Page 24 of Rogue Witch

The wolf sneezes.

“My sentiments exactly,” I mutter.

His head snaps to the right and he stares into the trees.

“What do you see, boy?” I ask.

A wolf’s growl is my answer. The massive wolf comes into view five feet away. I jump to my feet. After all this, that thing is back? The desire to blast the mother fucker to kingdom come nearly overwhelms me. I take a step forward, but my wolf leaps forward and clamps his mighty jaw onto its throat.

The wolf twists free and sinks his teeth into my wolf’s shoulder. My wolf howls and transforms into a tall, muscular man whose hands grip the wolf’s jaw and snout and yanks them apart like a chicken wishbone. Wolf blood spurts onto the man’s chest. He drops the limp body and whirls to face me.

Chapter Twelve

MATTHIAS

On days like this, I long for the serenity of the monastery. I could escape the quagmire of lies and secrets that define this world. Though a bittersweet homecoming awaits me, for the sooner we lose Ciarah, the sooner I return home.

Two years have passed since I reentered the greater world and small creature comforts like this padded chair in the Grand Witch’s apartment are still foreign. Such luxuries, too, will soon end.

The front doorknob turns, and I wait as the door opens and the Grand Witch’s light tread approaches, footfalls softened by the carpet in the entryway and adjoining hallway. She steps into the living room, slips off her coat, and throws the garment over the back of a chair as she continues toward me.

“I believe I have asked you not to enter my chambers without an invitation.” She halts before me.

“Did you expect me to wait outside in the snow?”

She sits in the chair opposite mine beside the fireplace. “You are a gargoyle who turns into stone. The cold has no effect on you.”

“In stone form, that is true,” I say. “In human form, I feel cold.”

“Perhaps if you were in the arctic,” she says. “Why are you here?”

“Sadly, I do not bring good news. News unrelated to the Reaping that plucked students from your virtual war games.”

Her mouth thins. “Who leaked the rumor?”

I smile gently. “You are not so naive, Grand Witch. By now, all Margidda knows about the Reaping.”

“And clearly, the virtual war games.”

I angle my head in acknowledgement.

“That still means someone leaked the story.”

I shrug. “Such is the way of the world.”

“Please, none of your philosophizing, tonight. I have had a trying day. What is your news?”

“The Zidruhin are sealed tight. I made no progress on that front.”

“You could have sent a messenger with that news.” She blows out a frustrated breath. “I felt sure Blade was hiding something.”

“What is there to hide?” I ask, though that Fae is capable of hiding many things.

“I don’t know. Perhaps nothing,” she says. “If you are unable to infiltrate their ranks, maybe he’s telling the truth.”

“Have you reason to distrust him?”

She emits a small laugh. “The Fae are never to be fully trusted.”