Page 111 of The Kingdom of Eternal Ice
Let’s talk later, she says.This time for real.
I feel a hint of hope growing in me. Maybe Ita will finally give us a chance, and if not, I hope she will at least be honest with me this time.
Caitlin, the warriors, and I make sure to gather everyone. Some of the kids have been sleeping, but now that they know they can return, excitement and joy fill them. The adults are a bit more wary, they don’t know the losses yet or the damage that was done to their pack. But, at least no one present seems to have lost their mates.
The way back is faster as it leads us down the mountain. The adrenaline of soon being united with our loved ones spurs everyone on further. Two of the older pack members struggle, but Caitlin and one of my warriors make sure to help them.
This time it’s me who leads the way. Everything around us is quiet, peaceful; the snow swallowing our footsteps. Some of the pack members chat quietly, as the danger is gone, but in general it’s a quiet walk down.
Why am I feeling so restless then?
Ros is on alert too.I can’t sense any danger though, she says.There are no werebears around, I’m certain about that.
But something doesn’t feel right.
It’s the same feeling I had earlier that day… and yesterday.Something feels off.
Yes, she agrees nervously.
It’s quiet, almost too quiet. I can feel the hair on my arms standing up, a shiver going down my spine. It’s not because of the cold. I’m not feeling cold, yet a shiver runs down my spine.
We are in the midst of the forest, and while it’s night, it shouldn’t be so quiet.
It’s eerie. No noises of any nocturnal animals can be heard, no wind, no rustling, nothing.
“Princess Alana?” one of the guards whispers when I halt to look around.
“We should go faster,” I instruct.
“Is something wrong?”
“I’m not sure.”
I try to push the feeling aside and pick up my pace. The warriors make sure that everyone follows a bit more urgently. We just need to reach the pack grounds, and the protection of the barrier the witch put up.
The wind picks up, but again, I can’t hear any rustling. I just feel a cold brush against my skin.
“Princess,” Dalene whispers. She has picked up her pace and is now walking next to me. “I can see the blue light.”
“The blue light… like the one that was around the werebears?”
She nods, gesturing in the direction of a clearing. “It’s coming from there.”
My heart skips a beat, but this time not out of joy. What’s worrying is that Ros is terrified. She is a strong wolf, she is of alpha blood, and we trained hard for our warrior rank. I can’t remember any time that she was scared.
I push Dalene back and tell her to get to Caitlin, while I turn to my warriors. “Something is here. Be on alert!”
They have barely managed to register my words when I can hear a growl from the direction Dalene pointed at. Fuck. This is real. It is real. Whatever hope I had that I would be imagining things is gone.
Instinctively I try to reach out to Ita or Tynan first, but something blocks my mind link.
“Princess,” Caitlin’s voice reaches me as she runs towards me. “Dalene said that-“
“Is there another route?” I cut her short.
“What?”
“Another route to the pack.”
