Page 16 of Wolf Trap

A low rumble, Lycaon growled, “If you betray me-”

“I just admitted, look, I only tried to reason with these people to save my pack. Here…”

Pushing past him, Dolph and Lycaon headed tentatively into the room.

They had placed the portal, a huge square mirror, in the centre of the octagonal room.

Floor to ceiling mirrors lined the walls surrounding it and a heady feeling, a cloying like walking through thick spiders’ webs clawed at me.

Dolph and Lycaon grimaced at Marrock whilst I headed for the mirror.

“Am I right in thinking that to use this, you have to see in your mind’s eyes, the location you want to arrive in?”

Shrugging, Marrock answered, “As far as I know, yes. We won’t have much time. When they find out I’ve lied to the guards, they’ll hunt us.”

Dolph nodded. “Agreed. I’ll go with Marrock to free those from the Oubliettes. You can access the cells down here.” He strode back to the corridor.

Pointing, he said, “Follow this corridor. If you keep turning left, it will take you to the root of the castle. If you encounter their guards, kill them swiftly. You won’t get a second chance. Adara's curse could have ensnared the prisoners, so be warned.”

Lycaon nodded, and we strode swiftly back down the corridor, by the great room. A tingle of cold ran down my back as we passed it. I could sense a change, just like you can sense when rain is in the air.

Flexing my fingers, which was pointless really, but at least I was poised to grab my athame, we continued down and down. I could sense Lycaon’s unsettled energy, or maybe I was projecting mine onto him, until finally a foul air blew around us.

Whispered voices, grunts, and snarls reflected around the dungeon.

Putting his arm back, Lycaon beckoned me. “Stay back, Elsa. Allow me to talk to them. If they’re of sound mind, I will look to release them.”

“I think we should wait a few minutes, get closer. If we can hear what they’re saying, we’ll have a better chance of knowing whether they’re hexed. If you stroll on up, and they are underAdara’s influence, they’ll sound the alarm. Then, even if we make it back to the portal in time, Dolph and Marrock may not.”

“That’s why you’re my girl.” Before I could do or say anything, he’d leaned over and pulled me into him, his lips on mine. Then snatching himself away, he said, “We can listen here.”

We waited around the corner, only a few feet away. At first I was worried they’d smell us, but looking at my clothes, no need. We were caked in dirt.

Crouching, I glanced around, trying to slow my thundering heart. Their conversations had Lycaon nodding. “I think we can help them.”

He was about to move, but a hunch had me pull on his arm, shaking my head.

We heard the prisoners’ speaking.

“If we don’t get out of here, or find a way, we’ll end up cursed, as if this wasn’t curse enough!”

“What happened to Dolph? What have they done to him? They slaughtered his alpha, took his head and drank from his beating heart!”

“They threw Marrock in a wall cell. I have to get him out, though even if I get out of this pit, I don’t know where to look, in a bloody wall! And why? I can’t believe this is because a werewolf and witch got hitched. I’ve banged a few witches, haven’t we all?”

There were murmurs of agreement.

They continued.

“Ah, that’s just the myth they used to subdue us. Who are they, a group of inbred aristocrats hellbent on power?”

“And greed. Don’t forget, they told Marrock that they want Savernake. That’s money right there. Taking the land, our land that’s been in our families since, well, for hundreds of years.”

Another of the prisoner’s chuntered.“But if you have enough money, you can buy your way in. Hum… Bunch of sell swords more like.”

I let go of Lycaon. I hadn’t trusted Marrock, but it seemed I was wrong. I was glad. We needed him; they needed him.

He crept around the wall and waited until one shifter noticed him. It didn’t take long.

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