“Do you know what happened back at the party?” I jab a finger in the general direction of the gathering. A knot forms in my throat when I think of all those shifters, those innocent children, those dead bodies… “They’ll kill me if they see me.”
Ethan still appears confused.
“Can you change back to a human so we can talk?” I demand, my voice breaking, turning raspy.
I instinctively reach for the water bottle I always keep with me before remembering I don’t have it. Dammit. I clear my throat repeatedly, but I’m not sure it does much. Every word I say feels like hot pokers dragging across my skin.
Ethan whines and lowers his head to his paws.
“Are you able to…change back?” I ask awkwardly.
I know about shifters, of course, but I never paid attention to the logistics. All I know is that they’re able to change into an animal. Easy peasy. Right?
Ethan tilts his head from side to side. No idea what that means.
I growl and turn in the opposite direction of the shifters, towards where I suspect the witches went.
“I don’t know what the fuck is up with you, but I’m going after Izzy. You can come with me or stay here.” Without waiting for Ethan to respond, I begin to stomp through the forest, pushing branches away with more force than necessary.
I become aware of pressure against my calf and look down to see Ethan, his amber eyes glinting with keen intelligence. He meets my gaze and nods once before prowling in front of me, his nose to the ground.
Tracking Izzy and the witches.
I don’t even know this fucker, yet I’m relying on him to lead me to my mate. I want to scoff at myself. Maybe slap myself silly.
But I don’t have a choice.
The clock is ticking, and each second I mill around is another second something horrible can happen to the girl I love. If that means relying on a naked wolf for help? Then so be it.
What the fuck is my life coming to?
I tuck that question in the back of my mind and pick up my pace, determined to stay beside Ethan as he weaves through the forest.
Gracie, hang on.
I’m coming for you.
No,I inwardly correct. We’recoming for you.
Four
IZZY
“Remember, don’t look any of them in the eye longer than a few seconds at a time. Never address them by their given names, only their titles. Show reverence and respect, regardless of the conversation.” Amanda twists her hands together as she continues to rattle off rule after rule for me to abide.
A leaden, sinking feeling settles in my chest.
We walk down a long hallway decorated on either side by framed photographs and paintings. Some depict majestic landscapes; others are of people, the majority women but some men. All of them have their lips set in haughty sneers and their chins tilted upwards imperiously. If I had to hazard a guess, I would say that these people are previous Maidens, Mothers, and Crones.
There are no doors that I can see, except for one at the very end of the hall, nearly twice the width of me and three times the height. The wooden monstrosity has a single gold knocker, the metal carved to resemble a dragon.
It’s there we stop, though Amanda doesn’t make a move to lead me inside. She simply stands there, nibbling on her lower lip, her hands creating intricate patterns in front of her stomach as she fiddles with them.
“You’re going to be fine.” She flicks her eyes in my direction. “You’re going to be fine.”
I don’t know if she’s trying to convince me or herself.
“Can you tell Hale and Gerry where I am?” I ask hesitantly, keeping my gaze glued to the door.
