me.” I crossed my arms. “It’s one thing to raid the larders at our tower. It’s entirely another to do it at the Shifters Guild.”
It’s kind of your guild, too.
“Not in a way that means you can do this.”
He harrumphed.
“Put it all back. It’s not like you want any of this, anyway.”
I don’t. It’s all healthy and gross.
“Exactly.” Thank fates he was magical and I didn’t have to worry about a proper diet for him. If he were a normal raccoon, we’d be in the veterinary ER with cardiac arrest every other day.
As he began to put the snacks back, I grabbed a few energy bars, then snagged a couple of apples from the kitchen counter. It wasn’t exciting, but it would have to do. I didn't want to spare even a minute if we were almost there.
The sound of tiny, padded footsteps made me turn. Ralph stopped in front of me and held up a single chocolate bar in offering. You look like you’ve had a hard day.
“I have.” I stared at the chocolate. “But where did you find it?”
Cook isn’t as clever as she thinks.
“Nothing stops you.” I sighed, then took the chocolate bar. I could use it. “Thank you.”
He nodded. Shout if you need me.
“Always.” I ruffled his little head, then left the kitchen. He was a menace, but I was lucky to have him.
A few minutes later, I found Lachlan in the courtyard. Full dark had fallen, but the streetlamps had turned on and picked up the slack. I tossed Lachlan an apple and an energy bar, but no way was I sharing my chocolate.
I wasn’t in love with him yet.
He caught the items deftly. “Thank you.”
I nodded. “Have you got a transport charm we can use?”
This was one of the other reasons I hadn’t fought him about coming with me. I knew it was pointless, but I also needed a ride.
“I do.”
“Great.” I shoved my energy bar in my pocket and held out my hand for the stone. He gave it to me, and I raised it, about to throw. “Ready?”
He nodded.
I chucked the stone to the ground. When the silver cloud poofed up, I reached for his hand. He gripped my palm, and warm shivers raced through my body.
Ignore them, idiot.
With a deep breath, I imagined my destination and stepped into the cloud, bringing him with me. The ether sucked us in and spun us through space, then spat us out at the edge of my mother’s village.
The moon gleamed high in the sky, stars twinkling despite its light. The night was bright enough that it was easy to see, and I felt something surge deep inside me at the feeling of moonlight on my skin. I swayed, lightheaded.
Lachlan gently gripped my arm to steady me. “Are you all right?”
I nodded, trying to clear my head. Whatever was inside me wanted out. It wanted to shift, to run, to hunt. There was a beast inside me, after all. I just had no idea how to let it out. Even now, I knew it was impossible. I could try and try, just like I had, and nothing would happen.
Damn it, these weren’t the thoughts I needed to be having right now. I drew in a deep breath, trying to focus on my surroundings and drag myself back to the present. I could smell the salty scent of the sea in the distance, and I breathed deeply. It felt like home, somehow, as if my soul recognized that my ancestors had once lived here.
“If she’s related to the wolves from the islands, I’m surprised she’s not from there,” Lachlan said.
“Me, too. But if there really is Viking ancestry, this place makes sense. They did make it to the east coast of Scotland.”
Lachlan nodded. “Where to?”
I bit into the apple and pointed to the small cottage in front of the woods. It looked like it was part of the shadows of the forest behind it and was separated from the main town by a couple hundred yards. “It’s that one.”
“Far from town.”
I nodded. “She told me a lot of stories about it when I was a kid. Never the exact location, but her tales had such detail and life that I never thought to ask. I felt like I was getting the full story.”
“I don’t think you were.”
“That’s what I’m starting to realize.” I set off toward the cottage, nerves prickling my skin.
From here, it looked abandoned. I’d expected it, but all the same, it was strange