Page 74 of Quest of the Wolf

“What’s happening?” Mom asked.

“The one who raised him bound him to a control device that can call him across miles.” It could do a lot more than that, but I didn’t go into details.

My gaze drifted to the talisman and medallion, the chains still entwined, a faint glow still coming from them. They clung together as if their magic had fused them. Or had the artifact changed something within them, giving them magnetism that they hadn’t had before? I shook my head, not certain of the science that might account for this. Or even if science could explainmagic.

Mom said something, but I didn’t register the words. An idea had popped into my head, and I snatched the bag that Bolin hadgiven me out of my pocket. I dug out the small GPS device, themagneticGPS device.

Before I held it toward the artifact, I felt a pull. It was also drawn to it. Until I flipped it over. Then it was repulsed.

“Guess we know where the poles are on this.” I pointed to the talisman. I wouldn’t ask to take the medallion from Mom, but maybe that would do. “May I borrow that?”

Grunts and straining sounds came from Duncan. He wouldn’t be able to fight the call much longer. It was as if he, too, was made from metal and being magnetically drawn.

If only the magic were that innocuous.

“It’s yours,” Mom said dryly as she untangled the two chains and reached for the talisman’s clasp behind her neck. “It does help soothe my pain, by the way. I didn’t thank you for that.”

“I’ll bring it back.”

“Okay.”

As I pulled the necklace away from her, a tiny beam of silver light shot from Mom’s medallion to the talisman. It disappeared so quickly that I wasn’t sure I’d seen it, but the mushroom artifact hummed faintly. For an instant, I sensed more than magic from it. I sensed…emotion? That it was pleased? The feeling faded as quickly as the beam of light had, and I shook away the thoughts. I’d probably imagined it all.

Another grunt from behind reminded me to focus on my new idea, mymission.

Mom watched as I held the GPS tracker to the back of the talisman.

Though the mushroom-shaped artifact had a greater pull, the tracker did click to it.

“Duncan.” I turned, holding the chain up and trying to show him the talisman while hiding the GPS tracker now attached to it. That was a challenge since it was larger. But, maybe in his werewolf form, he wouldn’t be as observant—or wouldn’t quite knowwhat the flat black disc was. “They’re trying to call you, aren’t they?”

He grunted, his eyes locking with mine. They continued to look more animal than human, the power of werewolf magic within them, but there was recognition too. He knew who I was. And maybe he understood me.

“Do you remember when we found this locket? You said it was a longevity talisman. It’s lucky, too, I think.” We hadn’t spoken of that, but maybe he wouldn’t remember the details while in this form. “If you get called up by Radomir and Abrams, you’re going to need luck.”

He grunted again, but it sounded more suspicious than agreeing, and squinted at the locket. Then he snarled, clutching his forehead once more.

“Wear this, okay?” I stepped forward and lifted the chain, my heart hammering in my chest. Not only was I trying to trick a great bipedfuris much stronger than I, but I was getting close to him, close enough that he could tear into me with a sweep of his claws.

When he jerked his arms down, I jumped, afraid he would attack. Tension radiated from his body, from his every taut muscle. He looked like he wanted to slash into his enemies with those claws.

But he stared at me through the chain I held up, meeting my gaze. Again, I noted the intelligence in there. Could he remember the plan to follow him that I’d spoken of? The one hehadn’tapproved of?

I smiled encouragingly and lifted the chain a little higher, trying to indicate that I wanted to put it on him. Too bad it wouldn’t fit over his head. I would have to clasp it behind his neck. Talk about walking into the lion’s den… the werewolf’s maw…

“Let’s put this on you, okay?” Damn, my mouth was dry. “For luck.”

Duncan’s gaze shifted toward the locket and his eyes narrowed.A bead of sweat ran down my back. Tricking him wasn’t going to work. I had to tell him the truth and hope he would go for it. That he wouldn’t be pissed.

But his eyes opened a little wider, and he cocked his head as he regarded the locket. As if he’d sensed something new about it.

Appearing almost contemplative, he met my eyes. I opened my mouth, groping for a way to sell him on the locket.

He surprised me by lowering his head. It took me a moment to realize he was offering his neck, that he would let me put it on him.

With a tremor in my fingers, I lifted the chain. When I tried to operate the clasp, I fumbled it and almost dropped the locket. I half-expected Duncan to come to his senses and spring away, but he remained utterly still. I fastened the clasp, and the locket fell against his furred chest, the GPS remaining attached.

When I stepped back and lowered my hands, he sprang into motion.

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