Page 60 of The Wolf and Her Shadows

When I make the mistake of looking at said water, a shiver runs through me, and I take an involuntary step back. My momentary fear does the job of summoning Vannaria at least, and I feel her consciousness wrap around me as she asks, *Are you alright, Rayne? What happened?*

I let out a sigh of annoyance into our mind. *I looked at the water. But, more importantly, Mariane had a really terrible nightmare. You need to take over. Now.*

Without a word, Vann shoves me out of control.

Careful not to startle Mariane as she sits beside her, Vann clears her throat before gently placing a hand on her back and whispering, “How may I assist you, Your Majesty?”

If I had a nose right now, it would be wrinkling. Why must she be so strange?

We’re both shocked when Mariane grabs our face and pulls Vann into a desperate kiss, her hands shaking as she straddles our lap. Briefly breaking the kiss, she mutters, “I… I need you to erase the memory of his touch. Please.”

Swallowing around the lump forming in our throat, Vann nods. “Your wish is my command, Your Majesty.”

I don’t stick around for whatever happens next.

Our eyes shoot open at the sound of a familiar whinny, and my hand immediately flies to the dagger beneath our pillow. I attempt to sit up, but there’s an arm wrapped around my waist and a head full of black hair pinning my shoulder to the ground. Again.

Mariane grumbles something in her sleep, but it doesn’t sound like she’s having another nightmare, so I do my best to tune her out while I listen for what Adaman might’ve seen. The sound of rustling leaves nearby at least gives me a direction. Glancing down at the woman currently using me as a pillow, I frown, trying to figure out how to free myself without waking her up.

Shaking my head at the absurdity of the thought, I nudge her shoulder with the pommel of my dagger. “Hey, wake up. Something’s out there.”

To my annoyance, the arm around me tightens before she drowsily mutters, “Five more minutes.”

“Nope.” I nudge her again. “Get the hell off me so I can go stab whatever it is.”

One of her eyes blinks open. “Rayne? That you?”

“Obviously,” I drawl, beyond frustrated by her lack of urgency. “If we die, I’m blaming you.”

That’s apparently enough to get her to realize the danger we might be in because she sits up, scrambling for the swords lying beside our bedroll. Taking my opportunity, I leap to my feet, grateful that the lovebirds put clothes back on after they’d finished fucking last night.

Earlier this morning? What time is it?

*That hardly matters, Rayne. Please, for the love of the gods, go see what–*

*Yeah, yeah. I’m going, * I mentally snap, cutting Aren off.

Not bothering with stealth, I take off in the direction of the noise I’d heard. Mariane shouts for me to wait, but I ignore her, cursing our lack of boots when I step on a small rock. A ways ahead of me, several birds take flight from a nearby tree, their cries of alarm echoing through the air as they flee from whatever it is I’m now hunting.

Hearing Mariane coming up behind me, I skid to a halt, my bare feet painfully digging into the dirt as I whirl around to face her.

“Shh,” I hiss, putting a finger to my lips.

Glaring at me, she quietly finishes closing the distance between us and whispers, “Any idea what it is?”

As soon as the words leave her lips, we get our answer.

The sound of several trees crashing to the ground is the only warning we receive before the largest wolf I’ve ever had the displeasure of laying my eyes on comes barreling towards us, its reddish brown fur giving it the perfect camouflage against the trees around us.

My blood runs cold and my dagger falls uselessly to the ground as I scramble backwards, heart beating wildly in my chest.

Mariane has the exact opposite reaction.

She gasps, dropping her swords to the ground as well before running towards the terrifying creature. It slides to a stop in front of her and she all but throws herself at it, wrapping her arms around its neck. The insane woman is then lifted off the ground as the wolf throws its head back and lets out an ear-splitting howl, sending a fresh surge of terror through me.

I’m so stunned by what’s happening, I hardly even notice the equally massive cat that comes bounding up behind them both. Laughing, Mariane lets go of the wolf’s neck and gives the cat the same enthusiastic greeting.

*I think it’s safe to assume those are friends of hers,* Vannaria says, oh so helpfully.