Page 40 of An Enchanted Knight

She eyed the wolf who remained on his haunches. “Can you take me back to the palace?”

The creature turned to look at her and then up to the sky. Then to her surprise, he nudged her leg until she lowered to sit again, wrapping her useless cloak around herself.

“You’re right. If they survived, they’ve gone to find shelter.”

The wolf moved closer, lay against her, and lowered its huge head to cover her as much as possible.

“This is the one time I am not going to complain about personal space,” Gwen said, shivering despite the wolf’s attempts to keep her warm.

To her horror, The Icing began.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Vibrations shook the ground. Hooves? Horses maybe? Gwen tried to sit up, but her body was too heavy. A frigid blanket of snow covered her. Her eyelids weighty, she wanted nothing more than to sleep. Strange that she felt numb both physically and mentally, the only thoughts were hopes that Tristan was safe. Sleet continued falling, heavy ice pellets pounding through her blanket of snow.

Something nudged her shoulder. Forcing her eyes open was difficult, but she managed to crack them open. The wolf shifted. The rumbling became louder, whatever caused it coming closer.

Large white and grey wolves broke through the trees; one picked her up and threw her across his wide back, barely breaking his stride. They were being chased, the pursuers snarling loudly. More wolves?

Bouncing on the wolf’s back, her limbs heavy and too tired to try to do much more than hang limply across his back, Gwen wondered if she would survive. The ice painfully pelted her as they raced through the woods.

Moments later, the warmth of the wolf began seeping into her and she reveled in it. Opening her eyes, she could see the ground whizzing past. Amazed she didn’t fall off, she turned and got a glimpse of their pursuers. Black wolves, barely visible through the falling sleet.

Finally they slowed. The pursuers no longer chased them. Their eerie howls echoed into the forest. No doubt, a promise of revenge.

Arriving in a dense portion of the forest, the sleet didn’t fall as hard. The wolf that carried her crouched down and another picked her up off his back, his teeth grabbing the back of her jacket. She was placed on the ground with surprising gentleness. Too weak to get up, she waited to find out her fate.

Six of the wolves began to convulse. Howls and snarling pounding in her ears, she covered them, curling into a ball. The wolves transformed into Argo and his men. The warriors stood, fully nude. As if waking from a long sleep, they stretched and shook their heads.

They were werewolves.

“You’re werewolves.” Laughter escaped her, an insane sound.

“Shifters,” Argo replied.

“Naked men, in the middle of a blizzard. Why not?” She laughed harder, rolling over holding her stomach. As she wiped away tears from the hysterical laughter, she pointed at the two wolves that remained. “Are they stuck?”

Argo cocked his head, frowning at her. “No, they are sentinels, their basic form is as wolves, but they can shift to human.”

“Well, now that we’re clear.” She began to laugh again, the laughter merging into sobs.

Someone picked her up and they hurried back into the Icing.

“Did Padraig and Tristan get away?” She met Argo’s eyes, hoping to see the truth.

The man shook his head. “I do not know. It is possible.”

Not reassuring in the least.

Gwen remained in the Atlandia Princesses’ guest room for two days. Sleeping most of the time, tucked under heavy furs, she woke only to eat, then fell back into a deep slumber.

On the third day, she woke feeling completely recovered. Dashing from the bed, she made her way to the throne room. Only Esmeralda was present, sitting at a table, parchment unfolded in front of her. The princess’s bright eyes met hers, then she smiled. “I am glad to see you. Have you recovered fully? We were worried.”

“Yes, I feel well enough to travel. Thank you so much. I truly am in your debt. I need to go to the knights’ keep immediately. Please.” The last word cracked, her need to see Tristan immense.

“Argo and his men will escort you as soon as the Icing passes.” The princess’s eyes were kind when she motioned for Gwen to come and sit near her.

“We are not able to leap as they are. Unfortunately, the only one that can do it is our brother Sterling, who does not reside here. He prefers to roam Atlandia, pursuing other matters.”