Page 139 of Bosse
If not, Adrian didn’t want to think about losing his friend.
Red hunched down, easing forward silently until Adrian finally saw what his wolf hunted.
A yellow-mohawk guard dressed in a black leather vest and black pants like the one following the wagon stood with his legs apart. He held up the head of a dead human, softly calling to some unholy spirit.
The head burst into flames.
Adrian said to Red,Try not to bite too deeply in case his blood is tainted.
Yes, was his wolf’s quick reply.
Justin called,We’re burning from the inside out.
Oh, mother. Smoke streamed out of Herc’s ears. They couldn’t wait any longer for help. Red took two steps and leaped at the black magic conjurer.
The wilkotauk turned quickly to face Red, but Adrian’s wolf landed on the wilkotauk’s head, ripping his face off and then clawing his upper body as he slid down the front. The wilkotauk screamed and grabbed Red, trying to yank him off.
A raging grizzly, free of the black magic, came running in.
Adrian said,Great job, Red. Let Herc have at him.
Red pushed off and jumped to the side as Herc slammed the wilkotauk to the ground. Claws longer than Adrian’s hand shredded the body in seconds. Herc was still furious, stomping on the body, then standing and bellowing another rage-filled roar.
Adrian asked,Justin, are you okay?
Gettin’ there. Give Herc a minute. Never seen him so out of control.
Neither had Adrian, but Red would have been no better if he’d been attacked with magic.
Once Herc settled down, snorting and huffing out deep breaths, he walked away from the bloody mash of arms and legs.
Red circled the wilkotauk to join Herc.
Adrian asked for the body, which Red gave him.
Seeing that, Herc gave Justin the body. Poor Justin’s face was blistered, and his eyes were bloodshot.
“Are you sure you’re gonna be okay?” Adrian asked, thinking he might have to continue alone and send help for Justin.
“I’m fine, and I’ll be better as Herc heals. Those bastards are carrying some ungodly magic shit.”
Now Adrian understood. “That’s why Eriko sounded in awe of these werewolves. They’re not just capable of changing shape. They’re dark magic wielders.”
Justin had a determined look in his eyes when he said, “Let’s shift and go after Krol and the other asshole.”
Their animals took off on the same side of the road. Herc led again, and Red stayed a short distance back to watch for any rear attack on Herc.
Adrian estimated where the wagon should be and told Justin,We’re maybe a half hour behind the wagon. Our animals can overtake them.
I hope so, was all Justin said.
By the time they reached the main road, Adrian had begun to worry about not seeing the wagon yet. At the speed their animals ran, they should have overtaken the wagon before now. No wagon wheel trail turned down the beaten-down path on this side within sight of the paved road leading up to a major highway. They’d found wheel ruts that disappeared five minutes ago.
After their animals searched both sides of the road a mile in each direction, Adrian and Justin admitted the obvious.
The wagon had vanished.
Herc lumbered up to Red.
