Page 41 of Faerie Trials

I made sure to keep between them, my gaze on his gaping muzzle with teeth like a bear trap. Worry soured inside of me until it blossomed into full-blown fear. Why did he keep focusing on Bronwen instead of attacking me?

My enraged growl finally got his attention and I dashed at him, ripping at his arm when he swung it in front of him like a shield. He stood a good seven feet tall with beige fur protecting him. Not to mention the claws and teeth.

I had to get through the muscle to get to him.

I charged.

The shifter tipped his head back and let out a screech of rage. Then swiped at the air where I’d been. I dodged and launched myself at his back, aiming for the kidneys. My claws swiped fiercely but slid right off of his ribs, basically accomplishing nothing.

Claws trailed over my shoulder but I didn’t stop. I turned and nipped at his stomach, expecting to find softness there but there was none.

The shifter had anticipated the move and leaned back to kick at me with both feet and the full force of his strength. I saw the move coming but there was no time for me to get out of the way. I went sprawling when the pads of both feet caught me square across the chest, sending me flying. The world swam when my head knocked against the snow-covered ground yet again. I curled into a ball, fighting for breath.

The shifter came at me with those lethal claws raised and jaws snapping. I didn’t move fast, but I moved, and the creature pounded a fist into the ground where I’d been.

At least I had his attention now.

Right. Then left. I dodged in a wide arc and landed a bite to his thigh. He snarled and backhanded me. I managed to stay on all four legs but only just. I had a feeling being hit by a truck would be less painful. I stumbled, blood dripping from my mouth.

He stared at me for a moment, bleeding from half a dozen places but not enough to slow him down.

That was when I knew I wasn’t going to win. No matter what I’d learned from Uncle Will and the rest of the pack, I wasn’t going to make it through this, not against a much bigger and stronger opponent. With my attention fractured between downed Bronwen and panting Juno, the best I could hope for was to bleed the shifter enough to get him tired. Then one of them would have to take over.

Focus!

At once I heard Uncle Will’s voice in my head. The one time he’d dragged me out into the woods alone, just the two of us before the pack began its alpha testing, and forced me to shift without the help and influence of the full moon. I remembered how he’d tried to guide me to fight on even when I felt it was no use, to keep fighting even when my muscles refused to cooperate, my energy sapped, my spirit broken.

You are never going to win unless you pull out all the stops. You think you can come out on top with a fair fight? No, Tavi, you can’t. They got your father because they took him by surprise. Ambushed. Nothing honorable about it. So it comes down to one simple choice. Do you want to fight fair? Or do you want to win?

Because the difference might be life or death.

Funny how the meaning of his words was so clear to me now.

The shifter kicked at me again and I dodged out of the way, transfiguring mid-jump so that my right paw became a hammer instead of a fist. A wolf with a hammer, ha. Bet no one else could do the same thing. I slammed the hammer down in the same place I’d bitten his thigh and watched his eyes go wide as he crumpled to his knees.

My bones screamed from the impact when I landed. But at least I’d gotten him on the injured leg, a vulnerable spot.

He screeched out a roar that I swore shook the bare tree limbs. I wasn’t finished. Unless I won this fight, my friends would die. I had to take this guy down and I’d do whatever it took.

He grabbed me while I was distracted and jerked me toward his gaping jaws. Instead of letting him get at my neck, I transfigured again, shrinking my body down just enough to loosen his grip, then I stabbed my fist against his throat. Quick. Accurate.

He gurgled and staggered, hurling me aside.

I expected a return attack. I definitely didn’t expect him to run away. Panting, I watched him grow smaller and smaller into the distance. This was my chance. I could follow him and finish him.

Then Juno groaned. I bared my teeth. Maybe he’d realized he couldn’t actually beat me. As hurt as I was, I’d still gotten a few good blows in, so I felt like I’d come out on top.

I shifted back into normal form when she cried out. Her eyes focused on me, flashing in the moonlight, between her physical form and air, but still alive. They were both still alive. I grabbed onto Bronwen and stifled a moan when the movement ached. Crap, my chest hurt. Myeverythinghurt.

“Bron, come on. Speak to me.” I trailed my palm along her cheek. She was cold, but she was breathing.

I touched her neck and found a weak but steady pulse. She slowly opened her eyes. “Did…you win?” she managed to get out.

I gasped with relief. “You know I did.”

Helping her to her knees, I checked her all over for wounds and found a few badly bruised places but nothing serious. Nothing to be worried about. I forced myself upright, head dizzy and the rest of me ready to drop.

“Juno, are you all right?”

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