Page 11 of Rogue Witch

“Why would a demigod befriend a young girl?” Carter asks.

Damn Carter.

Eldione rakes her gaze down Carter’s length. “Another vampire.” She swings her eyes onto Olympia. “But he does raise a good point.”

Olympia pins Raith with a stare, and I swallow.

Chapter Seven

LEILAH

There’s only one way to get that weird wolf off the kid’s tail. I reach deep inside my core and draw up a hairline of silver light. When in doubt, go back to the basics, Grams used to say. Silver is a natural repellent. I don’t allow myself to glance at the wolf loping at my side. I can’t chance even a whisp of silver finding its way to him.

Jonas disappears among the trees. Dammit, I need to see my intended victim to be sure the silver hits the animal’s heart. If the wolf leaves my sight, he’ll get the kid before I can take him down.

I spin the silver upward like a missile and out through my eyes. A blinding instant of pain rips through my eyeballs, then the silver races toward the wolf. The wolf beside me barks so loudly, I wince. I leap a fallen tree branch. One of the Shadows turns and veers toward me. I have to get the silver to the wolf before I lose sight of him—and before that fucking Shadow reaches me.

The wolf—my wolf—growls. He shoots past me, on a collision course with the approaching Shadow. I want to cry but force back the compulsion. The silver is almost upon the wolf chasing Jonas. The animal reaches the trees. I squint to keep him in sight and barely miss a rock the size of a cantaloupe that protrudes from the ground.

The wolf is a blur. My silver spear disappears into the trees and I concentrate to keep my connection to the thing. The silver is close. Yes, another few feet. I push out a harsh breath on a warrior’s scream, as if throwing the spear with all my might—then steel myself against the pain as the spear pierces the animal’s ribs. His warm, pounding heart beats in rhythm with my own for three heartbeats. Then he squeals and collapses.

Now, I have to catch the kid before the Shadows get him. I shoot into the trees and slow. Where is he? I scan the trees. Movement to my left yanks my attention in that direction. Jonas stumbles and falls ten feet from three Shadows. He rolls onto his back and crabwalks backward—not from the Shadows—from the wolf. My wolf.

My wolf peels his lips back and growls. My heart leaps into my throat. He’s going to attack the kid. God, please, no. Sorrow, soul deep, causes tears to prick. I have to kill the wolf. I halt and cup my palms in front of me.

“Forest spirits, I call upon you to gather wind.”

An eddy of wind coalesces in my hands. I push my palms together and form a ball. With a deep breath, I draw back my right hand to throw the ball of energy. I step forward with my right leg and—

The three Shadows veer toward the wolf. The wolf spins to face them and growls. He’s drawing their attention away from the kid! I throw the energy ball, spinning slightly to the left in the last second. The ball of energy whizzes past the wolf, ruffling the animal’s fur. The Shadows race toward him. Fury oozes from the shifter. The Shadows will eat him alive.

A noise beyond the wolf and kid startles me, then I recognize the crunch of snow and leaves beneath pounding feet—many feet, I realize. I freeze, pulse racing. An instant later, the Shadows veer toward the noise and I discern half a dozen people running toward us. The wolf whirls toward the newcomers. He’s no longer growling, but his teeth are bared. Jonas remains frozen, his wide eyes on the approaching newcomers.

“He’s here!” a guy in the lead shouts.

I don’t know his name, but I recognize the guy from campus. He grips a branch about the size of a bat on one end like he’s ready to swing. But the small ribbon of obsidian that slithers around his neck is what has my heart pounding like a locomotive.

“I knew it,” a girl says.

I know that voice. Ariel.

They stop ten feet from Jonas and the wolf and the leader looks my way as Ariel steps around him. I take a step back. A Shadow slithers around her face, twisting and turning as if its growing excited.

“Well, well, well,” she says. “I told you this would work out.” She starts toward me and the wolf growls. Ariel halts, eyes narrowed on the shifter. “Leave it to a witch to have a familiar with her.”

“Ariel, do you realize you’ve been infected by a Shadow?” I whisper.

The Shadow slithers down her cheek. Eyes locked with mine, she opens her mouth and it disappears inside. My stomach lurches.

“We’re in a Reaping,” I say. “It’s not your fault.”

“Another Reaping isn’t due for about twenty more years.” She returns her attention to the wolf.

He barks.

Her mouth twists upward in a malicious mile. “You think you can take on all of us?”

“Don’t be a fool,” I say.