Page 30 of Empowering the Wolf's Heart

“Then let’s go,” I said, pushing past him. He could’ve stopped me, but instead he allowed me to push him aside. He growled again, which made me smile. I think my fear receptors were getting faulty. Could I replace them? Then he was right behind me, handing me the torch. “Will you at least let me go first?” he said at last.

I shrugged and paused, allowing him to pass. He nearly scraped his head on the wall to avoid touching me. He gave me a curt nod and then I was following his broad, tense back.

Another growl erupted from the puppy up ahead, and Shen sped up. My breath was coming in ragged gasps, but a stupid thing like sickness wouldn’t stop me.

Shen stopped. Just beyond him, light was glowing from around a craggy corner. He smothered the torch with his cloak—Was that a heat-resistant material? I wanted one of those!—and paused before slinking around the corner without a sound. It was freaky how silently he moved.

CHAPTER 10

The Nymph

SHEN & ALIA

Shen

The absence of blood and pain was a positive. Most people did not realize pain had a scent. It was sharp and nearly heady to the nose of a werewolf. It could become intoxicating. Many a shifter had fallen prey to his werewolf side and the scent of pain. It was a gruesome master, and something many werewolves sought as a drug to numb their pain. Father had taught me never to allow myself to become immune to the pain of others. Which is why every death is tallied on my chest. Their pain became my pain so I would never forget their lives mattered.

When I stepped beyond the edge of the tunnels we were traversing and into a small, cavernous space, I froze. Alia was muttering behind me in the dark about inconsiderate werewolves. She was the one who wanted to come along. I would not coddle her.

When she rammed into my back, a small grin passed my lips. She muttered something not very nice, but I slowly stepped aside and let her see what was in the cavern in front of us.

A large body of water stretched from one corner of the cavern to the other. The cavern itself was the size of a noble's home. It was lit with a soft, silver glow of gleaming moon rocks all along the shore and descending into the depths of the water itself. The water was a crystalline blue so clear you could see straight to the bottom of the shallow areas.

On the shore, the pup was playing with two adolescent nymphs. Nymphs were shy, peaceful creatures. They were nearly hunted to extinction for their ability to grant a single favor. Nymphs were in tune with the Source of the world. Source was much like an extension of the King, a way for him to show his favor on the world.

Nymphs were one of the few creatures so in tune with Source they could nearly forestall death. Should one grant a favor, you could use it for nearly anything. Heal your mother, kill an enemy without touching them—the world would be at your fingertips.

The creatures of the world had darkened this Gift, however, believing should they kill a nymph, the creature’s power would be theirs. However, rather than granting favors or putting a nymph at their mercy, this murder of nymphs created the very thing that could destroy the peace all creatures strove for. It created dark magic, sometimes known as Tenabra—the antithesis of Source.

When humans and magical creatures began using Tenabra, it grew in both strength and temptation, drawing more to its dark paths. You could learn it. It was something everyone could steal. And it all began with the death of the nymph queen five hundred years prior by the leader of the dark mages, Kingpin, a being made immortal by the blood he spilled to siphon life energy from Source itself.

My mind returned to the pup. His mock growl was low and fierce as he pounced on the smaller of the two nymphs. The nymphs were vaguely humanoid with long, willowy arms andhair which floated in the air as if the creatures were in water. They had sharp features and eyes of pure cerulean, no pupil or sclera. Their bodies were draped in seaweed to make a form of a robe. The smaller one’s seaweed was a bright orange, while the other was a softer blue, the color of Alia’s irises.

Since when do you think in terms of comparison to her?Lycus’ voice was not even pointed, just curious with a side dash of knowing, but fireshat did it annoy me.

I ignored him.

But if there were adolescent nymphs around, where were the…

A rush of water precluded a small swirl of water. The swirl had a tinge of blue beyond the blue of our world. It glowed similarly to bioluminescent moss, but with a hue I could not quite define. It was as if I had never beheld blue, as if the colors that had once before seemed blue were merely faux imitations of what it was supposed to be. The whirlpool grew, encompassing the entire center of the water.

That was when the being appeared.

Alia

My lungs didn’t wishto fully accept air. It seemed they were still angry at me for the little impromptu swim I put them through.

You dove over a cliff. You deserve whatever discomfort comes,said my very unconcerned conscience—AKA Ran.

I ignored her as I focused on whatever the heck was happening in the water. The whirlpool was strangely sereneyet chaos incarnate. There was gentleness there, as was power which could sweep you to your death.

But theneed. Theneeddrove me forward. For it was one I had felt one too many times.

“Come, we mean you no harm,” I said, kneeling at the edge of the pool.

A hand tried to reel me back, but I held firm.

“Come, Alia, we should go,” Shen said, tugging on my arm.

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