Page 11 of Magic & Secrets
Mina’s scowl softened at the thought of her successful return. The Gathering viewed her kind as troublesome. If she could remain faithful to the cause, Mina might gain the respect she often found lacking.
As we climbed on our horses and chased the new target, I felt invigorated over the possibility of seeing Roque in the flesh.
Even if he was the last thing I witnessed before he snuffed out my life, the view would be worth it.
Roque
THROUGH THE DAY, WEraced to catch up to the Lion and Wolf Shifters. The weather cooperated, remaining mild despite the changes in terrain. Arbdorre Territory was mostly untamed, with a scattering of settlements spread out along the southern end where we tracked our prey.
Likely sensing us hunting them, the Wolf pack and Lion pride split up halfway through a patch of dense forest. Delta never slowed down, choosing to track the Lion Shifters’ scent. Either target would die the same, so I followed my packmate without hesitation.
As the sun came up and we moved over rocky hills, we erased the distance between ourselves and the Lion Shifters. The pride’s scent grew stronger. All day and night, we traveled relentlessly through forests and past rivers. Once locked onto a target, Bane Shifters refused to give up the chase.
On the second day, just past the hottest hours, the Lion Shifters made camp. Stopping nearby, I rested with my packmates on a hill overlooking a human settlement. A Witch’s magic protected the outpost from predators.
As the Lion Shifters settled in, we shifted into our human forms and took a quick dip in a stream to hydrate ourselves. Fatigue and hunger washed away with my sweat.
Exiting the water, I sniffed the air. The scent of the Lion Shifters was strong. I also detected the Witch’s protection spell.
As the wind shifted around me, I picked up a different scent. I lifted my chin and inhaled sharply, wanting more of theintoxicating aroma with a hint of cinnamon. This was the scent from my dreams about the mysterious female.
I closed my eyes and relished the sweet odor. The female in my dreams felt kind-hearted. I refused to believe she aided those who attacked Haven Junction, yet the timing of her scent felt too coincidental.
Behind me stood Delta and Koda, wearing expressions of dazed confusion. Had the Bane Shifters been retired for too long to handle such a long hunt?
Koda’s gaze sharpened first. He glanced around and cracked his neck. Ready for battle, he nodded at me.
Delta took longer to find his way past the daze. I watched him sway. His golden eyes were awash in confusion and an emotion I couldn’t quite detect. Suddenly, he snapped to attention and walked toward the Lion Shifters making camp at the base of a small hill.
With our scents masked while we remained in human form, we prowled closer. Normally, Bane Shifters would rush into battle. Yet, I hoped the Lion Shifters might give away something in conversation to help us understand the reasoning behind the Haven Junction massacre.
We crouched down in the brush, watching our prey. They ate rabbits, fighting over the scraps. They kept looking at a sack similar to the one the Necromancer carried with his sacrifices.
A heavy breeze rustled the trees, leaving behind more of the alluring scent. The Lion Shifters didn’t react to it. Koda and Delta instantly looked around, seeking out more.
Closing my eyes, I felt as if the female was watching me. I imagined her conjuring her little spell to see through my eyes like I saw through hers. Where was she now?
Bane Shifters were immune to most magic. The Armgard were the exception with their ancient magic capable of burning our flesh faster than we could regenerate. Even then, theirsorcery came in bursts. When they needed to recharge, we would rush past their defenses and spill their blood.
In this new world, where Wolf Shifter packs worked with Chauve Vampyres, Necromancers, and Sorcerers, was the magic in the air capable of destroying my kind?
Next to me, Delta and Koda tried to break free from the distracting magic. Their eyes glowed silver with unease. We might be walking into an ambush. The Lion Shifters didn’t seem particularly fearful of us catching them.
Sniffing the air, I considered the many times I had faced Sorcerers, Witches, Necromancers, and other wielders of magic. Their spells and potions burned my skin, tearing flesh from the bone.
In the end, they died, and my kind lived. Every time, without fail, the Bane Shifters came out triumphant. Today would prove no different.
Lifting my chin, I dug deep inside myself and awakened the beast I hadn’t allowed out in a century. A killing machine was useless on the quiet ridges of Mt. Elysium. Today, that human-designed monster would taste Lion Shifter blood.
Peering through the thick brush, I zeroed in on the pride leader. The Lion Shifters had taken their human forms and appeared in a celebratory mood.
I suspected that when we'd channeled our human forms, the Lion Shifters believed they’d lost their hunters. This was naïve behavior, even from such young Shifters. They might have grown up long after the Bane Shifters patrolled the Territories, yet the legend of my kind ought to be enough for them to remain on guard.
The potent magic in the air didn’t seem to affect the adolescent Lion Shifters. Meanwhile, Delta couldn’t stop growling at whatever spell rode the wind.
The westbound breeze suddenly stopped as if hitting a wall. My gaze focused on the west side of the clearing, moments before the pride noticed the three red-cloaked figures appear from the thick brush.
They were female. I could tell by their hands resting casually on the butts of their swords strapped against their hips.
