Page 5 of Season of the Wolf

Elise took a step closer. “You’ve been increasingly …”

“Stupid.”

When Hilda interrupted, Elise passed a hardened glare in her direction before going on. “The word that comes to mind is reckless,” she amended.

There was a depth to her wandering gaze that told of the grief she too felt when considering Liam’s current state.

“No one faults you for breaking down, for … losing yourself for a bit. Liam is important to you; important toallof us. But, if anything, these are times we ought to ban together, to keep our minds and hearts focused on the task at hand.”

I glanced up, trying to figure out how one would go about doing such a thing—stay focused on some elusivetask at handwhile a precious life hung in the balance mere feet away.

“Are you trying to get yourself killed?” The blunt question came from my outspoken aunt—no hint of jesting in her tone whatsoever.

I suppressed an eye roll, knowing it would only provoke her further. So, instead, I muttered a halfhearted, “Of course not.”

In response, she scoffed, and my blood heated to near boiling. Still, I kept my head while explaining.

“If I die, there’d be no one to save him. I’m the only one immune to magic, the only one who can find the witch and …”

“Do you hear yourself?” Hilda interrupted. “Have you truly convinced yourself you’re some half-cocked superhero?”

Elise placed a hand on Hilda’s shoulder, encouraging her to ease up, but the gesture went ignored.

“Your silly antics are going to get usallkilled.”

“I never asked Dallas to follow me,” I exploded. “I never asked for anyone’s help.” It should have been obvious I was perfectly willing to do this all on my own.

That loathsome scoff left Hilda’s mouth again. “Says the girl who barely even understands what she is, how toshifton her own.”

A stifling silence crept into the room as each of my breaths came in deep, heated gasps. Both fists clenched as I did all I could to bridle the fury building within.

“Hilda … I think that’s enough,” Elise intervened. “It’s been a long night. Perhaps we should leave Evangeline for now and discuss this later.”

“Don’t bother,” I rebutted through clenched teeth. “I’llgo.”

With that, I nearly ran from my bedroom, a large space that now felt like a shrinking box with one visit from those two.

I didn’t owe them an explanation for what I did tonight. I didn’t oweanyonean explanation, nor would I apologize for my conviction. If helping Liam required me to walk through hell and battle the devil himself … there wasn’t a soul on Earth who could stop me.

*

I’d been with Liam the whole time. The thought that made it bearable to tear myself away and head north was that it was necessary. Deciding to make the journey was a bit of a knee-jerk reaction, but after having watched his lack of progress the past few weeks, I’d found a way to rationalize.

I guess you could say I got tired of leaving his recovery to chance. Going to the Sovereign’s camp had seemed like the only thing left to do. The odds seemed promising enough that I gave it a shot. I hadn’t come up with much of a plan, though.

Days earlier, I’d done a test run, stashed a bag with two changes of clothes on the outskirts of the woods and paid bus fair in advance. It would have taken me to Charlevoix, the small town near the Upper Peninsula where I would have then caught a ferry across Lake Superior. From there, I would’ve been on foot.

It was dangerous, yes, but he was worth it.

If Hilda thought I was stupid for that, I’d make a mental note never to put my neck on the line ifherlife was ever in danger. Wouldn’t want her thinking I convinced myself I was a superhero …

The thought of the conversation I walked out on made me tense all over again. To control it, I focused on the back of Liam’s hand, traced the compass tattooed there as I held it. There was some small comfort in the warmth of his flesh. It meant he hadn’t left us.

Even if he wouldn’t open his eyes.

I’d done all my studying right here in his bedroom, following the hour-long tutoring sessions that had been forced on me. However, any activities I could get out of, I did—the sessions with Hilda, combat training, socializing. Nothing was more important than being with him, praying he’d be well enough to wake up soon.

Today had been just like the day before, watching as he slept through yet another beautiful sunrise and sunset. His comatose state was once magic-induced, meant to keep him comfortable until the hex was complete. It was all Hilda could do, seeing as how no witch can reverse the curse of another, but … he should have been awake by now. The spell she cast had been lifted once he healed. Now, it was all up to him.

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