Page 27 of Magic & Secrets
“These females know the Territories,” Koda told Delta. “They’re well-studied on the ancient ones. If this Ivitithi creature directed its followers to Mt. Elysium, we should learn more. Killing the ones who attacked Haven Junction might not be enough to end the threat. The Bane Shifters could be facing war.”
Delta stopped pacing and considered Koda’s words. Though this strange magic clouded our minds and overloaded our instincts, we were clearheaded enough to recognize that the Bane Shifters faced an unknown future.
Focused again, we walked down the center of the road toward the stables where the warriors prepared their steeds. Humans watched us pass. Some were curious. Others wept at the sight of us leaving. If I weren’t so distracted by Calla, I might have asked more questions about current life within the Territories.
Glancing back at the humans still watching us depart, I felt a rekindling of my old duty to Lavinia’s citizens. We were their guardians for most of my life. My time on Mt. Elysium hadbrushed away those old responsibilities. Now, I suffered under the weight of old obligations.
Maybe things would change when we returned to the mountain and told Tempe of what we found in the Territories. If the Murade was absent from its duties, should the Bane Shifters step into a leadership role? Logic dictated we were too unaware of the current state of Lavinia to be much help.
Walking away from the settlement, I found Calla standing next to her black horse at the outpost’s welcome sign. Her sisters were atop their steeds and heading away.
Offering a warm smile to my packmates and me, she said, “It was generous of you to leave your marks on this town.”
“I have a kind heart,” I replied and smiled down at the temptress. “Everyone says so.”
Delta grunted at my comment and leveled his golden gaze on Calla. “Taking your horses means we’ll need to travel the roads, which is slower.”
“We can’t run as fast as your animal forms. This is our compromise. The Wolf Shifters are traveling slower now. If we ride hard for the entire morning, we can erase the distance between our targets and us.”
Calla offered me a lingering grin before she jumped atop her horse and rode after her sisters.
I gave Opal Outpost one last glance before shifting into my wolf form and welcoming another day on the hunt. Koda and Delta were soon next to me. We passed the warriors who gave chase.
Hours passed as we traveled the roads in the direction of the Wolf Shifters and their Sorcerer. We made good time with the warriors keeping up. I occasionally glanced back to catch a glimpse of Calla. Her golden hair and skin shone in the bright day.
As much as I loved a good hunt, I ached to stop somewhere and speak with Calla again. My personal needs had never slowed me down on a mission before. The weapon I once was seemed to have become dulled by too long on the mountain. Or possibly, I was only distracted by the golden creature in my midst.
The early afternoon heat slowed the horses until we eventually took a break in a quiet field filled with willow trees to offer shade.
Mina sat near the horses. Enya walked around as if looking for something. Delta remained in his wolf form, watching Mina from behind a tree. Koda shifted into his human form and rested on his back, enjoying the sun.
I settled next to Calla on the ground. She immediately smiled at my proximity.
“I’m glad we’re hunting together,” Calla said, holding my gaze.
“Because your master told you to keep an eye on us?”
“Yes,” she replied quickly. “We’re to remain wary of Bane Shifters.”
“Why?”
“You’re powerful warriors.”
“So were the Lion Shifters yesterday.”
“Not really. They were young and impulsive.”
“True. Yet, you struggled with them,” I said, choosing to poke at her pride. “Your masters didn’t train you well.”
Calla leveled her green-eyed gaze at me and insisted, “I was distracted byyou.”
Shaking my head, I insisted, “You aren’t ready for battle against a Sorcerer.”
“You worry about me,” Calla said and chuckled quietly. “What a great honor it is to have a Bane Shifter as my guard dog.”
I started to snarl in response before spotting an amused glint in her eyes. Little Calla wasn’t against poking back at my pride. Falling silent, I considered whether I wanted to play this game with a creature with so much power over my thoughts.
Calla broke the quiet by asking, “Can your kind truly shift into dragon form?”
