Page 22 of The Werewolf Cowboy
Grayson had noticed a flash of the same streaks in the air back at the Nevada brothel. The Dark Fae had effectively harnessed the magick of both worlds, Grayson realized. He wondered how Jaeden managed the power without becoming totally corrupt…or mad.
Most of all he felt different. It was as if he’d repressed everything Other about himself on Earth, and here, all his powers surfaced. Here in the Dark Kingdom, Others were free to practice their magick, embrace their powers and use them without restriction, without fear of human discovery. No humans lived in the Dark Kingdom.
And that lack of repression made the Dark Kingdom dangerous. It could corrupt you if you let the power go to your head. Drive you mad if you could not harness your emotions and discipline your magic. Charles had done neither.
Grayson sniffed the air, and caught Katy’s scent. Stronger, richer and laden with vanilla and a bite of musk that was purely sexual. Still a virgin, but her sexuality had awakened.
Grayson glanced back at the building. “Katy ain’t there.”
The Fae held out a hand and traced a rune in the air. “Neither is Ninnea. I sense her life form has fled this place. They escaped. And if I sense it, Gerner and the other Fae will as well. Come, we must find her before they do.”
Though he was glad Katy had escaped, Grayson shaded his eyes with one hand, deeply worried about her being lost in this desert. “I can track her as wolf.”
Jaeden looked amused. “So you are willing to embrace your true nature here, Grayson Moore? Being Lupine in the Dark Kingdom carries many dangers to your soul, if you have one left.”
Grayson didn’t matter as much as Katy did. He knew how to take care of himself in this world. But Katy wasn’t aware of the hidden dangers in the Dark Kingdom.
“The two girls traveled together.” Jaeden waved his right hand in the air, and a stream of pink and purple followed. “I memorized Ninnea’s life force. But we will have to track her on foot to pinpoint their exact location.”
Grayson unfastened the pack and handed it to Jaeden. “Put this on.”
Then Grayson shifted into wolf, the pull of power nearly making him howl. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he rode the waves as bones lengthened and thickened, and then he finally felt his senses explode with the power of his wolf.
Licking the air, he turned to the Dark Fae, grimly amused that the jaded Jaeden looked a little stunned. “I’ve heard Lupines were larger in this world, but this is quite excessive.”
“Get on my back. We can go faster if I take us.”
Jaden’s eyes widened. “I did not realize wolves could talk in this world.”
“Haven’t had much contact with one of us, I reckon. Get on. We’re wasting daylight.”
The Fae did so, struggling to climb onto Grayson’s furred back as one would try to mount a horse. Finally the Fae was on, his feet dangling off the ground.
“Head east, toward that clump of trees,” Jaeden instructed.
The sun beat down upon his head, and the dust tickled his nose, but he raced through the ash and dirt. The pad of his large paws kicked up clouds of ash. Eventually he knew he’d tire, but Grayson would never quit. Not until Katy was found, and safe.
The Dark Fae leaned close and whispered in his right ear. “Move your furry ass, wolf. I spied Night Riders in the distance.”
Blood chilling, he forced his legs to run faster. Night Riders. In exchange for finding escaped prisoners, the mercenary patrols took their payment in living flesh, not gold.
Grayson ran faster.
Jaeden instructed him where to go until they finally reached the clump of trees. The trees resembled the mesquite trees he’d seen in the Nevada desert, but in this world, the narrow leaves were bright yellow, and the trunks were purple. Beneath the thin shade of one thorny mesquite tree, Katy sat on a rock next to a petite Fae woman with pointed ears.
Jaeden slid off his back, but Grayson scarcely noticed. All his attention was focused on Katy, the streaks of dirt smearing her round cheeks, the fatigue in her pretty eyes.
If I live to be a thousand years old, I will never see a more beautiful sight.
Grayson focused all his magick and shifted back to Skin. He waved a hand and conjured clothing and then raced over to her, watching her gaze widen with fear and then delightful recognition.
“Katy.” Grayson hugged her, relieved she was intact, alive and apparently unhurt. Anxious, he skimmed his hands over her arms. “You okay?”
Eyes shining, she cupped his cheek. “You came for me. I hoped you would be the one to find me. Might I ask if you brought water?”
Jaeden unfastened the backpack and poured the water out of the canteens Grayson had packed. “Do not drink this water, for it is of the Skin world.”
“You mean it will change me?” Katy asked.
