Page 104 of Empowering the Wolf's Heart

“That is all I ask. Thank you.”

The old man turned and left.

CHAPTER 36

A Difference of Opinion

ALIA

Alarge waterfall broke from a hole in the cliff edge. Massive trees grew from all along the edges of the cliff, some growing at a near ninety-degree angle to point their dancing leaves to the blue sky and downy clouds high above.

Ran dove through those clouds. A dew-like feel alighted on my face, as if I had stood too close to a waterfall. I had expected clouds to feel different than fog, but it was much the same. A tiny, blue-haired fairy waved as we flew past, a bright grin on her tiny face. I did a double take, but we were already past her.

Fairieslivedin clouds?

A streak of light darted within the cloud we just departed. Was that where lightning came from?

Ran evened out of her gradual dive and flapped her wings to slow us, gently alighting on the rocky cliff face just above the massive waterfall. The roar of the water was much softer than I expected, knowing how loud it was from the pools below that my family had often visited when I was younger.

Ran set me on my feet and I stumbled, nearly pitching over the edge. Ran was unconcerned and merely dipped her head over the side to get a drink from the falls.

I plopped down hard on my butt and wiped dew and sweat from my forehead.

You need to relax.

“And you need to stop kidnapping people.”

I learned from the best,she replied with a saucy shake of her head.

My lips grew into a grin without my permission. She was right.

She lithely circled me until she was right at my back. She laid down, folding her wings back at her sides. Her head curled around until it was right beside me where she could look out at the land. She released a large sigh that sent a few pebbles over the edge along with a puff of dust.

Of course I’m right.

I leaned in the hollow where her neck met her head. Her ears flicked as flies landed on them. Both were tapered like a horse’s, but much larger.

She had two pearlescent horns which curled from her forehead. I reached up and traced one, feeling the smooth surface. There was some sort of soft, velvety lining around the outside that also gave off a glow.

I ran my fingers back down over her forehead and eye ridges, then I scratched under her ear just like I used to when she was a unicorn. The scales were soft and pliable, and I could even lift them up by rows to scratch beneath them. She leaned into my hand, one of her back legs kicking. I chuckled, rubbing the scales back into place and settling back down beside her.

I had never seen the topside of this waterfall. We always went to the large pool at the bottom to swim and watch for the dragon?—

My entire body jolted in realization. I turned to her to find her one gigantic eye peeking at me, open just a slit.

Don’t ask,she said with a tiny breath before closing her eye again.

I grinned, leaning back against her and looking out at the rolling hills, life-teeming forests, and bustling cities far into the distance. It was as if life couldn’t touch us here. The problems faded away as I basked in Ran’s warmth and companionship. My eyes slowly closed, and I didn’t even realize I was tired until blackness took me away to happy dreams and bright waterfalls.

Ranalighted before the Matriarch’s Tent as the sun faded into the horizon and the full moon rose. It was huge, a large, silver presence in the sky before even the brightest stars peeked out. It would be even larger tomorrow, on the night of the Blood Moon.

I leaned my forehead against Ran’s. “Thanks, beaut,” I said.

She breathed in and out with me for a moment. Then she stepped back, knocked me on my butt with a gentle shove of her huge snout, and leapt into the sky. I covered my eyes to keep the dirt from blinding me.

I stood and spat grit that had gotten into my mouth through my smile. Wow. My cheeks were hurting a bit from smiling. I really needed that.

When I turned, I met Enforcer Markus’ eyes.

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