Page 46 of Dead Wolf Walking (Bad Moon Academy 1)
Holy crap.
I run until I reach a tall wall deep in the thick of the trees and skid to a stop before I face plant into it. Placing my hands behind my head, I take a few deep breaths, surprised to find I’m hardly winded. Perks of melding with my wolf, I guess.
The wall is at least ten feet high and all brick. I know without even trying to touch it, it’s spelled to keep me inside. A strange brush of energy pulses around it; sort of like static electricity.
Pack magic.
Yeah, Draco mentioned that the first day I tried to escape.
There’s no sense in getting electrocuted or cut to pieces, so I turn to head back to the academy, stopping when I see a familiar eagle perched on a low branch. He’s staring.
“Adler. Stop being weird and show yourself.”
The bird chitters, and I narrow my gaze on him.
“I’m sorry, I don’t speak squawk.”
He swoops to the ground, shifting and landing in an easy crouch.
Aw crap. I forgot about the whole naked shifting.
“You don’t bring clothes with you?” I ask, trying not to check him out and failing miserably. Heat rushes to my cheeks when I snap my gaze to his face and see he’s smiling. “I’d say sorry, but, well, I’m not.”
He covers himself with his hands and smiles. “I don’t mind.”
“How is my aunt?” I’m not so dumbstruck I’ll forget about what really matters.
Crossing the gap between us, he jerks his chin toward a fallen log. I sit, and he joins me.
“Disheartened. Scared.”
How’s that for honesty?
“Did you tell her I’m okay?” I ask, knowing it’s unfair of me to expect him to explain things to her. I should be the one doing that, but I can’t. Not when I can’t seem to find a phone or computer and pack magic won’t let me even begin to write a note to her.
“I wish I could. I really do, but there are reasons why I can’t.” He tries to get comfortable on the log, and my eyes drop to his bare ass.
That has to be painful.
“Why is that?” I ask, pulling my focus back to his face.
He’s watching me in that keen way of his, like he’s inside my head and can read my every thought.
“I have to keep who I am hidden from humans.”
I frown and pick at a piece of bark. “But we know about supes… why do you have to hide?”
“Remember how I said I’m sort of like you?” His eyes search my face, and I nod. “Well, I’m not a supe, per se. I’m a fae.”
The fae were briefly covered in my high school class. All I remember about them is they come from a different realm all together and they’re not nice. Except that doesn’t make sense because Adler has always been kind to me.
Clearing my throat, I glance away. “Should I be afraid?”
He scoffs, so I move my gaze back to meet his. “Do you think I’d hurt you?”
I shake my head because I don’t. I’ve known Adler for two years. In that time, he’s done nothing to make me feel uncomfortable, and he’s always been there to help me out when customers at the bar tried to get handsy. Aunt Lou had nothing bad to say about him either.
“You’re smart to be cautious of fae. My people are not always kind.”
