Page 113 of The Girl in the Forest

My hand had cramped ten minutes ago from gripping the bow. Not for a minute did I think I’d destroyed Amal’s shadows. I’d only diverted them. Even now, they could be seeking another crack to slither through, another ambush.

I thought Kazamir sensed the same threat. He’d taken a position at the rear of our group before we were completely in the dark, and although he said nothing to me, I was wary of him.

He’d armed himself to the teeth and would be a capable fighter. Plus… he was a gods-damn vampire, and I had no wolf’s bite that could threaten him. Keep him at a distance. All I had was fire, but after everything he’d done to help us—and because Set sent him as protection—burning him now just seemed wrong.

Julien was my cushion, walking at my back. Brin stepped up to help Laura with Levi; I thought the medication and braces were making a difference for Levi, blunting the pain. He was moving with more ease, despite the earlier stumble.

I relaxed enough to shake the cramps in my hands, loosen the muscles. After a time, Cybelle called a halt, and we circled around, looking for places to sit. The tunnel had widened again, but this time, we stood in a cavern with dead torches on the walls. Brin lit them, using a surge of faille energy from her fingertips, and the yellow light was both a relief and a challenge. A relief because there were fewer shadows to examine. But also a challenge because the light was too bright after being in the dark.

I squinted, needing seconds for my vision to adjust. Julien sat on the ground. His shoulders curved inward, and his hands were limp in his lap.

I crawled over to him. Offered my wrist.

He jerked back. “What?”

“You need food,” I said. “It’s the least I can do, since this is my fault.”

He shook his head.

“What?” I teased. “Afraid it’s wolf blood? I have no wolf, remember?”

“Not wolf blood,” he hissed. “I’m afraid of the damn Wolf. When he gets here, he’ll pin me to his own wall for harming you.”

“I’ll tell him it was an emergency.” I dug out an arrow and pricked the tip of my finger. Waited for the blood to pool. “Open.”

When Julien refused, I gently smeared the blood on his lower lip. “Don’t be such a baby. This can be our little secret.”

“Noa…” When he protested, I slid my finger into his mouth and against the fang that descended. Then I slid over to the second fang, coating them both with my blood.

“I’m sure it tastes awful,” I said at his grimace. “But be a good boy. Take it deep and swallow.”

The light in his eyes flared with humor and not sensuality as his lips tightened. His movements were careful. He sucked gently on my fingertip, running his tongue over the slight cut, soothing any pain while his fingers cupped my hand, protective. I watched his throat contract once, twice, a third time as he swallowed before he pulled my hand away.

“Ambrosia.”

“You look a little better,” I lied.

“And you?” He studied my face. I turned away self-consciously.

“Don’t judge a girl when she’s running through tunnels and collapsing things.”

He wrapped my hand in his again, his fingers comforting against the ruined black sigil. “He won’t need this to find you.”

“He isn’t here yet,” I answered. “But he’s going to be so pissed.”

Julien’s grip tightened, and when I looked up, he smiled. “Your wolf is already over the edge, and pissed doesn’t come close. When are you putting him out of his misery?”

“Me?” I pulled back. “Not that it’s any of your business.”

“I told him to do the right thing by you months ago.”

“He didn’t listen, did he?” I crossed my arms. “He’s a stubborn ass.” Full of denials and then… honor.

Cybelle was asking Laura to start a fire. I thought of offering. I could do it easily, but then I remembered how vampires hated fire. Brin had already alarmed them by lighting the torches. I didn’t want to worsen the mood.

But any heat was welcome in a cavern that was freezer-cold. A pot of water bubbled softly—I hoped it was tea. I realized our escape had been planned when Laura found provisions stuffed in her backpack. I checked mine, and found a knife, compass, the folded map. Bottled water. Brin was working through a small pile of her own. Nutrition bars, a bottle of pills—pain relievers. I recognized the label.

For an instant, relief ran through me. We had nutrition bars and aspirin. What else could we want?

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