Page 8 of Sun, Moon & Shadow

She nodded and shot up onto her feet, wobbling a bit. He braced her by the elbow as they walked toward his horse.

“It will take some time to adjust,” he explained. “You’ll be faster and stronger. All of your senses will be heightened. It’ll be overwhelming at first.”

He placed her foot in the stirrup and hoisted her up into the saddle.

An eerie howl rang out through the trees, and Callan’s spine straightened to attention. A lycane was nearby. Nova was no match for one of the beasts in her current condition, even with her newfound strength. He shoved the reins into her trembling hands and unsheathed his sword.

“Nova, listen to me.”

She was obviously dazed and overwhelmed by the world around her. Her eyes didn’t meet his, but she cocked her head in his direction, a vague indication that she could hear him.

“Stay with Frost. I’ll lead the lycane away. Do not get off the horse.”

She still couldn’t meet his gaze, but she nodded jerkily, her eyes flitting rapidly from one random spot to the next.

Callan cursed under his breath as he sprinted off through the trees in the direction of the howl, his sword ready.

Five

Nova’s senses were amplified, and she took notice of every tiny detail in the forest around her.

The forked veins on the leaves.

The faint whistling of the wind blowing through the limbs of the ancient trees.

The loamy scent of fallen leaves decomposing in the soil beneath Frost’s great hooves.

She was aware of everything, but incapable of focusing on anything.

Her eyes darted around the forest illuminated by the pale moonlight filtering through the treetops. She twisted in the saddle at the sharp snap of a twig cutting through the quiet from behind her. Her breath came in short, rapid bursts through her nose as she stared into the night. At first there was nothing—no sound, no movement.

Then, two glowing eyes appeared, glinting like gold coins against the darkness. Nova instantly recognized the creature stalking toward her.

A lycane.

The dark fur of the beast’s coat split from the surrounding shadows as it drew closer, looking exactly as described in her faerie books. It emitted a low growl, and Frost shook his head, snorting nervously. The lycane lunged forward, snapping at the horse’s hind legs. Frost released a startled whinny before tearing off at a gallop and heading deeper into the woods. It was all Nova could do to keep hold of the reins, pressing her thighs together as hard as she could to remain seated atop the panic-stricken animal.

Without warning, the lycane shot out in front of Frost from the flank, cutting him off, and the mighty stallion ground to a halt. Nova pulled hard on the reins, sending Frost rearing up on his hind legs. She tried to hold on, but the horse threw his head back, launching her through the air. Her temple struck something hard as she landed on the ground, and pain tore through the side of her skull.

Nova rolled onto her hands and knees and attempted to stand. A sharp, searing agony in her head sent her right back to the ground. The world spun around her, and she braced herself, tunneling her fingers into the damp soil. She vomited on the ground, intensifying the throbbing pressure in her skull. Disoriented, she vaguely registered the lycane slinking in a wide circle around her.

The beast approached unhurriedly. As it closed the distance between them, nearly coming within striking distance, a wave of fresh terror washed over her. It’s fur was coal black, the moonlight reflecting off it like armor as it stalked through the trees. If she were standing, the creature’s snout would nearly reach her shoulder. It lifted its head in her direction and sniffed at the air, its lip curling back to reveal long, curved teeth as it dipped its head low to the ground, yellowed eyes narrowed on her.

With a snarl, the beast lunged.

Nova was on her feet in a heartbeat, turning and sprinting for her life. Outrunning the lycane was impossible. She opted to lead it into a nearby clearing instead, where she might have a chance of defending herself.

She made it two strides into the clearing when she was jerked back and thrown to the ground. The beast’s great paw had come down on the hem of her cloak. It would have been comical if she wasn’t a breath away from being torn apart. Clawing at the clasp at her throat, Nova managed to free herself. She tried in vain to crawl away from the creature, her fingers raking through the moss and mud.

It was no use.

The beast came down on her back with its massive front paws, its breath hot on the back of her neck. She heard the crunch of bone in her left shoulder, the sound chased by fiery pain as talon-like claws tore through her flesh as easily as the fabric of her shirt.

Hot blood rushed from the wound, soaking the tattered muslin, the sensation igniting a rabid desperation within her. The beast let up for an instant, and she twisted onto her back, facing the jaws snapping at her. Her left arm lay limp and useless at her side, but she lashed out violently with her right, her hand squeezed into a tight fist. The animal pulled back with a whine as she made solid contact with its snout. Suddenly, it dawned on her: Lycane, though monstrous, were flesh and blood.

Vulnerable.

All at once, she remembered the dagger sheathed in her boot. She yanked it out just as it settled on her again, its muscled foreleg pressing down on her injured shoulder.