Page 93 of The Howl
“Hey, sleepyhead,” Fenris said, opening the cabin door.
A cold wind stole into the room with him.
“How did I get in the bed?” I asked.
“You walked to it and crawled in,” he said. “Are you hungry for human food? I ran to my house and grabbed some stuff.” He lifted a brown paper bag that had a wet spot in the middle.
I glanced at the teeth marks in the paper.
“Sorry. I shifted and ran with it. I didn’t want to leave the fire for too long. You were cold.”
“Were you in the bed when I crawled into it?” I asked, not letting him distract me.
He grinned.
“Only for a little while. You hog the covers.”
I studied his eyes, looking for any trace that I’d done something I shouldn’t have. They looked the same, though. No haunting earnestness. Just the ever-present glint of humor.
“I could maybe eat something,” I said. “As long as it isn’t anything sweet.”
The idea of eating anything sweet just then turned my stomach.
“Not sweet. I made sandwiches.”
We sat in the chairs by the fire. I was one bite away from finishing the best ham and cheese sandwich I'd ever had in my life when my phone rang.
Seeing it was Megan, I answered.
“Eliana, you need to get to Elbner,” Megan said as soon as I answered. “Tell him I know his master was Zayn Sias. I know Zayn was the one responsible for all the creatures who died with a smile. Tell Elbner I’m making it common knowledge. Once you do that, you should be able to take him to the Council as a witness. Got it?”
“Yes. Zayn Sias. Got it. Thank you.”
I hung up and looked at Fenris with growing hope.
“Megan’s figured out who’s doing the killing. I need to get to the goblin and deliver him to the Quills. Once he confirms Mom didn’t do it, I’ll be free again.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“No. It’s okay. I got this.”
I grabbed my purse.
“Thanks for letting me sleep here. You’re right. It did make things better.”
I ran from the cabin, excited to get back into my car. I was almost free.
Chapter Fifteen
Elbner shiftedhis weight from one foot to another as he stood before Mr. Quill. I could see the goblin’s mistrust as his gaze flicked to each of the room’s occupants. He didn’t want to be here. However, now that Megan knew the name of his previous master and that the druid named Zayn was the one responsible for the mysterious deaths, Elbner was no longer held silent by any spell.
“Tell us what you know,” Mr. Quill said.
“Zayn Sias is a druid of vast power. He is the one who took the life energy of the smiling trolls, not that woman,” Elbner said with a glance at my mom.
She perched elegantly on the couch in Mr. Quill’s office, listening without comment. Adira, Mrs. Quill, and Raiden were there, too.
“What is he doing with the energy?” Adira asked.
