Page 11 of King of Forest and Fur

“Listen, I don’t know what happened exactly. But it’s going to take a minute for me to try and figure out how to get back,” she finally said after a few moments.

“We need that sooner rather than later. Because if Drystan didn’t come with us into the past, he’s making sure havoc is ensuing upon your academy.”

“Okay, okay. Just give me a moment.”

Seeing her face scrunched in concentration made Rehn feel slightly bad for the pressure he put on this already strained sorceress, and he didn’t even know her name.

“By the way, I’m Rehn Tahyrst.”

She looked up at him, almost amused. “You’re King Rehn of the Tahyrst Forest Realm?”

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing.” She smirked. “Just that I have some pretty jealous students right about now.”

Rehn was confused, but she continued.

“I’m Leila Camor.” She stuck out her hand, but when Rehn took it, his body stiffened and ignited all at once.

His bear roared within him, making no doubt as to why he had felt familiarity toward this woman. She was his fated mate.

No wonder his bear was restless. He thought it had been from the pursuit of Drystan, but Leila was causing the constant pacing of his animal senses.

She must have sensed his shock because she gave him a concerned look.

“Are you all right?”

He noticed he was still holding her hand.

“Oh, yes. Sorry.” Rehn let go and cleared his throat. Now was not the time or place to be distracted, fated mate or not. “So, uh, what exactly did you say Drystan wanted from you?”

“It was crazy,” she said simply, leaving it at that.

“Well, what did he say to you that was so crazy? I’m asking because it may help me figure out what he’s up to so I can catch him.”

Leila put her tan hand up to her forehead. “It all just happened so fast. I came into my office, he was there and told me how he wanted me to do a spell for him.”

“What kind of spell?”

“He wanted me to alter the past.”

“The past? Why?”

Leila threw her arms in the air, obviously agitated with the whole situation. “I don’t know. We didn’t get into details. He said he had been wronged, I told him he was crazy and to leave, then he attacked me.”

Rehn started laughing.

“It’s not funny to me,” Leila snapped.

“You’re right. It’s not. Just that he is going through all of this trouble because he feels wronged. Just because he didn’t succeed in overthrowing my kingdom, he goes to find you to change it.” Rehn knew Drystan had to be desperate if he was searching out magic not only to escape, but to overtake what he thought was rightfully his.

But why did he go to this sorceress?

“You say you’ve never seen this shifter before?”

Leila shook her head, her kind brown eyes now narrowed in irritation with Rehn.

“But he just assumed you could do this time-jump thing? When no one I, or anyone else I know, has heard of anyone alive being powerful enough to wield this type of magic. Why?”

---