Page 60 of Enchanted Heir
I paid him no attention as I kept moving. Left and right. Right and over. Under and left. There was no pattern, just paying attention and weaving and spinning around the orbs of magic.
“Fifteen seconds,” Owen said.
I was already there though. Rather than just step under this set of orbs blockading my way at chest and foot level, I dove between the two, doing a roll onto the ground and then standing up while grinning victoriously. I was honestly impressed I didn’t hurt myself.
“Only five seconds to spare,” Owen scowled.
I cocked my head. “I still made it in time.”
“Barely,” he argued.
I glared at him as I reached over and poked at one of the orbs with my hand, making all of them vanish immediately.
“Showoff,” he grumbled.
I just stood there panting and smiling. That had been fun. A lot more fun than just running.
“I may have underestimated your dancing abilities when deciding to play this little game,” Owen said with a shake of his head. “You’re pretty good at this.”
“So where’s my bacon?” I beamed.
Owen’s lips twitched. “We will have to talk Krew into ordering you some. Stop gloating. Tomorrow it will not be so easy. Let’s go.”
I had a spring in my step as we walked back toward the castle. The sun hit my face and felt warm for how cold it was outside. The smell of the forest was also so strong today.
“Hey, question,” I said to Owen. “If the forest is really dead like they say it is, why does it still smellsogood?”
Owen popped his shoulders in a shrug. “I always thought the forest was just stuck. Whether from magic or some sort of disease or what have you. If it was truly dead, it would be rotting away at a faster pace than it is.”
I slowed down and looked around as I realized he was right. The lake was black. The grass was brown and dead, but probably about right for this time of year anyway. The trees were bare and dead looking. But if they were really dead, wouldn’t they be deteriorating? They weren’t growing, but they weren’t dying.
And then I saw him.Rafe.
I caught my breath and felt Owen spin toward me.
“Rafe,” I said quietly.
“I see him,” Owen agreed.
“I’m going to slowly walk toward him. Don’t freak out or make any sudden movements.”
“Says the wolf-whisperer,” Owen said sarcastically but quietly.
I slowly took a few steps, talking gently. “Hey, pretty boy. How are you? It’s been a while, huh, buddy?”
Rafe kept his eyes on mine but never moved.
As soon as I was about twenty feet away, I stopped and sat on the ground, so that I wouldn’t scare him off. If he wanted to come closer, then he could. Rather than force him to be near me, I let him decide.
Rafe didn’t move for a moment, but then he slowly took a step forward.
“There are two,” Owen whispered from behind me. “Another one behind that large tree to your left.”
I kept my eyes on Rafe. “Well why don’t you sit down so you don’t intimidate them, Owen?”
He groaned. “Fine.”
Rafe took a few more steps forward while I kept my eyes on him and him only. If he was the alpha, he was the one I need approval from the most.
