Footsteps echoed down the road and Vixin shot to her feet. She wouldn’t hide. If it were more men who called this place home, she’d gladly let them go in.
Vixin pressed a hand into her side feeling the trickle of blood again. She’d have to stitch it later, but for now, she waited.
The procession, consisting of at least fifty men, halted several yards away. They seemed to study her before two men separated from the group and approached. Vixin held her ground, the magic already writhing beneath her feet. She didn’t care who noticed.
They stopped, gazed at the carnage behind her, and then one spoke. “Did you do this?”
“Does it matter?” she snapped. Vixin noted the way he kept his hands at his side, though his companion didn’t do the same.
He gave her a sideways grin. “Looks like you did our work for us.” He furrowed his brow. “Though I guess there’s no looting whatever’s inside.”
“Not unless you want to die.”
They stood in awkward silence, but Vixin still didn’t release the hold on her magic.
“Are you alone?” he asked. When she didn’t respond he waved a hand toward his companions. “You could join us if you wanted.”
Vixin snorted. “Not a chance. And if you don’t want to end up like them, you’ll get out of my way.”
He raised his hands and took a step to the side. She noted the bracelet around his wrist. The same color as her own.
Vixin stormed past, but his companion protested. “Reece, she’s just a kid.”
“She can take care of herself.”
Vixin didn’t look back. He knew what crawled beneath her feet. What kind of hell she could still unleash if any of them came after her.
When she could no longer see them in the distance, her shoulders shook, but Vixin held her head high. Despite the devastation. Despite the scars, she’d loved, and she could honestly say that loving and losing was far better than never having loved at all.
She’d had something most spent their entire lives searching for and she’d cherish every memory.
She’d cherish her friends.
She’d cherish her family.
She’d cherish Zak.
~~~
If you loved Feral Magic, then continue the adventures in Running with the Wolves: Book 1 of the Chronopoint Chronicles here: https://amzn.to/3eesBw6
About the Author
J.E. Reed lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband and three cats. She’s always had an interest in writing but didn’t explore that talent fully until 2015. During the day, Reed works as a Licensed Massage Therapist in the quiet town of Anderson. She graduated massage school in 2009 and has spent the last five years building her small business as well as developing her writing craft. She enjoys swimming, yoga, and the occasional mud run with friends.
Visit her webpage at jereedbooks.com
Check out her other works: Running with the Wolves & Rise of the Wolves.
