Page 67 of Faerie Trials

Her eyes filled with tears. “You fought him and you were fine. Why couldn’t I do the same?”

I glanced at Selene. “What happened?”

Why was no one giving me the details?

“We’ve got to stop him, Tavi,” Bronwen muttered. “He’s nuts. And he’s strong. I was only able to stop him from killing me by shifting to wolf and fighting dirty. I don’t know if he’s going to stop killing, now that he’s started. He’s…he’s a monster. He’s mad.”

The half-shifter who’d attacked Juno… Now it made sense. Sort of. Bronwen had tried to take down the killer by herself, but had gotten too deep into the fight with the half-shifter and instead of coming out on top, she’d barely escaped with her life and limbs intact. I knew how she felt, though. I understood the combination of fear and anger in her eyes. Angry at herself not just for putting herself in that position but also for losing, for being beaten. Fearful of another encounter.

“We’re going to get him. I promise.”

“You need to rest, Bronwen,” Selene said through the low hum of healing magic pulsing through the space. She laid a hand on my shoulder. “Enough for now.”

“Yes. I’ll come back as soon as I can,” I told Bronwen while keeping hold of her hand. I gave it one last squeeze before rising, but Bronwen didn’t let go. She pulled me closer.

When Bronwen spoke again, she did so through her teeth, swallowing over a wave of pain despite the magic helping to knit her back together. “I almost had him. One more strike and he might have gone down. I’m sorry, Tavi. He’s still out there because I messed up.”

I shook my head. “Damn it. I don’t want to hear you apologize.”

Her fingers clenched around mine. “I’m a shapeshifter. I should have been able to help him.”

“Why did you go at it alone?”

“Because you did. And I…I thought I could, too.”

So. Itwasmy fault after all.

Bronwen closed her eyes then and soon her breathing evened out and her grip on my hand loosened. I tucked her hand back at her side before turning to Selene.

She gestured for me to walk away from the bed and I followed her. Selene pointed to a group of chairs near the rear of the room. I didn’t see anyone else around. The healers must be out of sight. We took two seats and faced each other. Even Selene looked pale, a difficult thing with her bronzed skin.

“Bronwen was patrolling last night and came across a woman walking alone,” Selene informed me softly. “Something must have struck her as suspect because she began to follow the woman through the village. Maybe she had red hair, I didn’t get all the details. All I know is the shifter suddenly appeared and jumped them. From what I understand, the woman got away unharmed but Bronwen was savagely attacked instead.”

“Why didn’t she call out for someone?” She shouldn’t have been there alone. The thought plagued me because I was supposed to be patrolling with her. And I’d backed out.

Now she was hurt.

“At least she was able to get away alive, and her injuries, though serious, will heal.” Selene kept her tone soft as her hand fell on my shoulder. “I know what you’re thinking.”

I let out a little laugh, more an effect of how my whole body trembled. “I know. I’m pretty transparent.”

“It’s not your fault. Okay? You have a lot going on and blaming yourself isn’t going to heal her and it isn’t going to help us catch the killer. Bronwen decided to go alone. That was her choice. It was her choice to intervene when it would have been safer not to. Still, she did us proud.”

“And look where it got her. I’m so sorry.” I knew it wouldn’t make a difference what I said but I had to say it anyway. “I’m so sorry.”

“You can tell her that when she wakes up. But I know she doesn’t blame you. Not even a little bit,” Selene said.

“Sheshouldblame me.”

“No, she shouldn’t. All those in the Claw & Fang share equal responsibility for keeping our kind safe. Bronwen did her part, and from what you’ve both told me about the attack on your mentor, you would have done the same thing. Youdiddo the same thing. You jumped right into the fray to protect someone in need.” She patted my knee. “So buck up, kiddo. We’re going to stop this guy.”

“I don’t know how,” I said wearily. Suddenly the chill was too much and every inch of me began to shake, from my knees to my teeth.

“We’ll think of something,” she told me with certainty. She did everything with a calm assurance I’d never be able to match. “The others and I are looking into a way to neutralize the shifter’s ability to maintain his halfling form. If we can expose him, we can find a way to stop him.”

“How? I didn’t think that was possible.” Knowing her, she’d already have a plan in place but so far she hadn’t revealed it to me. If I had things my way, I’d be out there right now trying to find the guy who did this, the guy who might even be injured enough from Bronwen’s attack to be at a weak point. It was a good time to hit him, but the chances of finding him, even with the combined power of the Claw & Fang, were slim.

Besides us, there were others out there looking for him too. The bureau, for one, and the king’s guards for another. How were we supposed to catch a killer when even the king himself was convinced I was somehow involved?

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