He slid to the ground. The arrow wounds still hadn’t fully healed. The pain cut into him like a mace gouging out his spine. Perhaps he should have handled her with more gentleness, but he had only wanted to get her to safety and away from Sada. She who had once been his beloved sister. The person who had made him a monster.
Stellan’s thoughts drifted to Clarysa’s agonized cries in the cave when his hunger had spiraled out of control. He’d been nothing more than a slavering wolf demon.
That’s what you are.
The cold air seeped into his soul. He missed the warmth of the fire, the warmth of Clarysa cradled by his side. He especially missed the feel of her soft, curvaceous body. They’d been pressed so close together, only separated by the gossamer fabric of her gown. And her smell! He had perceived the musky scent of her arousal a hundred times stronger than a human ever would, and it had sparked in him a fierce and primitive lust. She had seemed to enjoy the intimacy they shared.
At first.
But he had gone too far.
The memory caused his huge wolfish eyes to moisten. Stellan deeply regretted having caused her pain. This prompted recollection of his promise to Queen Arietta. He had since given Clarysa reason to fear him. Their relationship had caused her harm as a result of Sada’s anger. Now the King and Queen would think him untrustworthy. They’d probably take Clarysa far away, to a place where he’d never be able to find her.
A sharp ache formed in the pit of his chest. He shouldn’t have allowed the intimate contact no matter how much they loved each other. His control had been absolute… Hadn’t it? It was difficult to recall everything clearly. But that must be the answer. Had he succumbed to his darkest desire, his sharp claws and unnatural size would have quickly rended her delicate form into bloody shreds. Stellan pushed the grisly thought out of his mind.
On the horizon, a lone wolf’s cry seemed to herald his uncertain future. What if he remained trapped in this body? As much as his departure would devastate them both, the honorable choice would be to disappear from Clarysa’s life entirely. At the thought, Stellan let loose a booming, sorrowful howl, causing a flock of birds to scatter above him. Gods of fortune, don’t desert me now!
The thought of living a cursed existence filled his mind with fire. He leaped up and smashed his fist into the trunk. The tree buckled and shook violently. All its limbs sent their share of accumulated snow earthward. Stellan’s knuckles throbbed with pain, but it helped him concentrate. He had to continue his journey. This magick was beyond his scope.
He pressed onward, attempting to resist the call of his wolf brother’s forlorn wail. There was only one person who could help, and Stellan had to reach him quickly. If his suspicion was correct, transformations of this magnitude became more and more difficult to reverse with every passing hour.
He reached Ravenwood Pass and made his way swiftly through the Hemling Mountains, traveling north into Falcon Heights. Many months had elapsed since his last visit. A single memory spurred him forth, to the Valley of the Clouds, where the unknown sorcerer dwelled.
Even in his bestial mind, he knew what he found there would seal his fate forever, for either good or ill.
Stellan raised his snout. It was well past noon, and the sun was beginning to drift into the western skies. Good. He was on the right path. Perhaps he still had time.
Exhausted though he was, he sprinted ahead toward his destiny, whatever it might be.
Chapter 33
“These tracks continue to run westward,” Lionel noted. “And by the size of them, along with this fresh blood, I’d say we have our beast.” He rose from his knee and turned to the officer standing next to him. “Do you concur?”
The man snapped to attention. “I do, sir. It’s fortunate you picked them up again. I thought we’d lost ’em a while back.”
Lionel lightly slapped his gloves against the strident young man’s chest. “Luck had nothing to do with it. I know how the beast thinks.”
“Sir, I must point out that we are rapidly losing light. Shall we set up camp here for the night?”
Lionel glowered. “And let that beast have my cousin? What are you thinking, man? Every moment we stand here delaying allows him to put more space between us! No, we press onward.”
The officer stiffened. “Understood, sir.” He turned and relayed the order.
Lionel scanned the countryside. Oh mighty Prince Stellan, where are you and your expert tracking skills when we need them? When Clarysa needs them? To make things worse, Edward had only given him a skeleton crew for the search and rescue, and this was for the protection of his own sister! Was his grudge against Stellan that strong?
His thoughts switched to the threat facing Aldebaran. Strange fires had been sighted around the perimeter of Vandeborg upon his departure. Was this the beginning of the massive invasion Stellan had warned of? Lionel made a fist. Where the devil are you, man? Stellan’s disappearance was a perplexing mystery.
“Sir! Sir!” A young soldier ran up to him, gasping and wheezing as though he were ready to vomit forth his own insides.
“Take it easy, lad! You’re going to burst your head in half running about like that! Now what do you have to report?”
The soldier pointed to a ridge about a quarter mile away. “There’s a cave. Tracks are all over the place.”
Lionel flexed his hands. “Gather the men.”
“Yes, sir.” He raced off.
Lionel peered into the distance. He could just make out a darkened entrance on the rocky wall. The young and gangly crew assembled before him, arms at the ready.
“Prepare you weapons and brace yourselves for battle. Our quarry
