Page 160 of The Wolf and the Chimera
“You too,” I said. My lips twisted into a smile, and I added, “Sovereign.”
Animalistic pride and power swam in her eyes, but her ears caught something mine missed, and she cocked her head.
“They’re coming,” she hissed. “Go.”
Without wasting another second, we hurried out of the chateau’s doors and into the darkness of night.
As the others shifted into their wolf forms, Ryder sat me down and did the same. When a giant, black wolf replaced the man, I leaped onto his back. Side by side with a russet brown wolf, one the color of sand, and a gray wolf, Ryder jumped over the grand staircases, past the garden's hedges, and headed into the forest, toward the ripple. The other wolves’ jaws stretched around the rectangular containers.
I gripped Ryder’s fur with white knuckles. His gait was rough from his lingering limp, and I hoped I wasn’t worsening his other injuries by squeezing him with my legs. If I was,he didn’t show it. Ryder and the others darted through trees with stomach-turning speed. Silently, I prayed Lyall hadn’t somehow closed or rigged the ripple.
I wasn’t sure why I bothered. The gods certainly didn’t give a damn about any of us.
With moonlight to guide us, we reached the trickling creek that led toward the ripple. The wolves flew across the creek's bank, sending small rocks and sand flying. The waterfall roared and came into view. Its water glimmered, reflecting the night's shining stars. Hope bloomed in my heart.
So close,I thought.We’re so, so close—
Lithe, feminine figures emerged from the waterfall.Impervious to the water, their royal blue cloaks remained dry. Magic, powerful enough to rival the ripple's thrum,chilled me to the bone.
One of our worst fears hadn't come to fruition—Lyall hadn’t closed the ripple, but I recognized the ancient power pouring from the magical doorway and the catlike movements of the figures strutting through the pool.
“The,” I rasped and forced myself to say the words. “The Handmaidens are here.”
The High Court of Witches had arrived.
The wolves growled and slowed, unsure of where to turn. In our current state, we were no match for the Handmaidens. If we didn’t use the ripple, however, we would never outrun Lyall’s remaining wolves or the witches.
Gods be damned,I thought.Could we haveonebreak?
Through the shadows and trees, a whirl of pink light appeared. The earth rumbled in response to the magic. The branches of trees and stems of grass leaned toward it in greeting. Through the oval swirl of pink light, a girl appeared.
Her sandy brown hair was a wreck, but her smile was bright, and her green eyes glowed with magic.
Cadence Reid outstretched a hand.
Perhaps there was a god or goddess out there whohadn'tforsaken us.
“What are you waiting for?” she insisted. “Come on!”
Kieran and his friends hesitated, but Ryder yipped like a pup and ran toward the portal. With the Handmaidens' power breathing down our necks, the others followed him.
As Ryder leaped through the magical doorway, I gripped his fur extra tightly.
Despite everything that had happened, I smiled.
No matter what had been thrown at us, my mate and I were alive, we were with our friends, and we were together.
In that moment and in every moment to come, nothing else mattered.
