“You killed yourself,” I argued. “I’ve seen you do it, because I didn’t help you…because I didn’t warn you. I saw you crush your own soul because Cian is dead!”
Confusion trailed over his features. “Cian’s fine. Look, he’s fine. Indra’s fine. I’m fine.”
Arms curled around my shoulders, pulling me back against a warm chest.
“I’m fine,” Cian promised, resting his head on my shoulder.
“What about Aveline? Is she–did the coven…”
“Aveline is fine,” Indra spoke. “She’s the one who found you. She said that Merric suggested she scry for you again, and when she did, she found you out here.”
“Merric. I saw him too but…it was actually him, I think?”
“He told us you were asleep,” Cian confirmed. “But he couldn’t tell us who had taken you.”
Anger surged in me at his last words and suddenly I was half shifted once more.
“No!” Indra gripped my face in his hands. “Don’t shift! You have to calm down.”
“She’s...out here-“ My voice was a loud snarl. “I found her and–and you want me to just walk away?”
“Who?” He didn’t understand, but I could only snarl, mouth open as my wolf tried to fight to the surface once more. I wouldn’t let her. I was back in control now, and intended to stay that way.
“George I am asking you to calm down,” Cian said. “Don’t make me go past asking.”
I tried, sucking in deep breaths and willing my fangs to go away. “It was the witches,” I explained. “They made a deal with Lucia. She’d let them keep me alive as long as I couldn’t help you, if the witches help her. She said you’d all be dead in a week.” I opened my eyes, gaze fixed on Akiva. “How long have I been missing?”
“Almost five days,” the lich said, trading a look with the bird on his arm.
I shivered, realizing for the first time how freezing I was, drenched in rain and completely naked. Indra noticed, offering me his unzipped hoodie that I gratefully accepted and shrugged on.
“Come on.” Cian stood, dragging me up with him, and picked me up in his arms, earning an indignant yelp from me.
“I can walk!” I protested, eyes still bright.
“Yeah, and if I let you walk, then you’re going to go somewhere you shouldn’t,” the vampire retorted.
I sucked in a breath, eyes closed, and tried not to let my temper flare. “How did you find me? Aveline couldn’t be spot on.”
“Indra and Horus tracked you. We’ve been following you for awhile,” Akiva admitted. He stroked over his familiar’s feathered head. “Trying to figure out how to approach you.”
“Oh.” I was tired. Which was stupid, as I’d been asleep for five days. But here I was. After a moment I rested my head on Cian’s chest, tipping my chin up to look at the sky through the trees. “I’m happy none of you are dead,” I said finally, struggling with the words. “But…less happy that you won’t let me kill Colette for some reason.”
“Because that’s not you,” Cian said. “You don’t strike me as the kind of person to kill indiscriminately.”
My hand tightened against his shirt. That wasn’t true. I’d killed five witches already tonight.
But I didn’t say that. I instead spent the rest of the walk to Cian’s car studying the clouded sky.
When Cian let me down, Indra handed me a blanket that I wrapped around myself. “I’m going to get your car dirty,” I said quietly.
“It can be cleaned,” the vampire intoned, watching me until I sat down in the back seat. I twitched my nose in irritation, but slid in to sit beside Indra, our knees touching.
“Don’t let me go to sleep,” I ordered, glaring at the hellhound.
“Why?” he asked, reaching out a hand. I pulled away from him, drawing my knees up as I leaned against the window.
“Just don’t let me sleep,” I said again.
“If that’s what you want.” His tone was confused, but agreeable.
Two minutes later, I was asleep.
I ran through the forest, blood bright in my vision as I killed faceless witches. Outside the tunnel there had been so many of them, and I needed them dead. How dare they capture and confine me? How dare they think themselves my equals?
Over and over I proved to them that wasn’t the case. Over and over their terrified faces and pleading cries did nothing to assuage my rage as I ripped them apart
Finally I came upon a lake, staring down at myself in the water. Bloodstained and bright eyed; I was nothing if not terrifying.
But was this me?
“This is becoming not amusing.”
I turned to see Merric behind me, tails splayed around him as he sat on a throne-like chair. When I studied it, he grinned. “This is your dream, I’m just making it more comfortable. What are you doing? Or do you plan on sleeping it all away?”
Shifting back, I was happy that dream-me kept her clothes. “What do you mean?” It upset me to realize I was dreaming. Hadn’t I asked Indra to keep me awake? I’d have to take it up with him later.
He fixed me with a dry look. “Who cares if you killed the ones who imprisoned you? Weren’t they just going to kill your vampire and his lovers, anyway?”
“But it’s not right,” I breathed. “To kill people. My family–“
“From the way I hear it, your family is nothing any longer. What sway do they have over you–a hybrid of summoner and white wolf?” His eyes were goading and his tails rippled.
My mouth quirked into a half grin. “Is this your idea of a pep talk, Merric? Because frankly, it’s terrible.”
“Is that what you need?” he asked, voice sickly sweet. “Do you need me to tell you it’s okay? That you’re still a good person? That we’re all here for you, George?” Eyes never leaving mine, he smirked scornfully. “I didn’t think you were so pathetic. Perhaps I’m wasting my time with you.”
