Page 101 of The Mating Quest
Soon as she materialized, several Lupine cowboys rode up on horses and surrounded her. Ilana waited patiently for the alpha to arrive. Protocol was essential here, even if they knewher.
The ranch looked like the Mitchell Ranch in Montana, except the air here was pure and the ranch harbored magick creatures no Skin had ever seen. Nearby, five white unicorns cropped the emerald meadow grass, their golden horns glinting in the sunshine. The blue sky was laced with lavender and dark purple streaks, indicative of the magick in this dark and sometimes dangerous land. No Skins could visit. OtherWorlders were free to practice magick without worrying about humans learning of theirexistence.
It made the Dark Kingdom both beneficial anddangerous.
She didn’t have to wait long for Chase galloped into the meadow on a gorgeous palomino pony. He slid off the horse and advanced, silent as his wolf. He had merry brown eyes, a shock of thick, dark hair spilling down to his shoulders and despite his brown checked shirt and blue jeans and boots, had a feral air abouthim.
No welcoming smile, either. Ilana braced herself, keeping her hands loose and empty, yet ready to defend herself if shemust.
He got almost in her face, so close she could see the green flecks in his eyes, and nearly taste the aura of pure magick surrounding him. Then with an ear-splitting grin, he reached out and hugged hertight.
Relieved, she hugged him back. Then Chase set her back, searching her face. Inhaling the pure wolf and pine smell of him, she tried to settle heremotions.
Ethan should be here with her, greeting Chase and asking their help to find Gideon’s talisman.I’m on my own. Maybe it’s better this way. I can’t trust anyone. Notreally.
“Ilana. This isn’t a social call. I can smell your distress.” Chase’s nostrilsflared.
Despite her churning emotions, she had to laugh. “You’re such a wolf, Chase. Only you would tell a girl shesmelled.”
No smile at her little joke. Not that she had time for polite social talk. “I’m here to find Gideon’stalisman.”
She explained to Chase what happened, and how the Crimson Wizard was fading. No use going into details about her past withCormac.
The alpha gazed into the distance, his expression hard. “Knew something was wrong lately. The power balance feels shifted, as if evil is gaining a grip here. We’re safe. I keep warding the ranch and the other packs do as well, but Wolf Haven isthreatened.”
Her heartsank.
“What do you need fromus?”
Ilana looked at the curious cowboys gathered around her. “I need your best trackers to hunt Cormac down. Find Cormac and you’ll find the stolentalisman.”
One Lupine scratched the bristles on his chin. “Pardon me, Ilana, but how the hell can we find a Dark Fae when we don’t know what his scentis?”
Chase nodded. “We’re happy to help, but he’s got a point. What does this Fae smelllike?”
Her stomach churned as she tore off a piece of her cotton T-shirt. “He’s a zombie now, so he smells like death. Andme.”
She tossed him the scrap. Chase eyed her. “I’m guessing you two were lovers and sharedpowers.”
Let’s not go there again. “Will you help me? Because if you don’t, then I need toleave.”
Chase began ripping the scrap into smaller pieces. He handed them out. “Five of you, search the Dark Forest in wolf form. I’ll go with Ilana and we’ll start in the desert wastelands. We’ll take the winged centaurs to cover more groundfaster.”
Ilana sucked in a breath. “Winged centaurs? Here in Wolf Haven? I thought they preferred the DarkForest.”
The alpha looked grim. “They did, until something scared them into seeking sanctuary on our ranch. There’s an evil prowling the Dark Kingdom, Ilana. I don’t know if it’s this Cormac you’re hunting, but it’s growingstronger.”
Chase turned and whistled a long, low note. Two unicorns galloped away toward a bank of trees, their hooves pounding the grasses. A few minutes later, she heard whinnying in thesky.
Two magnificent winged centaurs flew above them, and then angled down. The centaurs landed hard on the meadow. Two males, both rugged, with small horns sprouting from their heads. From what she knew of the creatures, they were proud, but somewhat self-centered and very territorial so she let Chase do thetalking.
“Firefox and Sage,” Chase introduced the half-men, half-horses. “This is Ilana. She is searching for the evil one intent on destroying yourland.”
The centaurs nodded. “Then let us go,” Firefox said. “I will take thewoman.”
With a running jump, she mounted Firefox. Chase did the same and the powerful centaurs took wing. Hands wrapped around Firefox’s mane, Ilana scanned theground.
They landed on a patch of dry soil near the forest. Ilana slid off Firefox’s back, hand on the hilt of herdagger.
