Page 21 of Research with Rivals
The shift was disorienting, and I didn’t know if there was a way to make it easier. I took a few shaky steps as I readjusted to my half-fae form.
I hadn’t stumbled far on two legs when I realized I was headed in the wrong direction. A pressure in my chest seemed to tug me off track. I rubbed my sternum in an attempt to ease it, then turned—and came face to face with an enormous wolf.
No one could fault the squeak that escaped my lips. This wolf was the largest I’d ever seen. I was no longer in animal form and had no means of defending myself against such a predator. If things got dire, I wasn’t even sure I could command the shift to help.
My heart raced as I stared at the wolf, but maybe more concerning than my reaction was my veil cat’s. She curled up inside my mind like her work here was done. While the wolf wasn’t attacking, I found my veil cat’s lack of concern appalling, especially since just about every perceived infraction angeredher. On all fours, this wolf still came to the height of my chest, but upon further inspection, I guessed its light gray fur did look soft in the early morning light.
The wolf stretched its paws forward, althoughpawswas too generous a term—they had large claws that looked like they could do damage if he was provoked. But for now, the wolf lay down, and its tail ticked back and forth as if waiting for something.
“What is happening?” I wondered aloud.
None of this made sense.
I needed to get past this wolf. If it wasn’t going to kill me, I had a boat to catch. The ferry wasn’t known for being punctual, but once gone, it didn’t return quickly. If I missed this early morning ride, I’d be waiting a while.
The wolf was still prostrate. If I didn’t know better, I’d say its tail was now wagging. Did it want to play?
“I am going to walk around you, Wolfy. Please don’t eat me.”
I received no confirmation of my plan, but since I had no other options, I proceeded anyway. Everything I’d ever learned about predators was flashing through my head. Move slowly—no sudden changes. Keep your breaths even.
I was failing at the last one, but I hoped to control the first two.
My gaze locked with the wolf’s golden eyes. The color was so unique. It was the same hue as the innermost circle of Ambrose’s irises.
Where had that thought come from?
I returned my attention to the wolf. Wasn’t I supposed to show submission or something? My veil cat growled at that thought. I cataloged the reaction as visceral disagreement. Then, I continued around the wolf with slow steps.
It didn’t move as I inched past it. Finally, on the other side, I wondered how to make my escape. Give it my back? That didn’tfeel like a good idea. Take slow steps backward? That seemed silly. I glanced around. There was no one here to see.
“I’m going to walk away slowly. Please continue not to eat me.”
Why I narrated my moves to this wild animal was beyond me, but I did. Every step I took away from the wolf brought back the pang in my chest. It had to be anxiety over the situation. Still, the wolf didn’t move.
When I took my last step onto the path, the wolf whined low in its throat.
The noise tore at something deep in my chest, but I was far enough away to make a break to the dock. I didn’t hesitate. Turning, I fled down the path and ran the entire way to the dock.
The pang in my chest didn’t resolve itself even with distance from the wolf; if anything, it might have gotten worse. It wasn’t my top worry. When my nerves calmed from the encounter, I was sure it would disappear. At least that’s what I told myself as I boarded the ferry that would return me to Sandrin.
8
Ambrose
Nothing about the morning had gone according to plan.
My run had turned into a hunt. Senses that had yet to fail me led me toward an unknown target. Finally, I neared the finish line. The twisting in my chest loosened as I approached my prize, telling me we were close. My stomach dropped like a free fall when I caught my first glimpse of Evelyn.
Her dark brown hair was in a messy braid that made me wonder about her morning. Before she noticed me, her hand massaged her sternum, as if there was some itch there she couldn’t quite scratch. It was an action I understood well.
What was she doing here?
Something in the back of my mind reminded me that her head tilts were a little too familiar, and there was a steadily increasing sharpness to her that was a little too wild, even for the researcher who tested blood magic on living things.
It had crossed my mind only yesterday that maybe she had more Vesten magic than she led us all to believe. Well, I guessedthat would be incorrect. She didn’t lead her colleagues to believe anything about her. She let us draw our own conclusions, didn’t she? So, I had only myself to blame if I’d underestimated her.
I hadn’t seen her in an animal form, but shifting was the only reason a Vesten would be here in the early morning hours. While I hadn’t completely forgotten the way she’d chastised me the first time I tried to smell her magic, she hadn’t noticed me yet, so I decided to risk it.
