Page 37 of Wild Wolf

“Grab hold of me and hold your breath,” I commanded, turning my attention to the ground at our feet and grunting as I forced it to bow to my command.

The moment Roary and Cain had grabbed my arms, vines sprung from me to tether them in place and the ground gave out beneath us.

We fell into the embrace of the soil, the dry particles all bowing to my command, dragging us through them beneath the ground, hurling us in the direction Vard had taken.

Dirt pressed to my face, clogging against my ears, nose, mouth, trying to suffocate us despite my hold on it until I finally launched us back up into the air.

I heaved down a thick breath as we emerged in another room, this one stacked with wooden crates, once again marked with random symbols.

I released Cain and Roary from my magic, the three of us hastily swiping dirt from our faces and taking stock of where we were.

Vard was racing for the exit, Roary’s Lion still clasped tightly in his grip but before I could take so much as a step in his direction, a rasping, horrifying voice rattled through the air, a single word scraping from the throat of a monster which loomed above us, baring its teeth.

“Bitch,” it hissed and my eyes widened as I recognised the lilt of that voice, the poisonous undertone, the unbridled hatred.

The thing bared its pointed teeth in what was undoubtedly a psychotic grin, and I only had the briefest of moments to recognise the beast which had once been Gustard before it was upon us.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“Are you sure about this?!” I called to my maniac companion as we ran side by side through the winding corridors of empty cages. We were going back the way we’d come, the last of the wild magical animals we’d released racing away behind us, urged on by a gust of wind at their backs that Sin had cast.

“Sure as a sea shore,” Sin confirmed, the crow-like bird on his shoulder cawing its agreement, rigidly remaining with its saviour.

My heart was racing and I felt a thrill I hadn’t felt in so damn long. It swam through my veins, singing the sweet melody of freedom. This was where I had once found myself, between the turmoil and disorder. I adored the hum of adrenaline in my blood, and I’d star damned missed this kind of madness. But Sin’s wild streak was the type that could likely get me killed in countless insane ways. Somehow, I didn’t care. I only forged on at his side, my pulse a keen drum in my ears, willing my movements to quicken as we delved into the dark together once more.

He turned a corner and came to an abrupt halt, his head snapping around to look at me.

“It’s open,” he whispered and I looked to the cage he gestured towards, realising where we were. Gustard had been here. And now a key was sitting in the lock of that cage, proving someone had let him out.

My shoulders tensed as I glanced up and down the passage and I felt Sin’s air shield close tighter around us.

“What was your plan?” I breathed, then flicked up a silencing bubble.

“Start a fire in the belly of the behemoth,” he hissed, fire snapping into existence on his fingertips. “One that catches, rises and burns it all to cinders.”

“Rosalie’s here somewhere,” I growled.

His eyes sparkled at me, full of havoc, daring me to play his dangerous game. “You think our wild girl can’t handle a few sparks? Her soul is made of a fire far hotter than any I can cast. She’ll be out before the flames make it near her.”

My jaw tightened as I took in the certainty in his eyes, feeling it too. Then I nodded and watched as fire spilled from his hands in a waterfall of hungry flames, pouring across the floor and rising up the walls to dance over the ceiling. It spread fast and thick, and I cast ice against my skin and his to shield us from the thickening heat.

“Run, pretty boy, run.” Sin smiled devilishly then raced back the way we’d come while flames poured along behind him.

I cursed as they licked my legs and sprinted after him, knowing he could slow them down, but he was laughing like a madman again and making them chase us even faster.

The riot of fear in my chest gave way to that delightful thrill once more and I gave myself to the chaos, a smile of my own finding its way to my lips.

“You think fire is power?” I called to him and he glanced back. “Let me show you what water can do.”

I willed my elemental power into the walls around us, letting it drive into the cracks and dagger up and away from us, as high as it could go, the water slithering through the walls, the pipes, every space it could find. It dug into every crevice, no gap small enough to stop it and my grin widened at the use of such furious magic. When I’d let it spread as far as possible, I yanked on the tether of it just enough to make the entire building shudder with the promise of destruction.

“Holy cow, Wolf man,” Sin cooed. “I can feel your presence in the walls.”

“The moment I want to, I can pull each brick out of place and bring it down on every asshole remaining in this starless place.”

“And you’ll get your chance, pretty boy,” Sin purred. “But hold it while my flames rise.”

“I’ll wait until I’m sure Rosalie has made it to free air then she can watch it all fall at her feet.”

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