Page 14 of King of Forest and Fur

“Well, I’ve never done that before either. I just thought about the past stage when your clothes weren’t ripped and channeled all the...”

“Power?” he offered.

“Yeah. This is just all new to me in a way. I can do magic, but messing with time is another feeling.”

“Really?”

Leila looked at the shifter’s truly curious eyes and felt exposed. He seemed so interested in everything she was saying. It was intense and very personal. But in a thrilling way.

Or maybe she was just used to a room full of students who tuned in and out.

“Yes. It’s like wielding magic, but it’s something I don’t truly understand enough to know exactly what I can and can’t do.”

“Like your limitations?”

“Exactly.”

“And that means you can’t for sure get us back to the present.”

Rehn didn’t sound annoyed, but it still made Leila feel slightly ashamed to have to answer yes.

But before she could admit a fault, there was a cough.

“Finally,” Rehn huffed as he stomped over to the newly naked man who was trying to get up.

“I thought he was dead!” Leila nervously asked in a hushed tone. She followed closely behind Rehn.

“If he were dead, he would have turned back instantly.”

Leila didn’t condone violence, but she had really hoped that she would never have to look at the bald nut job again.

“Now, we question him,” Rehn growled as he kneeled down. “I need to know how you escaped,” the king rumbled low and threateningly.

It sent shivers down Leila’s spine.

A choked bloody laugh spluttered from Drystan’s face as he seated himself against a tree. “Good to see you too, Your Majesty.”

“Save it and answer me. How did you get out?”

Blood was continuously spilling out of the corner of Drystan’s mouth in a steady stream. Leila could feel his life-force leaving him.

“I can’t give away all the small details,” he gasped.

Rehn looked disgusted with him and stood up.

“Fine. Then I guess there’s nothing left to do here.” Rehn turned to leave.

“Don’t worry, you’ll get yours. I know you think you’ve won, but me dying won’t save you from what’s coming. It’s beyond you, king or not.”

Leila caught Rehn’s smirk, but when he turned back to face Drystan’s pale, bloody countenance, the firm expression was in place.

He was playing Drystan.

“If it involves you, I’ll defeat it as easily as I did you.”

A gurgled chuckle from the soon-to-be-corpse.

“Not this. It was powerful enough to get me out of your prison without a trace.”

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