Page 64 of Shrine of Fire

“You can see Kalahar’s fiery phoenix wings, since you’re a shaman.” Aki gestured at Kalahar’s shoulders.

“You can see his wings? Without him manifesting them?” I looked between Aki and Cuan.

“Yes.” They said at the same time. Kalahar looked amused.

I pouted. “I wish I could see them.”

“You have but to ask.” Kalahar gave me a burning intense look, and my stomach swooped.

Kalahar’s body shifted. His hair became living fire again, his eyes swirls of red and orange, his skin golden, and fiery wings curled around his body.

Cuan watched him with a mixture of fear and wonder. “It was like another form laid over the face you showed the world.”

I glanced around at the other men. “We’re working on researching spirits.”

“Speaking of…” Stefan pointed to our left.

In the distance, over the red and gold fields, a large herd of elk walked placidly toward the north. A normal enough sight, but they all shone with white-blue light. And then, behind the last elk in line, more elk appeared, streaming out of nothing I could see.

“We’ve had more spirits lately than in anyone’s lifetime.” Cuan turned around again to face the road and sat back, transferring the reins to one hand. As he leaned an elbow on the back of the seat, the horses suddenly startled, pulling themselves to a hard stop.

The temperature plummeted until we could see our breath. Dread washed over me. Kalahar hissed, standing up.

Ahead of us, the desolate figure of Hella Mora appeared, wailing, sending a wave of cold grief over the land, the sound carrying over the hills and echoing into the emptiness.

Aki pulled a knife out of his boot and yanked me off the seat. He crouched over me and glared at the spirit.

“What in all the seven realms…” Cuan’s jaw dropped, and tears began to stream down his face. “This is a bad dream.”

“It’s a spirit, mate.” Hashir tugged him. “Get into the back.”

“No one can escape.” Hella Mora hovered over the road in front of us, the herd of elk running away. “Death will come for us all.

Grief tore my breath away.

“No,” Cuan shook his head. “No, it wasn’t my fault.”

I reached out for Stefan, trying to pull them all close to me.

“I will drive her away,” Kalahar said. He shapeshifted into a giant fiery bird, and with a scream, took off for the spirit.

“We have to help.” I moved to stand.

“Your pack bonds are gone, Nova, you stay with us.” Aki held me against his side. “Stefan and Hashir, hold her tightly. Cuan, get back here.”

Cuan stared at the spirit hovering in front of us. “She came from the Land of the Dead, and there’s a hole.”

Stefan and Hashir obeyed Aki, pressing against me. Some of the sorrow welling up inside me lessened, but it made the grief that much sharper.

I’d let myself feel joy and love although my pack had died. I should have been able to get past feeling guilty, but it was a weight inside me, dragging me down into the depths, where sorrow would drown me.

Hashir clutched me against him. “It’s okay, dollface, it’s okay.”

Stefan wrapped his arms around me, laying his head on my shoulder. “It will pass, Nova. It will pass and we will remain.”

I sniffed, my tears coming stronger now. It was the magic of the spirit, but it didn’t make my sorrow any easier. “I know I’m going to let you down. I’m going to hurt you.”

“She’s using your own grief against you,” Aki said, glaring at the spirit.

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