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I know exactly what this man wants from my wife. He believes the brief courting he afforded her this evening will earn him a place in her bed.
Over his dead body.
“Here I was, thinking you’d made up your mind about me,” the man mutters.
“Let’s talk things through tomorrow.”
“Not until I get a good night kiss.”
My chest reverberates with a low growl that makes them both pause to look around. I clench my jaw, wanting to remain stealthy, but my body won’t cooperate.
Damn it.
The attack must wait until they’ve crossed the boundary, but they won’t move any further until I stop that noise. I have no choice but to shift to my two-legged form.
“What was that?” Alienor asks.
“It’s stopped now.” The man wraps his bony arm around her shoulder.
“Well, good night, then.” She slips out from under him and walks toward the boundary.
I stand so close to the trunk that our shadows meld. The power thrumming from the tree battles with mine, but the fury in my veins burns hot enough to make it submit.
The tree’s magic bends to my will, and I absorb so much of its strength that my nerves tingle.
“Good girl,” I say to the tree. “Now, your magic is mine.”
I roll my shoulders, adjust to the stolen power, and grin.
Our combined shadow stretches out from the canopy and out into the edge of the boundary. It circles Alienor’s bubble of protection to reach the man’s but the enchantment protecting him is equally as powerful.
What a pity it doesn’t extend to his shadow. The moon hangs lower than usual in the sky, lengthening his shadow beyond the boundary of his personal ward.
My magic latches onto the unprotected parts of him, giving me a taste of his power. It’s ancient and dark, connected to a coven that centers on death.
He steps behind Alienor and grabs her wrist. I clench my jaw and growl.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he asks.
“Home.”
“Alright,” he replies, his voice breathy. “I’ll come with you.”
A gentle wind meanders across the line of trees, rustling the overhead leaves. My nostrils fill with the mingled scents of ripe apples and impending death, but the edges of my vision turn red.
“You will be going home, alright,” I snarl into the breeze.
I merge my shadow with the man’s. Any terror he feels when I step out from behind the tree will add to my magic. If he is powerful enough, I may even have the strength to survive the end of my bargain.
As Alienor rushes through the boundary, my heart soars. She storms down the moonlit path, and the man follows.
“Ali, wait.”
I step out from behind the tree and unfurl my wings.
Alienor screams, “How did you get through the wards?”
“Shit.” The man stumbles backward.
