Page 31 of Dead Wolf Walking (Bad Moon Academy 1)
“Sort of like you.”
“Except with talons instead of claws and you can fly.” I wrinkle my brow. “You can fucking fly?”
With a laugh, he steps closer.
I hold my hands up. “Whoa, cover yourself, please.” Not that I particularly mind the view, but how am I supposed to focus with him looking like that?
“Oh, right.” He covers his junk. “Sorry.”
“Why are you here?”
He frowns. “I came to make sure you’re okay.”
Wiping the sweat covering my forehead with the back of my arm, I press my lips together and nod. “How did you know where I was? Where are we?”
“About a hundred miles away from Deckerville. Knowing where you were, well, that’s a long story. Raven, we need to get you out of here. This place isn’t right.”
“Yeah, you’re telling me.”
Can he sense it as well? The otherness about the place? I’m not talking about the wolves either.
“I’m serious, let’s go. Lou is worried sick.”
“What does she think happened?” I step closer, forgetting all about him being naked, and grab his arm. “Is she okay?”
His eyes give nothing away, but I’ve come to learn when Adler conceals his thoughts, it means there’s bad news.
“Adler!”
My yell snaps him out of his silence, and he releases a hard breath. “Lou thinks you’ve gone on another bender. There’s a search party looking for you, but it’s been almost a week and their numbers have fallen.”
He didn’t answer the question.
“Is she okay?” I ask, squeezing his biceps.
His eyes soften. “She’s strong.”
Closing my eyes, I drop my chin to my chest. “You have to tell her I’m okay.”
I have to escape this place.
“You can tell her once we’re out of here.”
I glance at the academy. “You can get me out?”
He nods. “Everyone is asleep except the kitchen staff; I can hear them cooking.”
“Are you sure?” I ask.
“Yes, you can hear them too, all you have to do is focus and listen.”
Tipping my head to the side, I scrunch my eyebrows together and hold my breath. Sure enough, if I concentrate, I can hear the cooks. The only other sounds coming from the academy are soft snores.
Making up my mind to trust Adler, I brush my sweaty hands over my shirt. “Okay. How are we doing this?”
I can ask questions about the whole changeling thing later. If he can get me out of here, I’ll go. I trust him.
“I’m going to shift. Grab on to my feet when I’m in the air.”
