"And now?" I ask. "Is it repairing itself?"
He nods once — slow, reluctant. Damn.
"Hmm..." I murmur, chewing the inside of my cheek.
“Ask him if he knows who did it,”Neris whispers, practically bouncing inside my head.“Who put the leash on him?”
I nod subtly. “Draxis,” I say, meeting those molten silver eyes, “do you know who put the leash on you?”
His growl deepens instantly, a low, thunderous sound that starts in his chest and rolls through the clearing like war drums.
“Yeeessss,” he hisses, fury boiling in his breath.
My eyes snap wide. “Who was it?”
He whines. Low. Gutting.
“You can’t tell me?” I ask, gently now.
He nods once, miserable.
“Is the magic stopping you from saying it?”
Another nod. Shit. Of course it is.
“Does it weaken every time you shift?” I press.
“Nnnooo.” The sound is rough, broken.
I curse under my breath. There goes our plan. All that build-up, all that hope, and now—
His giant snout bops gently against my forehead.
I blink. “What are you doing?”
“Maaaatttteee,” he growl-hisses, then bops me again. Firmer this time.
I frown, completely lost. “What?”
“I think he wants to meet me,”Neris says, tail practically wagging through my spine.“Let me out, Kass. Please?”
“You want to meet Neris?” I ask Draxis.
He nods so fast it’s almost ridiculous, then starts sniffing my face like I’m a delicious buffet. His wings twitch, his whole giant body humming with anticipation.
I turn to Sin. “You can go now! We’re good here.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice!” he shouts, already running toward the palace.
I glance back just in time to see Draxis following Sin’s path with narrowed, bloodthirsty eyes.
I grab a fistful of fur and yank.
“Hey! Don’t look at him like that! Sin is off-limits. You’ll play nice, or no wolf for you.”
Draxis whips his head to me, panting like a dog who just heard the word ‘treat’. Tongue out. Tail… twitching.
Gods help me, he’s adorable. Deadly adorable.
