AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Kian barrels over and crouches next to his brother, his hands fluttering almost uneasily over Frost’s body. “What can I do?”
Frost waves him off. “We find the Tree of Life. It’s all we can do. For me and Amora.”
Kian palms Frost’s head with a grunt that sounds more affectionate than irritated, then he stands and walks away. It isn’t the first time I’ve seen Kian have an “older brother” vibe with Frost and Malix, b
ut it’s the first time I saw real fear on his face. If I’ve interpreted their stories correctly so far, the three of them were “made,” and by default, there’s no one else like them in the world.
Kian has been the de facto leader of their merry band of villains since I showed up, and I wonder how he ended up playing that role. They’re all the same, so what makes Frost and Malix look to him for leadership? Just his overwhelmingly large and intimidating personality? Or something more?
Whatever it is, they’re all obviously close, and each time I see that affection between them, it warms me. And bothers me.
Because if they’re capable of loving each other—needing each other, like Kian said—then they’re capable of empathy and kindness. Which also means they’re capable of being shifted off their destructive path.
I get to my feet, ignoring Malix’s hand as he offers to help me up. Then I move away, needing a little space between them and my senses. We all shifted back from wolf when the attack hit me, which means we’re all naked, and my libido wants to throw a fucking party.
I circle around some exposed rocks and lean against the rock wall, breathing through my muddled thoughts. The view from here is beautiful, all open sky, rolling mountains, and so much green. Green like home.
And green like… teeth. About five miles away in a valley.
“Hey, guys,” I call over my shoulder as I shove away from the rocks. “I think we found the Devil’s Teeth.”
Chapter 24
The trek to reach the Devil’s Teeth turns out to be a lot harder than it looked from the top of Black Mountain.
We make it back down the mountain by sunset and find a place to camp for the night. I’m not bothered by the break—my body hasn’t fully bounced back from the poison attack, and I fall asleep the moment I curl up on a soft patch of grass.
The morning of the third day, we set out through the series of dips, valleys, and smaller mountains that separate us from the Devil’s Teeth. We can no longer see the Teeth, since they’re well-hidden by the mountainous terrain, but at least we know where they are. For the first time since I agreed to a truce with these men, I can see an end in sight, and it is glorious.
And, well, kinda sad, too, I think. The past week, for all its confusing ups and downs, has been a welcome respite from the endless monotony that my life has become over the past two and a half years.
Even in wolf form, the going is tough, and it’s obvious that both Frost and I are struggling. But he doesn’t complain, and neither do I. If we want to end this torment, we have to reach the Tree of Life. Like he said, that’s all there is to it.
I’m so focused on the lingering pain and weakness in my limbs that I don’t notice Malix slowing. He’s just ahead of me, and I walk right into his hind end, getting his giant fluffy salt-and-pepper tail in my eye.
I bounce back and snap, Hey. Warn a girl first.
Sorry, he replies in mind-speak, his tone distracted. Do you guys feel that?
The only thing I feel is weak-legged and slightly thirsty, but before I can ask what the hell he’s talking about, Kian speaks.
Yes. I feel it too.
I glance between them. All three wolves are facing the same direction, their noses pointing off course from our actual destination.
Feel what? I ask.
Frost catches my eye. The wind ruffles his snow-white fur. The shadow realm.
Confused, I ask, I thought the shadow realm was separate from Earth?
Kian’s dark brown wolf turns a circle, his nose in the air. Something from the shadow realm. Possibly a weak spot in the fabric between realms.
A pang of worry stabs me between the ribs. A weak spot like you’ve been tasked to find.
Yes, Kian answers, his gold-ringed gaze latching on to mine.
I freeze beneath that stare. Fight or flight instincts rise up inside me in a rush. If these three men try to leave and go for the shadow realm, I’ll kill them. I’m prepared to kill them, even though part of me absolutely doesn’t want to.
