Page 69 of A Reign of Malice
Julian falls back to run beside me while the others surge forward to lead. Our pack of six tears across the landscape in a blur of pounding paws and beating hearts. The sounds of our pursuers fade, but that only sets me further on edge.
Why aren’t they chasing us?
The trees blend together as we cross miles of dense forest and, later, open meadows and sloping hills. Sunlight breaks through the clouds, but there’s no warmth in it. Not today.
“Turn north after the river,”Clara says, cutting through my thoughts without warning.“Not long after that, I’ll find you.”
I don’t know how she’s tracking us, but sure enough, the soft rush of water ahead hits my ears. I push harder, passing Theo and Asher until I’m leading the way. My claws dig into the damp earth, propelling me forward faster than I’ve ever run. And strangely, it’s easy.
I’m not tired. Not even winded. Julian’s right behind me, his breathing just as steady.
Is this because we were in the god realm? Is this what Aurora’s power did to us?
I don’t know, but as long as this is the only side effect from our time there, I’ll do my best not to question it.
Up ahead, Clara’s blonde wolf is standing with another onyx one. They yip then turn left. The six of us follow them, catching up easily but then having to force ourselves to slow so we don’t pass them.
The wolves lead us to a mountain base. Clara is the first to shift, her fur retreating in a shimmer of magic as she rises on two feet. She barely waits for me to do the same before she’s throwing herself at me.
“Gods, I thought you were dead.”
Her hug has my chest warming and my eyes watering. She holds on with everything she has, and I do the same. “I can’t be taken down that easily.”
My joke falls flat, and when she finally pulls back, she narrows her glassy eyes at me then shoves me back. “What happened to you?” She looks around then does a double take, obviously having seen Julian.
The way her gaze widens makes me chuckle. “Clara, meet Julian. My mate.”
“How… When… What?” It’s not often my advisor’s left speechless, but I’m not surprised now is one of those times.
“Long story,” I tell her. “How about you tell us what’s going on here since that seems to be the most immediate threat?”
She nods. “Of course.”
Noen is right there beside her when she steps back, and he offers me and Julian each a smile. “It’s good to have you all back.” Then he glances over at the others. “But there’s something different about you.”
“We were in the god realm,” Isla says, her voice quiet but firm.
The sentence settles like fog over the group. Noen looks between us with growing curiosity, but wisely, he doesn’t press. Estee pales at the reminder, and her fingers curl into Theo’s sleeve as if just saying it aloud brings her closer to unraveling. We don’t have time to unpack any of it. Not here. Not yet.
“I assume there are others out here with you?” I ask,gently shifting the conversation. I gesture toward the mountain behind them, sensing my people near. “We should go meet them. I’m sure they’d like to know that they haven’t been abandoned.”
Clara grimaces, an apology already forming in her expression. “I had to tell the Venaris pack about Julian to gain their trust,” she says, glancing up at him, uncertain. “Noen has been helping me get the truth out. I hope that was okay.”
Julian’s smile is soft. “Of course. If it kept them safe, it was the right thing to do.”
She nods in relief then gestures behind her. “Come on. They’ll want to see you for themselves.”
Asher’s already moving, bringing Isla with him. “Let’s go, then.”
Our group follows Clara and Noen through a narrow path carved between low shrubs and twisted trees, moving toward the right slope of the mountain. There’s a jagged scattering of boulders ahead, as though a blast from above sent them crashing down long ago, sharp edges now softened by moss and time.
Noen climbs the rocks first, scaling them easily before turning to help Clara. He offers her his hand with practiced ease, and she grips it tightly as she pulls herself up and over.
“How far up are we going?” Isla asks, eyeing the steep incline with suspicion.
Noen grins, boyish and unbothered. “We’re not. We’re goingdown.”
And just as he says it, Clara disappears. One second she’s slipping over a rock and the next—gone.
