Page 34 of The Ordeals
‘Thank you,’ Tessa says quietly, blinking quickly. ‘Do you think we’ll find wolfsbane at Killmarth? Or will tomorrow be too late for Greg?’
It dawns on me suddenly why that plant had been harvested. They knewexactlywhat they were sending us into. Maybe the medical team are ready and waiting at Killmarth even now to ease the symptoms of any bitten hopefuls. Well, the ones that survive the night.
‘Hard to tell,’ says Edmund. ‘Alden? You’re the botanist in the family.’
‘He could do with some before dawn,’ Alden replies, eyeing Greg as Tessa carefully and efficiently begins bandaging him up. ‘If he can take some, even just a small amount, it will lessen the effects at every full moon after. He might even learn to control it in time and not transform at all or heed the compulsion to return to the alpha at the full moon.’
‘And if he doesn’t take it before dawn?’ I ask quietly, thinking of the risk of us all trying to leave the forest at night, weighing it up against Greg’s chances, the freshly harvested wolfsbane at Killmarth, my promise to Tessa …
‘The alpha of the Morlagh pack will claim him by daybreak. He may not be able to leave the woods.’
I glance at Tessa and catch her flinch, then I turn back to Alden. ‘Does it grow in the Morlagh?’
‘It does,’ Alden says, frowning again.
‘I’ll go,’ Tessa says quietly. ‘He’s my partner.’
‘I don’t like the thought of any of us …’ I begin, biting my lip. ‘If you don’t make it, you both fail the Ordeal, then what’s the point of saving Greg? May as well sling him out there now and be done.’
‘Um, thanks?’ Greg says.
Tessa stands quickly, looking to the door and, at this angle, I’m the only person who can see her features, washed in sheer terror. It squeezes my heart, and an image rises unbidden of Dolly in those final moments. How scared she seemed, how panicked. How I couldn’t save her from a monster. I can’t save Tessa either, not if something comes after her in the woods. But at least I can even the odds of her survival. Of all of us surviving to reach those mirrors, together.
‘I’m going with you,’ I say.
There’s a beat of silence, then Alden sighs through his nose. ‘I’m not letting you out of my sight now I’ve found you, DeWinter.We have to pass together, or we both fail. Besides, at least one of us needs to know how to point and shoot.’
‘Er, rude,’ I say, standing to glare at him. ‘I willallowyou to accompany Tessa and me because you know where to find the wolfsbane. I’m perfectly capable of handling a hunting rifle. As I’m sure is Tessa.’
‘I’d better load three rifles then …’ Edmund smirks.
Tessa leans in to whisper to me. ‘You’ve done enough. This is my burden now.’
I look at her and, in that moment, I know I’m making the right decision. To trust her, to help her, to make this more than an alliance. I grip her arm and say softly, ‘We are going into those woods together.’
Chapter 12
The Morlagh Woods
As we draw back the bolts, stepping out into the eerie quiet, I wonder if I’m making the biggest mistake of my life. I just left the safety of a perfectly good hunting lodge, in the middle of a dark forest with a den of damn werewolves nearby, ready to shred me to ribbons. And all I have to defend myself with is a switchblade, a wooden stake, which I’ve thrust into my belt, a hunting rifle, which I didn’t want to admit I’ve had very limited training in how to handle from the Collector, and a pocketful of silver bullets.
At least that vicious monster is dead as dust. I roll my shoulders, purposefully removing my thoughts from Dolly, that night, the blood.
‘Having second thoughts?’ Alden asks as Tessa stalks ahead, eyeing the close quiet of the trees.
‘I am questioning my decision,’ I admit, ducking under a low branch. But not in my choice of alliance, not as I watch Tessa now, or indeed Alden as he moves like a shadow. The mist has cleared to reveal a densely packed area of woodland, gnarled ancient trees and towering pines. We must be deep in the heart of the Morlagh here. With every footstep the scent of pine needles wafts around us in a cloud, mingling with cedar, oak and loam. But there’s a sharpness buried in the air as well, a tang of copper and decay.
‘You look like you’ve been doing this your whole life,’ Aldensays softly. ‘You even move like a hunter. And that stake is well carved – you can’t have had long to whittle it.’
I glance at him. ‘Careful, that sounded like a compliment.’
‘Don’t get used to it. You may have outwitted Hess with those alphemera petals, and somehow survived so far, but I’m beginning to wonder if it’s just luck, DeWinter, perhaps some training in combat and survival. Luckdoeseventually run out.’
‘Now there’s the Alden Locke I know. Thought I’d lost you.’ I glance at him slyly and sniff. ‘At least I won’t have to check you for werewolf bites.’
‘Are you trying to sound funny?’
‘Maybe humour is lost on you? Not a class they offered at your fancy feeder school? Maybe—’
