need to shift and protect.
His yellowed eyes locked on mine.
“Rhona,” I called low.
She turned, furious as she spotted me.
“Rhona. Run. Right now.”
She drew herself taller. “The transfer of leadership is being witnessed. Leave this place.”
The marshal picked up his pace, and I strode forward, throwing off hands pulling me back.
“Rhona, I’m not kidding. Get away from him.”
Looking at the Luther, I saw his sudden smirk. The same as in Water.
With an explosion of cracks and pops he shifted into a black wolf.
The stewards cried out, scrambling over each other to get away. I ran for my sister.
“Run!” I screamed at her.
The black wolf would reach her first. Unarmed, Rhona was turning to race backward to the tribe, but she wouldn’t make it.
I wouldn’t make it to her in time.
Not like this.
My teeth set, and I picked up the pace beyond human capabilities. We need to shift.
You’re sure?
For Rhona? Yes. I’m sure.
She was twenty metres away. The huge black wolf bore down on her as I threw myself headfirst in a spiral, sliding into my wolf form. We hit the ground on all fours, hurtling forward with supernatural speed.
I soared over Rhona’s head and took the black wolf to the ground.
Rolling to my feet, I dodged backward until I stood between my enemy and Rhona.
The other Luthers were here now. Sascha had shifted and charged for me, but wrenched to a halt, gaze on the black wolf.
Hackles raised, Greyson swung his head to me. Daniil has formally challenged you. I cannot interfere. Our lives will be forfeit.
Are you fucking serious? I moved back from the black wolf. I’m not part of your pack.
I’d never heard snarls of the like rip from him. A wall of wolves advanced to separate him from me