Page 53 of Empowering the Wolf's Heart

“Them first!” I shouted.

He grunted, staring down at me with emotionless eyes. Then he hoisted one mage over his shoulder and dragged the other by the tunic.

When we got them inside, he unceremoniously dumped them.

I looked at the one with the arrow through the heart. There was nothing to be done for him. But the woman, she still lived.

Half theneedabruptly stopped pulsing. It was as much a sorrow as a relief. I choked on a sob. It felt as if I’d killed him by my own hand.

“Get it together,”I whispered to myself. “The other still lives.”

I didn’t know what to do. The archer was still out there?—

“We’ll bring her.”

I turned to find Shen had already grabbed her and put her over his shoulder once more. The single nod I gave couldn’t convey my surprise.

We ran down the passage, my footsteps reverberating, Shen’s nearly silent. There were paintings on the walls depicting old men in wigs from a time before the king and princes came to power for each magical and unmagical kind.

A figure suddenly stepped out into the hallway.

Dressed in a red cloak.

CHAPTER 17

Leap of Faith

ALIA

“ARed and a werewolf. Never thought I’d see the day.”

Though his voice was familiar, I couldn’t place it. I chose not to speak. Until I recognized him, I sure as heck was not letting him recognize me. If someone in my tribe knew about this little side quest, all Sixth would break loose.

Shen dropped the dark mage. I winced. He could’ve done that a little gentler.

“Not talking, hmm? Traitor doesn’t wish to be found out, I see.”

“And what would you call yourself?” Shen asked, surprising me.

The Red barked out a laugh. “AmI a traitor? Or am I under the orders of my mistress?” His voice was infused with confidence.

I tensed. Was it possible Grandma had sanctioned this? She was the one who told me never to trust a creature of magic. Taught me everything I knew about how to kill one. Why would she be working with kidnappers and mages?

“You don’t believe me? Why should you?—”

“Can I kill him now?” Shen asked.

The Red squawked in outrage. “I am working with the matriarch to provide a better world. She has told me of her plans and gave me leave to prepare the world for her reckoning?—”

“I’d prefer you didn’t just yet,” I whispered beneath my breath.

Shen sighed as if that was a substantial burden. “Then can I knock him unconscious? He talks too much.”

“Hey—”Shen took a single step at the Red, who moved back. “Don’t you know what I am?” the Red hissed.

Shen took another step, mirrored by the Red. “Know. Do not care,” Shen said with a shrug.

The Red yelped when Shen blurred. The Red tripped over his own feet and went down, barely missing Shen’s claws. He rolled over his left shoulder in a reverse somersault and threw a glass bottle down. The odor of wolfbane filled the air. Shen sneezed and the Red barely avoided his grasping claws for the second time. The Red sprinted down the passageway, moving quite fast.

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