Page 14 of Soul of Thorns
A low, sinister chuckle echoes from the stone alleyway. I flinch and press closer to Rev, my thoughts flying from my mind and our conversation entirely forgotten.
I fling my shadows over us both, knowing Rev can’t be entirely hidden by my magic. I can veil him, but the shadows will not dig deep enough into his essence. If someone is nearby and knows we’re here, they’ll see him. I’d been so distracted by Rev’s declaration that I hadn’t kept up our cover or kept watch for creatures following us.
“The humans have tricks, do they?” the voice calls with another cackle laugh. A form steps into view—white-grey smoke swirls and shimmers, holding the form of a prowling wolf.
My heart pounds, but I hold my breath. The wraith wolf’s eyes dart around in the area he must have known we’ve been hiding, but he can’t see us. Somehow, my shadows have done better than I’d thought they could under the circumstances.
I take a moment to examine our new adversary. He’s nearly twice the size of the wolves I fought earlier today, but not as large as the bear we faced in the valley. I’m sure he’s equally as formidable. He’s speaking, which means he’s more intelligent than the others. And the rippling smoke suggests he is not a simple animal—he’s a wraith. He has magic.
The wraith-wolf prowls forward, his nose low to the ground, sniffing, his tail wagging slowly. Well, it appears my shadows hide us from wraiths well enough.
“Worry not, children. I am not your enemy.” His voice is smooth, unconcerned, but the look in his eyes tells me he’s eager to find us. He’s not a simply curious wraith.
He wants something.
His smoke billows up, making it appear like his fur is furrowing. Not exactly comforting.
Rev’s hand settles on my lower back, pulling me in close.
“Still don’t trust me?” he pouts, exposing a row of very real-looking sharp teeth. He chuckles again. “I just came down to help you through the wall, you see. It’s quite easy.”
I purse my lips, not even considering the possibility of trusting the wraith. For one—he’s a wraith. I’ve done my fair share of trusting those creatures. Two, he came looking for us, and he’s still searching, based on his movements. I grip Rev’s forearm tighter, and we stand dead still.
Sweat drips down my nose.
“You don’t want to know how?” the wraith says sweetly. His head lifts, ears perked curiously. “Very well, I’ll let you walk right into the Night Terror’s waiting claws by your own fruition—if you don’t incinerate yourselves first, of course.”
He turns, making his way back down the narrow walkway when Rev jerks forward. “Wait,” he says quietly.
“Rev,” I hiss through my teeth, pulling him back.
The wraith streaks in our direction, quick as lightening, his feet don’t even move as he flies at us. I blast out acid, slamming into his snout. He yelps and skids to a stop, pressing his side to the cliffside opposite our hiding place. Teeth exposed; he licks at the minor wound on his nose.
The magical smoke making up his body dances causally, an eager expression on his inhuman face. “My humans have many tricks, I see!”
“We aren’t humans,” Rev mutters.
“Dammit, Rev, stop talking to him.”
He knows where we are, but he still can’t see us, and I don’t intend to change that. The more Rev talks, the harder it is to remain hidden.
“You befriended a wraith just days ago,” Rev complains. “And he helped you through several obstacles.”
“That was different.”
“We need to cross this insidious wall of flame, and he apparently knows how.”
“Yeah, and he’s alsoveryinterested in uncovering our hiding place. He wants something from us.”
“Are you two finished with your bickering?” The wraith sits, chest puffed out. His shadowed head tilts back and forth like he’s more doll than sentient being.
“No,” I say. “But you may as well fulfill your apparent worth before I kill you.”
“Not very friendly humans.” He tsks.
“We aren’t humans,” Rev says again. “We are fae.”
“Same thing, child. Living beings are all stupid and controlled by their whims.” He spins slowly in a circle, pacing in front of our shadowed hiding place.
