Page 64 of The Fated Hunter Wolf
“This way,” I whispered, leading him deeper into the cave system. “Back exit, half a mile through the tunnels.”
We moved as fast as we dared through the darkness, me guiding him by touch. Behind us, the sounds faded, but I knew it wouldn’t last. They were expert trackers.
When we reached the exit, the tunnel opened onto a wide hillside that headed in the direction of Orion territory.
It was still a long run from here, four hours at best.
“There,” Rhys pointed to what appeared to be nothing in the valley. “Orion has an ages-old outpost, glamoured, just for moments like this. I can smell it from here. We can make it.”
I nodded, but something felt wrong. Everything was quiet.
That’s when I heard the whistle of displaced air.
“Down!” I tackled Rhys as a warhammer slammed into the earth.
The duergar wielding it was massive—seven feet of muscle and scars and brutal purpose. His eyes glowed with an inner fire, magic and madness combined.
“Found you,” he rumbled in accented English. “Everyone will be keen to bid on you two.”
Three more duergar emerged from cover, flanking us with military precision.
Rhys was shifting, bones cracking as his wolf fought to surface. I could see the strain, the way his movements were still sluggish. He wasn’t healed enough. He wasn’t ready.
The lead duergar swung his hammer in an arc. I rolled aside, the rush of air ruffling my hair.
Silver magic erupted from my hands, cold fire that caught him in the chest. He flew backward into a tree, wood splintering on impact.
The other two attacked simultaneously, war axes gleaming. I danced between them, my magic forming shields that turned their blades away, since silver magic was never meant for fighting. But they were strong, fast, and I was outnumbered.
One axe got through my shields, the handle catching me across the ribs. Bones cracked. Pain exploded through my side.
Rhys roared, his wolf finally breaking free. He launched himself at the duergar who’d hit me, but the leader was already moving, hammer raised for a killing blow.
Time slowed. I could see it happening—Rhys locked in combat while death approached from his blind side.
I didn’t think. Just acted.
Instead of attacking the threat, I grabbed at the bond energy and poured everything I had through it. Every bit of silver magic, every drop of hybrid strength, every scrap of power I possessed.
It worked.
Rhys moved like a storm unleashed. He tore through the duergar like they were nothing, killing them as quickly as they attacked.
Magic with nowhere else to go ricocheted back into me, but most of it stayed with him, burning through his system like acid.
He staggered as the power overload hit, his enhanced strength turning against him. Too much, too fast, through a body still healing from vampire venom.
Rhys rushed to my side in wolf form, and I reached for him, trembling from the aftershock. He nuzzled against me, warming me.
“Go alone,” I rasped, but he didn’t answer.
More coming. Reinforcements,I said through the bond, but he didn’t move.
“The outpost,” I gasped. “Then get to Orion land.”
He stood but stumbled. I held him with my energy as long as I could, but even his wolf was struggling to stay conscious. I poured everything I had left into him.
“Go!” I screamed.
