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“Why not?”

“You know why,” I snapped.

He looked incredulous. “Because of who we are?”

“Because I’m dying.”

“I’m not letting you die,” he said.

I stared at him. I wanted to tell him the truth about his bloodline. But out here in the open with people out for my blood, it didn’t seem like the right time. Nor did standing here kissing him. I picked up his pack, but my arms trembled. Gods, I was exhausted. I shoved it into his arms and took off again.

We walked silently, and as we entered the Unclaimed Territory, we both relaxed. It wasn’t a sanctuary, exactly, but most stayed away. Occasionally, we chatted. Sylvan mentioned his love for woodwork and weaponry, and I mentioned my love for pretty books I didn’t necessarily read. Silence fell between us again when my head started to feel fuzzy again and my temples throbbed.

“Almost there,” he told me.

It was a good thing, because then came the nausea. I swallowed forcefully.

“Are you alright?” he asked me.

Another wave of dizziness came over me, and my legs weakened. Bright lights filled the space, like rays of sunshine directly into my mind. There was a snarl, then a wolf leapt out to meet me. I screamed and stumbled back before I realized there was no impact. There was no wolf, in fact.

Was I hallucinating?

“Aura?”

“Syl—” My respirations sped up as glowing eyes filled my memories. As my very real fear had my hands fighting to morph into claws. “Syl?” I could hear the desperation in my voice. I wanted to grab onto him as fear pounded against my reality. I was a logical woman, but it was hard when I was facing the wolf who’d attacked me. “He’s back,” I mumbled, pointing to a spot in the forest.

“There’s nothing there, Aura. You’re just⁠—”

“I know. I fucking know. But he looks real, Sylvan.” My lungs struggled to refill.

“What does he look like?”

“All black fur except for the grey patch on his chest.” My eyes stung. I closed them, but I could still see it. I could feel his approach. My head swam, vision wavering when I dared to look again. Then pain burst across my head, clouding my every thought. A jagged cocktail of emotions burned in my veins. I wanted to scream, to run. My body wanted to shift.

I stumbled back once more, right into the arms of darkness.

46

TRUTHS UNTOLD

SYLVAN

“Help!” I called outside of Magdalena’s door as I hoisted Aura’s body down the small pathway.

The door flew open, and Magdalena retreated from the sun by a few steps. She went almost boneless with relief before her eyes blew wide. “Is she⁠—”

“Alive. There’s another draft in my bag. She’s been taking them every few hours so, that’s the last one I have.”

Magdalena began spreading out blankets on the floor, just as when Aura made our nest. It was odd laying her down, unconscious, on the floor. Magdalena immediately dropped down beside her as I rummaged through my pack to grab the last draft. She was already tugging down Aura’s trousers. I acted fast, pushing the medicine into her thigh. With the frequency she’d been taking the injections, her leg was starting to bruise. It showed even through the healing slashes against her skin.

Magdalena’s hand flew to her mouth, her eyes welling with tears.

“She has marks all over her arms and on her sides as well. It’s … She’s getting to the last stages.”

She looked at me with a question in her eyes. “You’ve seen Lobofebris firsthand before?”

I nodded, and at that moment, Aura’s body lurched upright, gasping as her eyes flew open. I rushed forward, but Magdalena gently pressed Aura back against the blankets. “The wolf!” Aura exclaimed.