Page 178 of Beast and Remedy
Magic pulses in my bloodstream as the wolf whimpers when I retract my paw, blood seeping from the mark I left.
The animal twitches with a snarl, and I remind it once more who has more power here and charge.
The creature braces for my onslaught.
Beau yells, “Move to your left!”
I listen and sidestep the wolf as its open mouth seeks to clamp down on me.
An arrow whooshes against my fur.
Thump.
A broken cry breaks from the yellow-eyed predator.
The creature collapses, and I swerve to Beau, assessing him and the two wolves he took down.
He pants, still holding his bow as sweat beads down his face. Exhaustion takes over his body the longer he stands, the rush from fighting stealing his breath.
The first and second wolves lie limp and unmoving, and only after a few assured moments do my shock and anger dissipate, my defenses lowering.
“Rosebud,” Beau breathes, dropping his weapons and striding to me. “Are you alright?” His hands lift my shout, and he runs his thumb along my fur.
I blink a few times before inclining my head.
He sags with relief, but I nudge him, needing confirmation of my own. He inspects himself before he sighs.
“I’m okay,” he says. “I’m exhausted, but I’m okay.”
I move to survey him, but he holds fast.
“What were you thinking?” he demands. “You could have died!”
A low rumble vibrates in my throat, knowing the same could have happened to him.
His gaze flashes with understanding as he curls into me. “I-I don’t know how you did it, but I need some rest before I can help you change back.”
I savor the brief trace of his scent mixed with his sweat and fatigue. My mind wanders, and I try to find a steady calm, remembering the esprit’s words and what Beau’s magic feels like.
The phantom sensation relaxes me more as I reach further into myself, summoning my power and dispersing it through me. Heat erupts along my skin, warming every nerve and bone,a balm to the mere ache. My claws rescind, and my fur vanishes from sight.
The energy from shifting staggers me, and Beau clutches me to his chest, the two of us losing our balance.
He takes the brunt of the fall, a loudoofescaping him.
“Sorry,” I squeak.
He groans. “There’s nothing to be sorry about.” He takes another long inhale before relaxing his grip and rubbing my back. “We can’t stay here.”
I sink into him, hating how right he is. “I know, we should head back—”
“That’s not what I mean.”
I peer up. “What do you mean?”
“We need to go back to Torgem to finish this.”
“But we just got here—”
