Page 122 of Into the Isle

Ravinica had put her safety on the line, going against my wishes to follow me here. She had sacrificed her sanctity to placate my urges and carnal desires. I admired her bravery, her strength, and her brass balls for confronting a massive bear five times her size.

She had shown no fear. Though I’d not told her during our nightly walks at the academy, each evening brought me closer to a realization, culminating in this moment.

I was falling hard for the young woman. This had only solidified it.

A shame that the moment was ruined by Sven Torfen and his kinsmen, who were less than twenty paces away.

I heard a faint rustling behind me and checked over my shoulder to see Ravinica lifting her spear from the ground. She had dropped it when I shoved her against the tree and claimed her.

Now she held the haft tight, staring around my side with narrowed eyes, ready for battle.

I flared my nostrils. “I won’t let us die, little sneak.”

“Neither will I.”

A smile curled my lip. “No, I don’t suppose you will.”

“Think we can take them?”

“In their trance? After what we just did? I’m weakened after the Lunar Night leaves me.”

“I’ll take that as a no.”

We could try. They were circling, prowling, golden-red eyes never leaving us. We had our backs against a tree trunk . . . and a wide expanse of forest in every other direction.

No, I didn’t think we could take Sven and his three siblings. Not like this, in this state. Not right now.

“I have a better idea,” I said.

She perked up behind me.

“Ever ridden a horse before?”

She chuckled darkly. Even in danger, she had a laugh that made my pulse spike and my heart leap with joy. She brought something out of me no one ever had before.

“I’m of Viking blood, Grim. What do you think?”

Over my shoulder, I smiled. “Then get ready to hold on to your ass.”

She blinked once, opening her mouth to speak—

And then my vision of her went fuzzy as I shifted. I drew upon the animal lurking in the recesses of my being, waiting to be summoned to take Ravinica all over again. The human part of me wasn’t the only one happy with what we’d just done here.

Staying surprisingly calm, I stepped forward in my bear form, standing on my hind legs to swipe at the air. A roar spilled from my lips, splitting the night and shaking the trees as I stood ten feet tall.

The wolves yipped and backpedaled to keep their distance.

With a heavy thud, I landed on my front legs, my senses heightened. I could smell the grass and muddy earth beneath my paws. I could hear the grasshoppers and crickets in the rushes near me, and the speeding heartbeats of the wolves in front of us.

I scared them.

So I used that to my advantage.

With a quick shake of my head, I snarled at Ravinica over my shoulder.

Color drained from her cheeks when I nodded at her, and she said, “Fucking hells. Here goes nothing.”

I lowered my body. With a leap, Ravinica hopped on top of me. She held the scruff of loose skin and fur near the nape of my neck, spinning her spear with her other hand. Her powerful thighs squeezed around my middle.

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