Page 7 of Freed Wolfsbane

Huh. That’s odd.

I wade through my mind until I find the place where my magic and wolf usually are. While I see a faint blue flame of my magic that’s weaker than usual, my wolf isn’t anywhere to be found. I spin around, but no matter how hard I search, I can’t find her. Feeling panic thrum in my chest at being unable to reach her, I snap my eyes open.

Ryker gives me a smug smile. “Having trouble?”

“What happened to my wolf?” I glare at him as I try to hide how my frame is trembling. I haven’t had my wolf or Dido for very long, but they already feel like a part of me. Without either of them, I really am here alone. The situation feels crushingly hopeless without their help.

“We have a suppression field at this facility to keep any of you from shifting. It’s powered by the same magic that keeps female wolves from shifting. Since you can get past that magic, you should be able to shift here. We want to study what happens when you break through the suppression field so we can make it stronger. Now shift, whelp.” He punctuates his statement with a clap, like I’m actually a dog and not a person.

Well, that’s not good. I don’t want to give them what they need to make their spell stronger. I’m trying to break the curse, not be the reason it continues. Although I desperately want to find my wolf, I refuse to do what he says, choosing to level him with a defiant look instead.

Huffing, Ryker reaches into his shirt and pulls out a brown stone necklace on a black cord. Gripping it in his palm, he stalks over to me. When he hits the edge of the containment circle, I expect him to get zapped like a mosquito in a bug lamp, but Ryker’s unharmed as he gets into my space. I don’t have time to wonder at how he got past the magic before he delivers a hard punch straight to my solar plexus.

I clutch at my abdomen and double over as sharp, stabbing pain steals my breath. A whimper tries to work its way out of my mouth, but I bite my cheek to keep it in as I ride out the agony. As much as the hit to a mass of nerves hurts, it’s nowhere near as bad as what Patrick did to me regularly.

When I can finally straighten, I meet Ryker’s disappointed gaze. His eyebrows are furrowed, like he expected me to dissolve into sobs or beg him not to hit me again. He chose the wrong girl to kidnap if he thinks I’ll break at the first sign of violence.

My lips quirk up slightly at the corners as I enjoy being a thorn in the Knights’ side anyway I can. Ryker’s gaze darkens at my small smile. “As you can see, I have no problem going through the containment area. Each time you fail to shift, the consequences will get progressively more severe. Now, shift.”

I close my eyes like I’m trying to shift as I hunt for my wolf once again. There must be some way to get to my wolf and Dido. While I won’t do it here where they’re watching me, having the ability to shift would certainly help my escape attempt.

While I can reach the flame like last time, there’s still no hint of where my wolf went. I resist the urge to growl in frustration and, instead, shout for Dido again.Dido! Where are you? I could really, really use your help right now.

If that isn’t the understatement of the century. I’m sure the millennia-old queen would know how to get out of this mess, but it looks like I can’t reach her.

Helplessness and frustration try to sweep over and drown me in despair as I wonder how I’m supposed to get out of here without my wolf, Dido, or reliable magic. But I shove it into the steel box in my mind with my other distracting feelings. Panicking won’t accomplish anything.

“Time’s up,” Ryker calls. I open my eyes just in time to see him aim a roundhouse kick at me. His booted foot slams into my ribs with an audible crunch. I can’t stop from gasping at the pain that feels like someone shoved a white-hot fireplace poker in my side, but I don’t double over this time. My breath comes in short pants as I try to breathe through the pain that flares with every inhale.

Ryker looks more pleased than he did last time, so I must not be blanking my face well enough. Taking as deep a breath as I can with fractured ribs, I meticulously wipe all the pain and hopelessness and worry off my expression. I embrace the agony radiating through my side and use it to clear my mind.

“Should I try again?”

Ryker’s face contorts in frustration, but he gives me a sharp nod.

Filled with a renewed sense of determination, I close my eyes and go straight to where my magic and wolf should be. My wolf isn’t there, but my magic is. The ice-blue flame is smaller than usual, but it’s still burning, which is something.

Instead of trying to pick up the flame or call the energy to me, I picture what I need to happen. I envision a cool, light blue breeze floating over my broken ribs, knitting together everything it touches. I imagine the cold, soothing power flowing through my tired and weary body, invigorating me and healing anything that needs it.

While I’m picturing my magic, I feel silky fur reassuringly brush up against me. My eyes pop open, and I look down at myself, expecting to see that I’ve turned into a wolf. Disappointment sparks in my chest when I realize I’m still in my human form. The feeling doesn’t last long as I take a breath without any pain.

A grin tries to break out across my face as I realize I did it. I used my magic consciously for the first time. I shut my smile down because I can’t let the Knights know I have magic. My power staying hidden is probably the only advantage over them I have right now. They have numbers, home field advantage, and better tech and weapons, while I have moody magic that rarely listens. When I put it that way, it doesn’t seem so great, but oh well. It’s more than I had ten minutes ago.

Ryker’s sharp voice jars me out of my thoughts. “Admitting defeat so soon this time?”

Gritting my teeth at his smug face, I shake my head before reluctantly admitting, “I felt my wolf.” While I don’t want to help the Knights, I only have so much magic to heal myself. Having a bunch of injuries is only going to make escaping harder, so I have to play along for now. Hopefully I’m not giving them anything useful.

Ryker’s eyes light up, and he hustles over to the scientist people beep-booping away at their machines. He comes to a stop beside the lanky guy with close cropped tawny hair. “Anything, Clark?”

Clark doesn’t look up from his screen at Ryker’s approach. “We observed a magic spike approximately sixty seconds before subject six hundred and twenty-six reported connecting with its beast.”

Ah, nothing like being referred to as subject six hundred whatever to really hammer home how the Knights don’t see me, or any supernatural, as a person.

My heart also feels heavy knowing there are hundreds of other people here. I kind of hoped Anson, the other people in the hallway, and I were the only ones. There’s no way I can leave all of these people behind when I break out. So, I guess I’ll just have to figure out a way to jailbreak six-hundred-some-odd supernaturals without the Knights noticing.

No biggie.

“What does that mean?” Ryker demands.

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