Page 80 of Season of the Wolf

Amidst my thoughts as I stared at a very-much-alive Liam, was confusion. It was him, but … not.

The vibrant red I’d seen from far away wasn’t what I expected. They werehisflames—their deep crimson replacing the pale orange I’d grown accustomed to seeing. And large wings stretched from his back, wings nearly twice the breadth of the ones that carried us above the trees on my first flight not too long ago. The tips of his lengthy hair moved in the draft of his dragon’s fire—a fire like none I’d ever seen before.

“Evangeline, stand back,” Elise warned, calling out when I took a step forward. She came to me right away, glancing back toward Liam as if to keep a cautious eye on him.

“He’s not stable,” she explained in a rush of panicked breath. The look on her face left me with the impression she didn’t trust him. Almost like … she wasafraid.

I glanced up when she finished speaking, surprised to find the blindingly white eyes of my warrior already fixed on me, as if he’d only now become aware of my presence.

“Get her away from here,” his voice thundered with a warning. At least … itshouldhave been his voice. Instead, I heard the unfamiliar baritone of something altogether different.

Elise’s gaze volleyed between Liam and I when she braced my shoulders. “He’s trying to protect you,” she explained quickly, pushing me back until I was flush against Dallas’ chest and his hands replaced hers.

“Get her home, please,” Elise urged, speaking to Dallas above my head. “I’ll be in contact as soon as I can,” she added before turning to address my brothers right after.

“Boys, I’ll need you to stay.” Her eyes drifted over her shoulder again, that look of deep concern still present. “We may need your help.”

Without hesitation, they nodded and stepped up, ready to do whatever she needed.

“Come on, kid,” Dallas instructed, keeping a firm hold on me as I stumbled in his shadow, glancing back until Liam was out of sight.

He was alive, he recognized me, but honestly … that wasallI knew for certain.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Evie

If it hadn’t been for Hilda, I would’ve forgotten to eat, instead pacing the entire day, and now into the night. Her quiet knock at my door a moment ago broke the silence I’d sat in for hours—hours I spent wondering about Liam, questioning whether I should have let Dallas escort me away so easily.

I should have stayed, made sure he was okay.

A silver tray lined with chicken soup and fresh baked bread was placed on my desk and whereas I hadn’t been hungry since the ordeal earlier, I was suddenly starving.

“It’s not much, but I prepared it with my own two hands,” she smiled, making sure I knew this meal was a labor of love, not just something she conjured with the twirl of a finger.

I sat and lifted my gaze to smile back. “Thank you.”

I wasn’t sure when she found the time to cook. Within minutes of my return, she rushed off to her workspace and I hadn’t seen her since. She’d locked herself in after muttering something about the Oracles requesting that she commune with them concerning‘a very sensitive matter’. I got the impression it was urgent, but at the rate of change here in Seaton Falls, it could have been about anything from the flood to my brothers’ returning.

Or … maybe it was about what Liam had done today.

It was entirely possible they’d had a vision of what I saw with my own two eyes—him with those large wings, those bright, red flames.

Istillhad no idea what it all meant and could only hope they weren’t alarmed.

Because … I kinda was.

To my surprise, Hilda didn’t leave right away after delivering dinner, instead taking a seat on the edge of my bed nearby. I peered up at her a moment, observing her as she looked around my space, focusing on a picture pinned above the lamp of my parents.

Her smile grew.

“That was a brave thing you did for them,” she stated, nodding toward the photo.

I brought the spoon to my mouth, deciding not to reply. The act was one I considered to be more necessary than anything else.

“And it was perhaps evenmorebrave for those who accompanied you,” she went on. “Considering their emotional investment was not in your parents, but inyou.”

I paused at those words, finding so much truth in them.

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