Page 14 of Rogue Witch

“Eldione,” Raith says. “What do you want?”

The goddess’ mouth thins. She dislikes Olympia. But Olympia is a diplomat. She may allow her frustration to show, but she will never gainsay the goddess. Caleb, on the other hand, cares nothing for politics and wouldn’t tolerate her bloody bullshit. The last time the goddess appeared was just before Ciarah, called Nova in that lifetime, died. Caleb, in wolf form, had bared his teeth and growled at Eldione. I suddenly long for the wolf’s company. He would hunt down Tychon with me. The wolf howl in the virtual war games unexpectedly rises in memory. I haven’t heard a wolf howl since Caleb disappeared.

Chapter Nine

LEILAH

A wolf howls in the distance. I jerk my gaze from the approaching Shadows and scan the area, but glimpse only the retreating backs of the fleeing students.

Jonas sidles closer. “Is the howling getting closer?” he whispers, one eye on the Shadows, which hover five feet away,

Yeah, I think, but say, “I don’t know.”

How many wolves roam these woods? We weren’t trained to battle Shadows while fighting for our lives. Hell, I have no real training in fighting Shadows. I look at my wolf. His ears are pricked and he’s staring in the direction of the howl. He looks at me and barks.

I blow out a breath. “If you’re saying we should run, I agree.”

He whips around and bounds away from the howling pack.

“Come on, kid. We’re getting out of here,” I say.

Jonas runs after the wolf. I back up several paces, squinting into the tress in an effort to discern movement. I see nothing, glance at the Shadows, which haven’t moved, then spin and hurry after Jonas and wolf. We can’t go on like this. We’ve got to find a place to get out of the cold, find food and water, and plan.

I get no more than a dozen steps when magical energy abruptly pushes at my psychic space. I slow and look around but see only the kid and the wolf up ahead. I twist and look over my shoulder. The Shadows are gone. I face forward and jog to catch up with Jonas and the wolf. Is Ariel using magic to try and find us, or maybe someone is in trouble and is trying to save themselves?

This is probably how The Shadows ensnared so many people in the Shadow War. We use magic in order to save yourself—or help others. Then, boom! They’ve got you.

Another wolf howl jerks me from my thoughts. Magic presses harder against me and I stumble. Maybe someone really is in trouble. But as the thought forms, a sense of familiarity washes over me. I have encountered this magic before. The Academy? A chill slides down my back. No, the War Games. The lightning bolt that nearly sizzled me in the war lord’s house.

Chelsea.

I had forgotten about her. I figured she had conjured that lightning bolt because something spooked her. Just like something must have spooked her now. I want to throw out my senses in an effort to find her, but that’s sure to draw attention to me—to us. I dodge a low hanging branch. Dammit, Chelsea can’t be more than fifteen. Exhaustion rolls over me. We’ve been here less than a day and I’m so tired. How can I possibly help the kid, Chelsea, the wolf…or anyone else? Fuck, I can barely help myself.

Longing for Stony rolls over me with such force that I want to cry. I push back the question of why she didn’t transition into the Reaping. Stony is a powerful creature. A fucking Reaping can’t do her in. I force back tears. If Jonas sees me crying, it’ll freak him out. I half wonder how the wolf would react. Hell, I wish that damn creature would shift into his human form. I want—need—to talk to another adult, an adult who can help me plan. Another wolf howls. I whip my head around and peer over my shoulder That one was close. My heart jumps into my throat when I discern several furry blurs.

“Run!” I shout, and run faster.

Jonas has already picked up the pace. The wolf turns and races toward me.

“Keep going.” I wave him forward.

He darts past me. “No!” I halt and spin. “We need you.”

He looks back at me, and I swear his eyes soften. Then he faces forward again. What will we do if something happens to him? What will we do if those wolves catch us? I whirl toward Jonas. He’s thirty feet ahead and hauling ass. I spot movement amongst the trees up ahead to the left.

Shadows.

Oh, God, they’re on his tail. I stumble forward.

You can’t have him, mother fuckers.

The Shadows veer toward me. Fear causes my stomach to roil and I feel like I might vomit.

Relax, I tell myself, then realize my mistake. I want them to chase me—not Jonas. He hasn’t slowed and is much father ahead. A new fear swirls in my stomach. What if Ariel and her band catch him? I run faster. Maybe I can ditch the Shadows somewhere.

The wolves howl a chorus and I look over my shoulder. Are they the same long nosed, weird wolves like the one I killed? I shiver, then face forward. The Shadows are within ten feet of me.

“Get lost,” I shout.