Page 67 of Frosted Torment

Nevaeh patted my leg. “You’re all right. Don’t do anything stupid, and stay alive.”

A laugh caught in my throat as she stepped back. “You got it,” I promised her.

Lex stood close to me and Baz and said, “It’s Vincent’s crew, so keep your head on a swivel, Baz.”

“Ready?” Ena asked, and I shook my head, indicating I was not ready for any of this. She raised her hands, then looked upat me. “I’m going to create a diversion. Whatever you do, don’t look back.”

She closed her eyes and began to hum with her arms stretched out, palms up like she was offering something. The wind picked up and the windows rattled. A chill ran through me as her hands began to dance in front of her. A tree to the left shook, and the roots began to break free from the ground.

“Hold on tight, Noa,”Baz instructed as his body readied beneath me.

Grasping onto Baz with all my strength, I buried my face in the hood of the jacket. The wind felt like a hurricane force as he took off into the night. His powerful strides covered ground faster than I ever thought possible. Baz snarled as I heard a Baneful one lunge for us, but with the shrill it unleashed, I knew Baz had killed it.

CHAPTER 25

Wind bit at my face, and I could feel the temperature dropping as we made our way across the property and into the woods. Branches of the trees slapped against our backs, and I was never more grateful for the backpack protecting me. Baz knew his way through the undergrowth, but it wasn’t until we were deep inside that he began to slow down. Once he thought we were safe, he turned back to make sure nothing followed us.

A strange sense of relief washed over me as we escaped, or fear had numbed me. Either way, we were out of reach of Vincent and Maros. It didn’t stop the rumbles of the fight from easing into the woods around us.

Baz reached out to me and said,“Almost there, Noa.”

“Please tell me they’ll be okay.”I touched my thigh, making sure the daggers were still strapped to my leg.

“They’ll be fine,”he assured me.“It was a distraction to see if we were prepared to fight.”

He turned in another direction and began walking at a steady pace. I lifted my head and noticed it had to be well after midnight the way the darkness took over. I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face.

We finally reached a hidden opening in the trees where the flickering light of a small campfire beckoned against a wall of bedrock. The muffled sounds of voices and laughter carried through the trees, as did the intoxicating scent of burning cedar. We walked by at least ten tents lined along the camp’s edge.

Baz stopped in front of a large round one with blue canvas walls. They remained unmoved as the cold wind blew, holding steady against its force. Baz lowered his body to the ground, and I climbed down, removing the jacket and backpack from my shoulders.

He used his teeth to untie a thick leather rope to the left of the entry. Then, using his head, he pushed open the flaps of the tent, and I followed him inside. The space was well-lit by candlelight, casting a golden glow on the wooden beams that formed a perfect circle around the tent.

The flickering flames from the wood stove provided a cozy ambiance. Two rectangular plastic windows on either side of the entryway revealed glimpses of trees and moonlight. The wood flooring had some give, and when I bent down to inspect it, I noticed it was interlocking rubber mats.

A king-sized bed with a fluffy comforter invited me over, and I sighed in relief. When I glanced left, a chest-high iron table with a mosaic top sat in the center of the room. The assortment of cheeses, fruits, meats, and breads on display made my mouth water.

Baz nudged me toward the food with a gentle push, his eyesfull of concern that I’d missed out on eating some of Nevaeh’s bread. Coffee was the only thing I’d had since breakfast the day before. I dropped the backpack and jacket on the floor and hesitated with my choices.

My mind was still reeling from the past two hours, and the worry for my friends grew. There weren’t any wolves back at the house and no way for Baz to communicate with them, so I had no idea if everyone was okay.

“I don’t think I can eat yet. We don’t know—,” I started out loud and turned back to him.

“You need your strength, then you need to sleep. They know what they’re doing,”Baz assured me with another nudge toward the table.

Trusting him, I looked over the food again, then took a deep breath. I picked up a chunk of homemade cornbread and a slice of smoked cheddar cheese. I devoured it, savoring the creaminess and saltiness of both in my mouth.

Next, I grabbed an apple from the table. As soon as I took a bite, the flavors and juices satiated me. It wasn’t until I swallowed that I realized how hungry I had become.

Baz watched me with intense focus, his black fur glowing in the dim light. I smiled, uncertain of how much longer I could hold it all together, and swallowed another piece of cheese.

A deep sigh escaped Baz, and it ruffled my hair as it brushed past me.“Finish eating and get comfortable,”he said.

I picked up a croissant next, and buttery flakes fell onto the floor, but I didn’t hesitate. With my mouth full, I asked, “You wouldn’t happen to have some wine or whiskey around here?”

“No,”Bazz huffed.

I bit into what remained of the croissant and then grabbed the backpack and jacket. After tossing both onto an armchairnext to the bed, I continued eating, but frustration bubbled up in my chest.

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