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Nana Pratt didn’t seem too enthusiastic about my plan. “Why not call for backup? Don’t you agree, Ray?”
Ray’s face was currently buried in the computer. “I don’t want to stop what I’m doing in case we lose service again.”
I answered for Ray. “Because it’s unclear whether someone will be affected. I don’t want to end up fighting the person I asked to help me.” As usual, it was safer to be alone.
“Have fun and be careful,” Ray called over his shoulder. He seemed to hear his own words because he turned to look at me. “Sorry, old habits die hard. Just be careful.”
I saluted him with a throwing knife.
The truck sputtered as I drove toward the forest. Wild Acres was the perfect hiding spot for the coterie of animals. It was large enough to hide them, and mystical enough to amplify whatever power they possessed. For the hundredth time since I moved here, I regretted my failure to thoroughly research Fairhaven before I decided to put down roots. All I wanted was solitude. All I got was … whatever the opposite of solitude was.
I parked the truck and headed into the woods. There was no plan. I figured whichever animal I found first would be the prize.
The she-wolf’s tracks were easiest to spot. They were fresh, large, and directly in front of me. Achievement unlocked.
A bush rustled, and I paused to listen, slowly withdrawing my longsword. Although I only intended to subdue the animal, I had to be able to defend myself. My skin crawled as I sensed something watching me. I turned my head a fraction, and I caught a glimpse of white fur. My palms began to sweat, and I tightened my grip on the handle.
The wolf charged.
She leapt over a neighboring bush and knocked me backward. I avoided eye contact as she towered over me. Each paw was the size of my head.
I slid back and kicked the wolf’s snout. As her head jerked to the side, I seized the opportunity to scramble out from under her.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” I said. “I only want to keep you from hurting others.” I had no idea how deep Addison’s involvement ran. Right now, my only goal was to round them up and neutralize them until I knew more.
The wolf didn’t seem to care. Growling, she displayed a sharp set of fangs.
“What big teeth you have,” I said. “I’d consider a new toothbrush. You’ve got a little tartar buildup right here.” I touched the same spot on my tooth, which only made the wolf’s growl deepen.
If I could get my hands on her without getting bitten, I could take a peek inside her head and see whether Phaedra’s theory was correct. Although if this wolf was Invidia, she didn’t seem to have an interest in changing forms.
The wolf snapped her jaws, forcing me to step backward. She was calling my bluff. I had a sword, but I wasn’t willing to use it, and now she knew it.
My back smacked against the trunk of a tree. I studied the wolf, debating the best place to land a nonfatal thrust.
The wolf lunged.
I jumped aside and slipped on the snow, losing my grip on the sword. I braced myself for the wolf’s body weight and watched in confusion as she seemed to be carried away in midair, as though a strong wind had overtaken her. She eventually landed on her feet and ran off.
I grabbed my sword and stood. “Who’s there?”
A shadow moved closer, becoming a solid form.
“Brody?”
The nature mage bowed. “’Tis I.”
I was too shocked to mock him. “What just happened?”
“That beast tried to slay you.”
“Let me guess. You stole her thunder because you have to prove you did the honors or you don’t get paid.”
“I don’t get paid either way. I owe a debt to Magnarella. This is supposed to be how I pay it.”
“Supposed to be?”
Brody bent down on one knee and dropped his sword. “I cannot do it. You, Lorelei Clay, are a warrior with a heart and integrity, like me. There are too few of us in this world to justify removing you from it.”
