Page 13 of The Shadow of Polaris

Finally, I darted through a break between bodies and gasped for the night air. The smell of meat and sticky wine, still low in the air, hit my nostrils and I lurched for a shadowy side street just in time to be sick. The roaring cheer of the crowd drowned the sound of my retching as Polaris returned to the temple and the festivities concluded. Arcturas nuzzled against my calves as I continued to be sick, heaving up the entirety of my stomach contents.

A couple, who I recognized as the pair I had seen crossing the tavern window, pointed their noses disgustedly away from my direction. To them, I probably just looked like a drunk who’d had one too many spiced wines. Wiping the bile from my lips and the sweat from my brow, I straightened and wobbled towards the street that’d lead me back to the tavern.

The lamplights had all burnt out hours ago as I struggled up the stone sidewalk. Dizzy with nausea and exhaustion, my legs were bags of cement beneath my weight. The brilliant borealis had faded until only a dim shade of purple remained in the sky. Concerned, Arcturas matched my step, never straying from my side. When the tavern stood only a few blocks away, three figures in deep purple uniforms marched towards me on the opposing sidewalk. Even with blurred vision, I recognized those horrendous velvet tunics anywhere.

City guards.

Scowling under my breath, I pulled my cloak tighter around myself and continued on, praying the boisterous group trailing behind me distracted them enough. As the guards grew nearer, they seemed to slow their pace. When we crossed each other’s paths, they halted entirely. Shit.

“Hey! You there. Stop,” one said, his voice rough with intoxication.

I held my breath and continued on.

“I said stop, girl,” he called, staggering across the street on imbalanced legs.

“I’m just trying to get home, Sir,” I said in a voice that wasn’t quite my own. Through clenched fangs, Arcturas let out a threatening growl, warning the guard not to come any closer.

“A little lady shouldn’t be out at this hour all alone. Why don’t I escort you home?” he suggested, his eyes trailing the outline of my figure beneath the baggy cloak. My skin burned against his wandering gaze and the nausea returned as he licked his lips.

“It’s only a few blocks away. I wouldn’t want to trouble you,” I said, lowering my gaze to the ground.

His two companions crossed the street and flanked each side, surrounding me. With ears lowered and tail erect, Arcturas bared her teeth, eyes flashing with ferocity.

“Tell your dog we’re no threat,” the one to his right said, a slight slur of his words.

“She’s just protective. Now please, I really should be on my way,” I said, fists clenched tightly beneath the folds of woolen material. Even if I had my trusty dinner knife, they outnumbered me. Not only would I be overpowered, but I’d also make a scene.

My eyes darkened with a deep, nearly primal violence as I pictured Arcturas ripping the soft, fleshy crease of the middle guard’s neck open, sending blood spraying bright droplets of red on the pure snow beneath us.

“Nonsense. A poor, young thing like you, all alone, unprotected. You don’t know who could roam the streets at this hour.” The middle guard stepped closer, his breath hot and pungent on my cheeks. His two companions chuckled and closed the gap between us. My blood curdled as the one to my right nodded towards an alleyway, empty and dark.

“My husband is expecting me home any minute,” I said, voice shaking.

“I don’t see a wedding band on your finger, miss. Does your husband know you left the house without it? I bet he’d be real upset to find out you’ve been flirting with a group of city guards.” The middle guard’s lip glistened in the moonlight.

“We’ll walk you home. We insist.” The guard on the right reached for my arm. Before his fingers could wrap around my bicep, Arcturas leapt up. Her fangs pierced pale flesh, shredding his purple tunic. The guard yelped and kicked at her as she clenched down and tore at his forearm, as if his skin and muscle tissue were paper thin.

Swinging my leg, I knocked the middle guard’s feet out from under him with a swiftness I’d never been capable of before. As the guard to my left lunged for me, I ducked beneath his outstretched arms and punched him where I knew it’d hurt. He fell instantly to the ground, cupping himself and wrenching in agony. The middle guard had cracked his head against the cobblestone walkway, but not hard enough to knock him out. He staggered to his knees as I towered over him, flames of fury flickering in my eyes.

With all of my strength, I kicked directly towards the center of his brow, his neck snapping backwards as he slid across the street to the opposing sidewalk. Leaving all three barely conscious, my wolf and I continued home as if nothing out of the ordinary had just occurred.

Although the tingles had subsided, my head throbbed. I stopped in my tracks, nearly keeling over from the onset of a splitting headache.

“Miss, are you okay?” A breathy male voice said behind me. Arcturas stopped in her tracks, ready to pounce again. A brunette man hunched at the knees was breathing deeply to catch his breath.

“What? Yes, I’m fine, thanks,” I said, my brow twitching.

“You don’t look fine; please let me help you,” he said, offering his hand. Arcturas growled deeply. Blotches of black painted my vision as I stumbled to straighten out.

“I’m fine. Thank you, though. Why are you breathing so heavy?” I asked him, rubbing the crease between my eyes to relieve some of the tension.

“Well, I sprinted up here to save you from those asshole guards, but clearly you’re more than capable of saving yourself.”

“If that wasn’t proof enough that I can kick your ass if you try anything, she’ll rip your throat out if given the chance,” I said, nodding towards the now tense wolf standing between us.

“I heard what those guards were saying as they walked towards you. I just wanted to help, I swear.” Begging, he threw up his hands. Eyeing him, I stroked the wiry fur of Arcturas’s back to settle her. She grunted, relaxing slightly, but continuing to glare at the man. The pounding behind my skull subsided with each stroke down her back.

“I’m Rune,” he said, the brown of his eyes warming in the reflection of candlelight peeking through the window of a nearby home. Extending his hand towards me again, he hesitated and backed it away as Arcturas took a step towards him.

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