Darkness had fallen by the time I finished writing my letter to my mother. I kept it brief–I would be gone for a day or two on pack business with Kieran, nothing to worry about. The lie tasted bitter, it it was kinder than the truth.
I tucked the envelope under her door before returning to my room to gather what I needed. The jewelry I’d taken from Kaius–the diamond watch, the cufflinks, the small sculpture–went into a velvet pouch. Payment for the sorceress.
The night air was crisp as I made my way to the abandoned farm where Kieran had said to meet him. My footsteps crunched on the gravel path, the sound too loud in the stillness.
He was already waiting, a shadow among shadows, only his pale eyes reflecting the moonlight.
“You came quick,” he said as I approached.
“Of course I would.” I pulled my jacket tighter around me, suddenly aware of how irrevocable this night would be.
“So do we have a ride?” I asked, glancing around for a vehicle but seeing none.
“I wanted to talk to you, Elowen.” His voice had taken on a serious edge that made me tense.
“About what? We don’t have much time.”
“I just don’t want you to rush into this; I can’t…” He trailed off, his expression troubled in the moonlight.
“Hey,” I moved closer, taking his hands in mine. “We made a deal. I want this.” I squeezed his fingers reassuringly. “No one knows I
am with you.”
He studied me for a long moment, then nodded. “You want to see something really cool?”
Before I could respond, he removed his jacket and shirt. I expected him to shift to his wolf form, but instead, something else emerged from his back–massive, dark wings that unfurled like living shadows against the night sky.
“Don’t be afraid; this is our ride,” he said, watching my reaction carefully.
I stared, unable to process what I was seeing. “Well, you should have told me… what… what are you?”
“A turned one,” he replied simply.
“Yeah, right, sprouting out of your back. Do they work?” The question slipped out before I could think, my mind struggling to accept
the reality before me.
“No, they are just there to look cool,” he deadpanned, then smiled. They do work.”
He extended a hand to me. “I did say this would be our ride, didn’t I?
Thesitated only briefly before placing my hand in his. “Ready?”
My answer was a nod, my throat suddenly too dry for words.
In one smooth motion, he pulled me against him, one arm wrapping securely around my waist. The wings expanded further, impossibly large, then swept downward with tremendous force. We shot upward into the night sky so quickly my stomach seemed to stay on the ground.
I clung to him, terror and exhilaration mingling as the ground fell away beneath us. The wind rushed past, cold against my skin, but
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Chapter 185
Kieran’s body was warm against mine. After the initial shock passed found myself relaxing, even daring to look around at the landscape spread beneath us like a dark tapestry, pinpricked with the lights of distant homes.
It was beautiful–terrifying, but beautiful. This was what I was choosing–power beyond what ordinary werewolves could dream of. The price suddenly seemed small compared to what I stood to gain.
The journey passed in a blur of wind and stars. When we finally descended, touching down on a forest clearing miles from any human habitation, my legs felt oddly unsteady.
“You could come down now,” Kieran said gently, amusement in his voice as I realized I was still clinging to him.
I stepped back, smoothing my wind–tangled hair. “That was… wow.”
“I know right?” The wings were already retracting, folding back into his skin as if they’d never existed.
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