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To the lake, Vento commanded through the pack speak, straight into our minds.
I found myself answering his command in tune with the others, howls of excitement echoing across the mountain range as we broke into a loping run, eager to stretch our muscles and see what the day would bring.
My body had never felt as natural in its two-legged form as it did in this wolf body, leg muscles stretching and contracting as my claws gripped the ice and packed snow. My snout caught every whiff of possible danger or prey to hunt, and my ears filtered through every sound easily, picking out the distinct gait and breathing of each wolf that ran beside and behind me.
We moved like a single wolf, led by instinct and the subtle guidance of our alpha.
And when we reached the lake, I skidded to a stop at its frozen edge, sitting down on my haunches and tilting my head.
I knew this place.
Knew of it, anyway.
Ice Clover Lake?I questioned Vento through the pack speak when he caught my eye. He nodded, his golden eyes narrowing.
What is it, pup?
I overlooked how he kept me in my place with that single word and told him what I suspected.I’m pretty sure this is where Kana and Kingston found the Book of Ice. It was buried out there in the middle of the frozen lake, locked in a box covered in strange markings. And Kana almost drowned retrieving it,I added.
Vento’s golden eyes turned to slits, and his muscles tensed as I felt him send the message to the other wolves.
Be on high alert, he warned.Gobbelins may be here.
CHAPTER TWO
KANA
I hadn’t truly slept in days.
Even when I’d taken a minute here or there to attempt some rest, my mind hadn’t let me, instead swirling with a constantly lengthening list of crises we needed to take care of immediately.
Not to mention the killer load of worry I was trying not to break beneath.
Luca was gone, and his blood contract on me was active. Cade was still unconscious and barely clinging to life. I hadn’t seen even a glimpse of Nicolas in the ever-present mist.
Kassian and Rush were my fucking rocks, though. Kas had been absolutely insane with his skill in convincing commoners to take shelter inside the palace, and Rush was proving to be better at healing than any doctor I’d ever known. I secretly wondered if he had some extra fae magic he hadn’t told me about, or if his energy magic had healing properties.
And then Blaise - the girl was sent from the Goddess, for sure.
If it weren’t for the whole winning the Trial to get the Ancient Magic restored thing, I’d have gladly bowed out and let Blaise wear the crown.
“You’d be an amazing Queen,” I told her as we swept the perimeter one more time. Vento’s ice wolves had set up steady watch, but none of us knew exactly how many gobbelins were out there. The palace was locked down as well as we could manage with the few guards we had left, but an ambush wasn’t far from anyone’s mind.
“I know, princess. It’s why I joined the Trials,” Blaise answered, winking at me. “Maybe once you win and get that Ancient Magic back on our side, you can retire early and name me as your heir.”
I laughed, wishing it were that simple. And maybe it was - hell, it wasn’t like I had been able to finish my education or even the training to take my mother’s throne. Merden had made sure of that. She had knowledge I’d never have, and she’d kidnapped the only woman I might trust to give it to me - my Grand-mère.
I missed that grumpy old woman something fierce.
“Princess?” a hard, female voice called from the shadows near the garden entrance.
I slowed, and Blaise immediately covered my back.
One of the ice wolves stepped into the light of the torches, her fur gleaming white and golden down her body in the reflected fire. She had the unnerving ability to keep her head human and her body shifted into its wolf form. “I’m Valanga. Vento’s second.”
“I met her before they left. She’s good,” Blaise assured me, straightening and lowering her weapon. Valanga sat back on her haunches, blond hair spilling incongruously over her shoulder.
“Thank you for all the protection,” I said, meaning every word of it. I had no idea why the ice wolves had broken their fierce vows to never leave the mountains or help the vampires, but I was grateful. I suspected it had something to do with Vento taking over the pack. And the threat of the gobbelins, of course.
