that this was a choice. He couldn’t both go after the dragon and get back to Wicked. He had made that choice. And now, because Fal on had been too weak, too slow, he had nothing.
Fal on slumped back against a tree.
Nothing. He’d had nothing for so long. Ever since Briony had chosen his brother over him. This had been his one chance to make things better. His one chance to show Briony how much he cared about her.
He’d failed. And because he had failed, he didn’t even have time to stop the rest of it. Fal on sat there and shut his eyes, breathing heavily.
And that’s when he heard the wolf start to growl in the undergrowth beside him.
Chapter 15
The growling intensified, becoming a rumble that carried through the trees as a wolf stepped out in front of Fal on. It was large and black, with yel ow eyes that shone with reflected light. Fal on tensed, knowing that the werewolf would attack.
He saw its muscles bunch, ready to leap, but it didn’t get a chance. A second werewolf form leapt out from the bushes, placing itself in the way and snapping at the first one. The black wolf clearly didn’t like that, because it snapped back at the newcomer, their jaws locking against one another’s for a moment.
Yet it seemed that the black wolf wasn’t strong enough to win, because after a second it backed away, and the new werewolf transformed.
It was Kevin, who stood there with his arms folded as the first wolf also changed, becoming a blond-haired man Fal on didn’t know. He was in his mid to late twenties, and he clearly wasn’t happy.
“What do you think you are doing stopping me from kil ing a vampire, Kevin?”
“Josh, this isn’t just any vampire. This is Fal on. My brother.”
“You stil shouldn’t have moved to stop me like that. I’m the King here. Not you.”
Kevin bowed his head slightly. “I’m not disputing that, Josh. It was just the only way to stop you kil ing him.” Kevin turned to Fal on. “Hi. You surprised us. We thought you were one of them.”
“Them?” Fal on asked. “Have Pietre’s vampires come out this far?”
Kevin shook his head. “No, something worse. A new group from the West.”
Fal on’s chest tightened then. He knew some of the vampires Kevin meant. After al , hadn’t he just spent enough time around them?
It seemed that the first wolf, Josh, wasn’t happy at being snubbed like that. He approached Fal on, looking at Kevin al the while. Josh sniffed the air, and looked menacing for a moment. “We do not tolerate vampires, Kevin.”
“He’s my brother,” Kevin said. “I don’t like what he is any more than you do, but he hates Pietre, Josh.”
The other werewolf hesitated. Fal on thought for a moment that he might say Fal on should be kil ed anyway, but he final y nodded, with another glance at Kevin. This Josh had cal ed himself a king, but he didn’t act like he was in charge here. He acted like he was taking his cue from Fal on’s brother.
“Is that true?” Josh demanded of Fal on.
“Do you hate Pietre so much that we should ignore what you are? Would you help werewolves against your own kind?”
“Yes,” Fal on said. “I would.”
Josh looked at Fal on with scrutinizing eyes.
“And why should I believe what you say to me, vampire?”
“Pietre has done horrendous things,” Fal on said. “Especial y to the ones I love. He destroyed Briony’s parents, who were the only good vampires I knew of, and has tried to destroy her, too. Why wouldn’t I hate him for al that? Why wouldn’t I do everything that was necessary to protect Briony?”
Josh looked from Fal on to Kevin and back again. He seemed pleased. “And so it gets complicated. Hmm… Briony does have an interesting effect on the young men around her, doesn’t she?”
“Josh.” Kevin’s voice held a warning note, which earned him an unpleasant look from the werewolf king. Then though, Josh smiled.
“The effect that Briony has on people isn’t enough for me to risk everyone, Kevin. I’l need your word. No, I’l need more than that. You’l stand surety for him. You’l vouch for Fal on before he goes anywhere near the others.”
“Why would Kevin have to do that?” Fal on demanded.
“You said it yourself, vampire. Pietre and his ilk have done evil things. Our kind has lost so much at their hands, including my brother Channing. Even