Page 9 of Rogue Witch

No way. He can’t be—

He nods.

Nods? Fuck, I really have fallen down the rabbit hole.

“Sorry, big fella,” I maintain a casual tone. “I’m not getting closer.”

He drops onto his belly and I swear he’s inviting me to stroke his back.

“Maybe we can play after I get these shoestrings off,” I say.

How the hell am I going to get the damn things off? A sudden wave of homesickness makes me wish I was back home at Grams’ house. Blade once told me that The Academy was my home. My heart lurches when I remember him saying, “I call being surrounded by people who love you ‘home.’’”

I long for Stony. I hope she’s enjoying Chinese food at our house.

The wolf whines.

I sigh. “I know, it’s been a shitty day.”

I shiver and realize the temperature has dropped—and the Shadow is gone. I blink. Is that how we get rid of them? Don’t get angry and they leave? If the answer is that easy, how did they wipe out millions of Margiddians? Sadness grips my heart and a sense of hopelessness overwhelms me. The Shadows wiped out millions because we are a species that thrives on anger and sadness. I start at a bump against my leg and realize the wolf is leaning against me.

I freeze. If he decides to eat me, I’ll be in serious trouble. His head reaches my waist. He looks up to me and I swear I see nothing but warmth. Wolves aren’t renown for their friendliness. In fact, they can be downright anti-social, and aggressive if you invade their space. This is one strange place.

He startles me by licking my hands. I can only stare. I have never been particularly fond of wolves. I consider them on the arrogant side. But this beast is as sweet as brown sugar. His teeth brush my wrists and I gasp. He stills and his eyes lift to my face. My heart is pounding. His eyes remain on me as his teeth brush the sensitive flesh of my wrist.

“What are you doing there, big boy?” I ask.

If I leap away, he will be on me before I flinch. Panic is causing my insides to shake and the trees spin around me. I try to focus on some kind of spell that will get me out of here. I can’t use magic. Magic will call The Shadows. I can’t—

Is the wolf—? I squint at my wrists. He’s gnawing the shoelaces. The laces abruptly loosen. I yank my hands up and work the laces off. Immediately, a thousand pins and needles prick my hands from the inside. I groan and shake my hands as blood rushes back into numb fingers. I try to bend my fingers. My left pinkie doesn’t move. Panic tightens my chest. The wolf woofs. I jerk my gaze onto him. Damn, if he doesn’t seem to be telling me to stay calm. My pinkie moves and I release a breath. My fingers still hurt like hell, but that’ll pass. Then I’ll be able to—

A shout causes me to look up. I scan the forest as I turn. “Where did that shout come from, boy?”

The wolf doesn’t move. Another shout. I’m sure it came from somewhere to my right. I take off running. The wolf catches up with me in three seconds and barks. He bumps my leg.

I stumble, then catch myself. “Hey!”

He looks up at me.

“Do that again and I’ll kick you,” I growl, but I wonder if I have the courage to carry out my threat. He could catch my leg in his powerful jaws and snap the bone without missing stride.

I dodge a large elm and leap a fallen branch. Seconds later, we break from the trees, leap the ditch, and stumble to a halt on the road. I stop, breathing heavily, and scan my surroundings. Nothing. Then another scream. I glimpse someone in the trees across the street and take off after them.

The wolf growls. I leap the small ditch on the far side of the road, land on soft ground and skid a foot before propelling myself forward. A small figure darts behind a large tree. I dodge limbs and attempt to pick up speed but can only go so fast through the damned trees and snow. I catch sight of another wolf. Although tall and wiry, the animal looks anorexic compared to the one at my side. Another scream. The kid shoots lunges from the tree and my heart jumps into my throat.

Jonas.

The last time I saw the kid, he’d broken past the imprisoning spell Blade had cast around my dorm room. Jonas races across a clearing. I duck a low branch and leafless branches slap my shoulder. The kid looks over his shoulder at the wolf, which is closing in. I swallow a scream. Three Shadows trail the wolf. Adrenaline pumps my heart faster. One of the Shadows slows. Damn, has it sensed my presence?

“Jonas!” I shout.

His head whips in our direction. His eyes lock onto my wolf and widen. The Shadows pick up speed, headed directly for him. He’s got to do something to stop the Shadows’ advance. But he can’t, I realize. Fear has an iron grip on him.

Hell, I don’t blame him.

Chapter Six

ETHAN