Page 122 of Dead Wolf Walking (Bad Moon Academy 1)
I won’t stop for anyone. Dashing down the hall, I slap cobwebs out of my way, jump over the velvet rope, and race down the stairs fast enough to break my neck if I trip. I keep a firm grasp on the handrail. Leaping down the last five steps, I land in a slight crouch and burst out of the front door in a flurry of red hair.
“Raven!” Everett shouts my name.
Nothing he says will stop me. I take the grass and run full out toward the gate. Aunt Lou is bouncing on her toes and glancing around.
“Aunt Lou!” A grin bursts across my face as the distance between us dwindles. “Aunt Lou!”
I must be too far away because she doesn’t respond. Adler shifts from eagle to man, standing behind her and next to a tall man with dark skin and pointed ears. My supe senses tingle the closer I get. This fae Adler brought is powerful. Hope sparks in my chest and flares through me. He can help.
The fae places his hands on the lock of the gate and grimaces. There’s a shift in the air; a breeze rushes from the west, picking up pieces of my hair and tossing them in my face. I swat them away.
“Aunt Lou!” I’m six feet away now so I stop running and power walk over. “I’m so happy to see you,” I say, words breaking as emotions overwhelm me.
“Where is she? Where’s this stupid academy?” Aunt Lou scowls at Adler.
Adler glances between her and me. “Lou, it’s right there. Raven is right there.” He points at me, and she glances in my direction. Her eyes pass over me, and annoyance flashes across her face.
“If this is some kind of sick joke you fae like to play—” Aunt Lou breaks off with a sob and clutches her chest.
Adler grabs her shoulders and looks her in the eye. “I’m not lying, Lou. She’s right there.”
“Aunt Lou,” I whisper. “It’s me.” A strong gust of wind crops up behind me, and I shove my hair away from my face. The leaves in the trees whisper as they brush together with the force of the gale.
Her gaze floats over the space where I’m standing and confusion wrinkles her brow. “Impossible.”
“I’ve almost got it,” the fae says.
I glance at him, eyeing his jeans and T-shirt. Aside from the pointed ears and ridiculously good looks, he doesn’t look like a fae. The iron groans under his hold and the wind suddenly stops.
The fae says something in a language I don’t recognize, and Adler says something back.
“Adler?” I ask, taking a step toward the gate.
His eyes find me. “It’s okay. He did it.”
With a hard yank, the fae opens the gate. I gasp and rush out to Aunt Lou. She stumbles back when I breach the threshold.
“Raven!” Someone screams my name behind me, but I don’t turn around. There’s no going back.
“Baby, what happened to you?” Aunt Lou covers her mouth with trembling fingers, and her eyes fill with fresh tears. “What did they do?”
What’s she talking about?I ask Joan.
I don’t know.My wolf is solemn, but at least she’s here.
“Aunt Lou?” I reach for her, and she carefully takes my bone thin hand. “What the hell?” I stare at my hand, trace my eyes up an equally thin arm, and hold the other up. It looks like I’ve been starved.
“When was the last time you ate?” Aunt Lou’s voice wobbles.
I pinch my eyebrows together. “Earlier today,” I whisper. My lips crack and the taste of copper fills my mouth.
So hungry,Joan moans.
I don’t understand.
“I thought you said she was fine.” Aunt Lou jerks her head in Adler’s direction.
“She was.” His eyes are wide with horror and his fae friend is staring at me like I’m contagious.
