Page 58 of Triumph of the Wolf
Glad to have Duncan with me, I bumped the back of my hand against his as we walked. “I appreciate your support.”
“I could tell that from your gentle touch with that oven mitt.”
“It’s how American women show affection.”
“Interesting.” Duncan nodded toward a portion of the sky visible ahead, a suggestion that we would soon reach the top of the slope. “I don’t sense much in the way of magic around. Are we looking for something in particular?”
I considered my memory of the vision. “Just… high ground, I think. Like a spot you’d set up an antenna. Or a cell tower.”
Duncan eyed the case. “Or a funky metallic mushroom?”
“I hope so.”
Since there were no trails here, it took several more minutes to reach the top. Trees grew densely, but a rock shelf provided a clear viewpoint, and when we walked out onto it, I recognized the vista. In the vision, I’d been able to see Mom’s cabin and those of other werewolves. That was harder in reality, but I did pick out the road that led to Mom’s home.
“I think this is the place.” I held the case out on my oven mitt, wondering if the artifact inside had somehow been filled in on the vision. Would it know what to do? That the lid needed to open, and the mushroom needed to float out? What if it didn’twantto do what the medallions and the cave wished?
“Do you need me to turn into the bipedfuris?” Duncan asked after a few moments with nothing happening.
“I’m not sure. Visions never come with as detailed of instructions as you’d wish.”
Duncan touched his medallion. “I’m having an urge to get furry.”
“An urge or a magical compulsion?”
“Well, they’re about the same.” Duncan stepped back and started removing his clothes. “You may want to look away so you’re not so overcome with lust for my naked body that we’re distracted.”
I yawned. “I’m too tired to be overcome by anything.”
“That’s a touch disappointing. I’d like to think my body, which I naturally keep in peak physical shape, is enough to invigorate women and fill them with energy and lust.”
“Your mind must be an interesting place to inhabit.”
“Oh, it’s a delight.” Duncan bent to remove his shoes.
Wondering if the reception was better up here, I set the case between my feet and pulled out my phone. Maybe I could get a text through to Bolin, and he would send an update.
But he’d already sent a message at some point during the night, one that might have just come in.
There are wolves sniffing all over the place, Luna. Are they here looking for Jasmine? I hope so. They won’t talk to me. They’re not bothering the tenants, but some people are out here taking photos of them. Do you want me to do anything? Is there anything Icando? I was looking for locating spells in my druid texts, but none were as helpful as I’d hoped. Even though some have potions and tools, like the Orbs of Entanglement, that can be made from ingredients, they’re not alchemy tomes.
An idea struck me, one that should have occurred when Izzy had disappeared. I took off the oven mitt so I could use both hands to text back more quickly.
Check with Rue. She can make potions for finding people. She’ll need some hair or blood or saliva or something from Jasmine though. And Jasmine will need to be within ten miles for the potion to take us to her, but… that should be doable. I have an idea of the general area where she’s being kept.
It occurred to me that Bolin hadn’t likely asked Jasmine for blood or hair samples on their dates. I was on the verge of texting that I could swing by her house and ask her parents if I could poke in her bathroom for a hairbrush.
But Bolin texted back first. It had to be a testament to his concern for her that he was awake at dawn.There’s a napkin here that she dabbed her mouth with and a coffee cup she drank from. It’s got some of her lipstick on it. There should be some saliva, right?
Maybe so. Check with Rue.
Okay.
A glow and pulse of magic came from between my feet, startling me. The lid of the case opened.
A growl from behind me let me know that Duncan had completed his change. Tall, furred, and muscular, the bipedfuris crouched between me and a large pine. He glowered at the case, which reminded me of something he’d said before. The artifact didn’t like him—didn’t like any werewolves—and sent irritating magic crawling all over him when he was in that form.
I stepped back, not wanting a glowing magical artifact doing who knew what between my legs, and wondered anew why this ancient tool that didn’t like our kind would help us. The vision had promised it would, but I still didn’t understand.
