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“You’re still invited,” I said firmly. “You work so hard. Abi’s right, we should all relax. Besides, maybe then we’ll all be refreshed enough to wake up early and get back to work tomorrow.”
My best friend snorted. “Speak for yourself,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I don’t wake up early for anyone.”
“That’s true,” I agreed, smirking. “You couldn’t even wake up early for class.”
“Shut up,” Abi whined, bopping me playfully as Walter returned, quietly resuming his food preparation. “Keep that up, and I willnotbraid your hair tonight, no matter how nicely you ask.”
“Whatever will I do?” I said, teasing back and grinning at Val. “You’d braid my hair, wouldn’t you?”
Val laughed, making my heart soar, and for a moment, I forgot how badly I missed Fenris. I just savored the moment with my friends, both new and old.
Chapter14
Fenris
Unnamed Private Island
Off the Coast of the Philippines
There were, in fact, few upsides to moving my brother halfway across the world. Not only did I have to fly for hours, but the island was so remote that it was only accessible by boat. The last thing I wanted to do when disembarking from my jet was board a small vessel and then navigate a previously uninhabited island. But after Sabine found Lyka a few weeks ago, I simply couldn’t risk the same thing happening twice, even if it’d taken me a world away from Celeste. At least she was safe on Isla Lobo. It might even be the safest place I knew on the planet.
I dragged my dinghy up a tiny spit of sand, pulling a few palm fronds over it before glancing around the beach, if it could even be called that. Most of the geography was dominated by dark rocks shooting skyward and decorated with emerald foliage. This island was a more difficult place to live than Isla Caida, but it was also harder to pick out from the dozen small islands surrounding it. If someone flew overhead or whizzed nearby on a speedboat, they likely wouldn’t see anyone—much less a wolf—among the branches.
The air was thick with humidity as I trudged further inland, forced to climb up sharp walls to reach the flatter area. I scented the air, and the smell of damp earth and foreign foliage filled my nose. I wasn’t used to the scents of the plants here, and it took me several moments before I could finally pick up any trace of my brother.
I followed the scent a little further inland, coming across what looked like a small camp. There was a small lean-to framed with tree limbs, then layered with leaves and smaller branches to keep out the rain. Inside was a bed of larger leaves with an indent where I assumed Lyka slept. Scattered around the little clearing were a few whittled spears. One even had the remains of a fish on top.
I grimaced.Imagine doing that climb while holding onto your meal.
But Lyka didn’t have much of a choice.
So where is he?
I turned and sniffed the air again. It was easier now to pick up Lyka’s trail since his scent was wafting from the underbrush. I walked carefully, not sure what sort of headspace my older brother was in. I hadn’t seen him since Sabine’s attack, and she’d outright killed me. When I’d awoken in Peru, I was so far away from both Lyka and Celeste in that moment, I might as well have been on another planet.
The psychic witch had left me with no choice. As concerned as I’d been about Lyka’s welfare, I’d had to find Celeste. He was injured, but she’d been taken, and I’d had no idea what Sabine had planned to do with her. I couldn’t have abandoned my mate to the witch’s devices.
But that decision had meant leaving Lyka to his own devices. I had no idea if he resented me for it or if had been driven back to madness by the witch’s assault. I certainly hoped for the best. His makeshift home seemed as civilized as when I checked on him on Isla Caida before everything fell apart, but I didn’t want to get ahead of myself.
Before long, I found Lyka in human form, standing on the edge of a rock and looking out over the ocean. I followed his gaze, but all I saw were sapphire-blue waters, occasionally dotted with a seabird diving down to snatch a fish before flying away again.
I cleared my throat, but my brother didn’t so much as blink. My frown deepened.I certainly don’t prefer this madness, but…The man standing in front of me looked like my brother, but he was acting all wrong. Lyka never would have let me sneak up on him, even when he’d been completely out of his mind.
I took a few steps closer, looking him up and down, but nothing jumped out at me as out of place. My frown deepened.Celestedidmention something about Sabine rooting around in his mind. Did she do this?
The thought made my gut sour. “Lyka,” I said quietly, not wanting to startle him.How long has he been standing here?The fish hadn’t seemed fresh, exactly, but now I found myself questioning my senses.
I approached my brother and gently touched his arm. After what felt like ages, he finally turned to look at me, but his dark eyes were still unseeing. I withheld a sigh and took him by the hand. “Come with me.”
Lyka seemed entirely numb, but at least he was placid, trailing after me like a young child. I guided him carefully back to his camp, constantly glancing back at him over my shoulder. I had no idea what would trigger him, but I didn’t want him to get the jump on me if something did.
“Lyka,” I said again, letting go of his hand. He simply wandered into the camp, approaching a pile of branches as if I didn’t exist.
I sighed, realizing I wasn’t getting anywhere, and sat down, making myself comfortable against a log. I watched my brother settle down to whittle another fishing spear.
He’d completed almost three spreads before glancing up, eyes going wide as he suddenly took me in. His nostrils flared, and my entire body went rigid before he growled at me. His tool was flung to the side before Lyka threw himself at me, clawing at me with ragged nails as we crashed into the forest floor.
“Lyka!” I yelled, trying to get through to him. But I saw only the feral shifter I’d been watching for decades on end.
