Page 53 of The Crimson Princess
She nods her agreement. “Sounds good to me.”
“Idris,” I say. “I want to have you and your team drive the werewolves to the other side of the forest. Me and Raven will be there, waiting on them. When they shift, we’ll follow them into the villages where they are hiding.”
It’s Idris’s turn to nod his agreement. “It’s a good plan.”
“Make sure you let them think they escaped,” I remind him, certain Idris will still be battling his need to seem as if he’d conquered all and done so on his own. “Make sure your men know the same.”
“Done,” he says and he walks away, gathering his men, while Raven stays with me. “Sorry if I interrupted anything when I walked up,” Raven offers.
“That wasn’t about you as much as it was about me and Idris.”
“But I was a part of it.” It’s not a question. She knows how people feel about her.
My hand settles on her arm. “There was a reason it all happened the way it did. The truth will be revealed. And there’s more going on right now that proves that point than I can discuss with you.”
“You should hate me.”
“Never. You’re one of the only friends I have now that my mom’s gone.”
“I am a friend, Princess Satima. A loyal one.”
“I know. And part of me hopes you end up a shadow so I can keep you close, but that’s not up to me. It’s up to the book. You ready to go learn how to kill a werewolf?”
“Very ready,” she assures me.
“What kind of blade are you using?”
“One cast with my family’s magic. It can handle the thick skin of a werewolf.”
I’m impressed with her knowledge. “You’ve really been on your training.”
“And reading,” she says. “What I haven’t faced, I’ve studied in the ancient gale library. I’ve tried to be ready for anything.”
“Good. Then you know go behind the were, and for the throat. Watch the frostburns. They know exactly what to do. You protect them. They’ll protect you.”
“Got it. Let’s do it.”
I motion to Idris and the two of them step to my sides. We walk into the forest and the frostburns are waiting on us, a good twelve of them, in a V-shaped formation, one at the head of the pack. “Stay here,” I order both of them, walking toward the lead frostburn and kneeling in front of him.
Without reservation, I hold my hand, allowing him to smell me, but he pushes past it, and rubs his face against mine. I caress his neck and whisper, “I brought help. We’re going to get rid of the werewolves so they’ll stop attacking you.” I ease back to look at him, and I can sense he understands me. “There’s a bunch of us. They’re going to kill the weres, but let a few live. Me and Raven, the girl with the red hair, will follow those out of the forest to find out where they’re hiding. Then we can get rid of them for good. Don’t eat the help, okay? We’ll fight together.”
He bows to me, literally bows, and the other frostburns follow. Behind me, Idris whispers, “What is happening?”
“I think she’s their alpha,” Raven murmurs, “or maybe there’s more to it. I don’t know. They’re bonded.”
I push to my feet and the frostburns howl in unison. I lift a hand to Idris. “Get your men. Let’s go kill the weres.”
The frostburns turn and dart into the woods, and it’s not long before I’m leading the hunting party deep into the forest. The sun is gone and the night has turned obsidian when a cluster of red eyes appear in the tree line ahead of us. Idris guides his menone direction, and I take Raven with me another, the frostburns staying with us up front, leading the way.
The frostburns attack the weres before we do, and I turn to Raven. “Watch me first.” I draw my dagger, not waiting for her compliance. I rush a werewolf, circle him and jump on his back, my blade opening up his throat.
Before the were ever hits the ground, Raven is on the back of another, slicing its throat. I approve. She’s a natural. A were comes at me and a frostburn takes him down before I can react. From there, it’s one kill after another, and as we merge with Idris and his army, it becomes clear they have things under control.
Idris motions for me and Raven to go, to follow the plan, and head to the other side of the forest. With Raven by my side, we sink into the darkest recesses of the forest, inside its cover, but to drink from the pond we must reveal ourselves inside the clearing. We pause just inside the shelter of the trees, and for a pitch-black night, the pond has managed to be illuminated in bright white moonlight, and its effervescent glow adds to the spotlight effect.
“I hate we have to go out there,” Raven murmurs.
“Agreed. We move fast. To the pond and back in the coverage of the forest on the other side. You go first. I have your back.”
