Page 66 of Crowned A Traitor
Klara knew Wolfgang thought she was rash, but when she reached into the Forest, she felt Abadan’s ever grasping talons stirring in her veins. The High Queen might not be close, but she wasn’t far either, and at their current pace, they wouldn’t make it.
Klara leaned in closer to Wolfgang supporting herself on the branch.
“Think about Lottie, what happens to her if you get caught?”
Arthur began muttering to Lottie in the background, and Klara knew Arthur didn’t want Lottie to hear them. “Come, Lottie, let’s get some sleep,” Arthur said, and Lottie crawled into his arms. Arthur closed his eyes, but she knew he didn’t need to sleep. He was just giving them space.
“After all that big talk, you are going to hand yourself over on a platter,” Wolfgang inched closer to her.
“I won’t go down easily, and I usually find a way to survive Abadan’s plots.” There was a higher chance of the Hounds catching her than the Fae; either way, her fate would be the same. She wanted to save at least two lives, and a soul meant for Abadan’s flames. If Klara genuinely thought she belonged in the lands of Kalos, then she had to put them first.
“We will wait,” Wolfgang said stubbornly, but she knew if the choice came between keeping his sister safe and waiting for her, he would pass through. Klara was okay with it. “There’s something else,” Wolfgang sounded like he was in physical pain.
“I can’t… I’m not…” he stammered fighting for words. “Not what?” Klara asked, and he fisted his hair in frustration. She leant in to hear soft muffling, and he turned his head to hers, his eyes drifting to her lips, and Klara closed her eyes as his hand brushed her cheek. Wolfgang pressed his lips to hers and Klara gripped his shirt. A part of her wanted to push him away, but she found herself pulling him closer. Klara felt his desperation as he pulled her onto his lap, deepening the kiss. Klara expected to see something, anything, but everything was clouded. Just like Frendall in the Forest.
Abadan must have figured out a way to blind my sight. Klara pulled away, and his eyes searched hers for answers.
“Did you see?” Wolfgang sighed, his forehead resting against hers.
“We can’t do this, there is too much at stake.” Klara pushed herself off him, finding her own branch. She watched the hurt and confusion on his face. “I shouldn’t have,” Wolfgang kept his eyes on the horizon while Klara wrapped her arms around herself.
“Get some sleep,” Klara said, moving further from him, and he looked out at the ocean in the distance. The light breeze drifted through his hair as he settled onto a branch. As she drifted, her senses heightened, and with every passing moment, she could feel the Hounds growing closer. The Hounds would wipe out the Fae patrol in minutes and then there would be nothing between them.
“I’ll wake you when it’s time,” Klara said, and Wolfgang closed his eyes leaning back directly across from her. When his breathing evened out, and she was sure he was asleep, Klara started to descend. She would lead Abadan in the opposite direction for as long as possible and away from the others; she just prayed she wouldn’t encounter the Fae in the meantime.
Klara landed with a soft thud and she ripped off the lower half of her other sleeve. The more skin she exposed, the easier it would be for the Hounds to track her.
The air whipped her scent into the air as she ran towards the Hounds. The further she moved from the group, the clearer her senses became. She set off snatch after snatch, but Klara moved too quickly for them to ensnare her. Klara stopped as she smelt something matching her strides. She darted behind a tree as sweat beaded on her forehead.
Where are you going?A sorrow-filled voice edged into her mind, and Klara peered out as a small Lycaon whined.
You didn’t even say goodbye.The snow white Lycaon sat at half the size of a mature wolf.
“Lottie?”
~15~
The Lycaon nodded, padding her new paws into the mud. Klara noticed Lottie’s dilated pupils and shaking body.
“Are you ok?” Klara asked, moving closer, not wanting to startle her. All the stress had caused her to transition with the moon.
“I need you to stay calm,” Klara crouched in submission. New Lycaons were quick with their emotions and Klara didn’t want to risk upsetting her. Lottie tapped the ground lightly as she got used to the sensation of being on all fours.I feel strange, but so strong, her shy voice echoed in Klara’s mind.
I thought changing was going to hurt, but I wanted to follow you, but you were too quick, and I just wanted to bring you back but then my skin felt like it burst. I was running faster and faster I couldn’t stop it, Lottie’s voice was frantic.
“I need to lead the bad people away,” Klara said, and Lottie tried to pad towards Klara. Lottie held her nose high in the air.I can smell them, she whined, and Lottie’s sudden snarl surprised both of them. Klara blocked Lottie from following the scent she had caught.
“You need to get back to your brother, he will be sick with worry,” Klara said, and Lottie looked over her furry shoulder in the direction they’d come.
I’m not scared to help! I’m big now!Lottie shook her ears.
You should be scared, I am. Klara said to herself.
“Come back we can fight them together,” Lottie said too young to understand the danger. A young Lycaon was strong, maybe even strong enough to take on a Hound or two, but she was too small and vulnerable to those more experienced. Klara didn’t have time to argue as her skin crawled to reveal the impending danger. She needed to get Lottie away before her scent sent the Hounds wild.
Lottie’s new body temperature would burn through the potion in no time if it hadn’t already.
Let me help, Lottie panted when Klara felt Them in the darkness of the trees.
