Chapter 56
I pull on the armor that Ethan insisted I wear. Usually, no shifter would wear something like this, for it makes it far too difficult to shift. In my case though, it’s not a problem.
“It suits you,” Ethan says simply as he comes up behi
up behind me.
“It is stifling.” I tell him, pulling on the armor that just won’t give.
“You could also stay?” he offers
འཇ བོ ཆ ངོ ཟ འརྫུ་རྒྱ་བཟོ
He’s been
i trying to
to convince me to stay, but even he knows that’s a moot point. And probably not the best course of action, either,
“Not a chance.” I say simply, and then pull the straps on the armor tighter. “If we find Evelyn, that might be our only chance to have her undo the
cume
Ethan says nothing but I know he agrees with me,
Once we’re all ready, we head to the front courtyard of the palace where we will be leaving from. Kyle would stay to watch over everything here, while we went to confront Evelyn.
The jeeps are all ready, parked with a driver each and waiting to take us into the swamp. I see the cars are heavily armored. We need to be prepared
for the worst.
“Maya, you’re here too,” I greet the pur
purple haired witch. “Thanks for coming.”
I expect her to be in a robe or a dress like when we first met, but instead, she’s in a hoodie, camouflage hiking pants, and hiking boots, looking every bit a seasoned elite warrior. She eyes my heavy armor up and down. “Looks like someone is ready.”
I give her the once–over as well, “Samme to you.”
We both chuckle.
As we are about to leave w
when Cassandra comes bursting through the front doors of the manor.
“Ethan!” she calls as she jogs towards us.
What is she doing out of bed? Sure, she was cleared to be transferred back from Castor’s territory to the royal palace, but just barely
“Ethan. I want to go with you,” Cassandra demands, but even as she says it, her voice is small and meek. She hasn’t been the same since Marcus attacked her, and since we confronted her about her mistake in my kidnapping. That entitled, spoiled princess is gone.
“No,” Ethan says simply.
“Please,” she pleads, still a little petulant, though. “Please, I can help.”
“You’ve already helped enough during the Harvest Moon night hunt” Ethan says, his tone sharp and stern with a slight snarl. “Stay at the Castle, Kyle will watch over you. Don’t forget, you promised Ariella to find Lilith, and you need to fully recover before you can even start on that.”
Her lip quivers as Ethan speaks to her, but this time she doesn’t fight back.
“Everyone, get in the car!” Ethan calls, and then he takes my hand and helps me into the one closest to me, climbing in not long afterwards. The last thing I see as I look back out to the castle is Kyle coming out and escorting Cassandra back inside the castle.
I’m
pretty sure that Kyle will be able to calm her down. He’s been known for being patient and supportive, especially when it comes to Cassandra. After all, like Ethan, Kyle watches her grow up.
The drive to Midnight Moon pack will take a few hours. Ethan spends a decent amount of time communicating to his men through the built–in radio in the car, making sure everything is in order. I take the opportunity to nap, aiming to be as energized as possible–I really need it after a restless night last night
When I open my eyes again, I realize that my head has been laying on Ethan’s thigh.
“Got some rest?” he asks, “How do you feel today?”
I quickly sit up, a bit embarrassed. I reply honestly, “Not much worse than yesterday. There is pain in my body but nothing that I can’t deal with. Like a cramp that won’t go away.”
It’s more painful than that but I know this is the lightest it will ever be. It will get worse, but with Castor’s help, for now it’s manageable.
“How is
s your wolf doing then! I haven’t asked since the Harvest Moon, with everything going on.”
1/3
Chapter 50
1 bite my lip. “She’s waking,” I tell him tentatively. I pause as I remember the glow I saw in his chest that night the glow that I still see from time to time when I look at him. “But something else is happening, too.”
Ethan looks at me and merely raises an eyebrow.
“When I look at you, I see something strange, something I have never seen before,” I tell him. “Since we completed the ritual. I think it’s connected to my woll
“Strange how?” Ethan presses.
“There’s a light,” I tell him. “Coming from your chest just here, I touch his chest lightly, “It’s so bright sometimes, like pure gold flowing from you. Other times it looks like a dim candle, and even when I don’t see it I can feel it’s there. It sounds crazy, I know.”
Ethan is silent for a moment.
“No, it’s not crazy. I see the same thing from you,” he tells me eventually. “But I’ve seen it since the first time we met at the Breeder’s market. It’s what made me see you through all the throngs. I have no idea what it means, though.”
“Then it’s definitely connected to our wolves because-
“We’re getting close. Keep a close eye driving those woods,” Maya reminds us through the built–in car radio. “Witches would hide the entrance to their homes. If we’re not careful, we would drive right past it.”
“Got it!”
Ethan gives me a small squeeze. “Ariella, I want to remind you of something before we go in.”
“What is it?” I ask.
“The goal of our trip is to lift the curse, that’s the most important objective. Regardless of whether Evelyn has anything to do with your parents‘ incident, our goal doesn’t change. I understand the importance of uncovering the truth about your parents, but right now, your safety and the baby’s are more crucial. If your parents were here today, I’m certain they’d agree with me too. Am I clear?”
I nod
my head. “Yes, very clear
“Found it! Here it is! To the left!” Eli shouts over the radio and the rest of us turn to follow his car.
The entrance is an archway made by two trees bending toward each other. Through it I see a foggy and dense landscape so vastly different to the rest of the forest
“This is it” Maya says, standing me. She explains, “The magic in the air is unmistakable. Looks like your intel is quite accurate”
Ethan nods and signals for the convoy to head into the swamp. As we pass through the archway, a dark, ominous feeling washes over me. The forest around us fades away, giving way to a dense, murky swampland.
I shiver. Everything about it is unnatural.
I’m interrupted by the sudden disappearance of the sun. Mutterings of confusion and panic hum through the convoy
“Keep calm Lights on and let’s pull over!” Ethan orders.
The jeeps‘ headlights illuminate the foggy swamp, but barely. I look out of the window; there’s not even a star in sight.
“It’s an enchantment.” Maya says, getting out of the car. She mutters something and a small purple light emanates from her palm. “We triggered it when we passed a certain point. Like an alarm. Evelyn will know we are here.”
“That was always a possibility.” Ethan replies to the witch, “What we need now is a way to navigate through this darkness. I don’t think simple headlights and torches will do the trick.”
“There is something else I can try–Maya begins but pauses, her head turning to the darkness.
I hear it too. Something big is stirring nearby, with the cracking of branches and splashing of water echoing through the air. It’s close. “On your guard!” Exhan hisses.
The hairs on the back of my neck rise. The danger is approaching us fast and there is no point in trying to run away
Our warriors t
y in this darkness.
take defensive possessions, ready to shift in an instant, but I can’t help but feel they are ill–prepared for this type of confrontation.
I curse myself for not bringing my crossbow.
A sudden silence follows. Deadly silence. Then a giant splash and a blood–curdling scream shatters it.
色
Chapter 36
gasp in horror as one of our men is lifted into the air by a pair of massive jaws. Blood sprays everywhere as he is bitten in half by the giant beast
I freeze, and so is everyone else, at the sight of a snake towering over us. A serpent the size of a castle turret. Its red eyes glint hungrily at us.
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