Page 6 of Dead Wolf Falling (Bad Moon Academy 2)

“What’s your name?” I ask the fae.

“That creature can’t help you!” the voice says, growing louder.

Glancing over my shoulder, I check for any sign of life. My eyes land on Bea, still crumpled on the ground. Other than her and the lights blazing from inside the academy, there’s nothing out here.

“Lucien,” the fae says.

“Will you make sure my aunt gets home safe, Lucien?”

His attention strays to Adler who is still asleep in my arms. His eagle form may be smaller than his human one, but he’s still heavy. My biceps begin to burn the longer Lucien stares at his friend.

“I will take your aunt home, but you must promise me no harm will fall on Adler.”

Aunt Lou gasps. “I’m not leaving, you fairyfreak.”

Recalling changeling’s sordid history in Faerie, I don’t understand why this obviously powerful fae cares what happens to the discarded low fae. Still, he makes me an offer I can’t refuse.

“Please don’t hurt her.”

He grimaces. “I will have to remove her memories. Otherwise, she will find a way to return.”

“Excuse me?” Aunt Lou lashes out at him with her palm, but he catches her wrist and hisses at her, much like a cat would an enemy.

“You can do that?” I ask.

What sorcery is this?Joan’s suspicion mirrors my own.

With a final glare at Aunt Lou to make sure she doesn’t try to hit him again, he turns to me and dips his head.

“I have to.”

Wavering with indecision, my stomach churns and threatens to turn at any moment. To strip someone of their memories has to be crossing a moral line. I’m not sure knowing it was for her own protection will be enough to make me feel less guilty. I’d be asking him to take something from her she’ll never get back. Surely she wouldn’t want to keep this memory though, right? He has to do it, especially if I want her to stay safe and far away from the academy.

“Okay,” I say, tears pricking my eyes. “I will make sure nothing happens to Adler.” A bold promise I’m not even sure I can keep, but I will fight with my life to keep him protected from whatever darkness waits for us.

His eyes grow cloudy, and he grabs her other arm, holding her still. Aunt Lou releases a soft breath. Her face smooths, and the fight in her eyes slowly fades until all that’s left is confusion. He whispers something to her, and her eyelids flutter closed, legs giving out. Lucien catches her around the waist before she can fall to the ground.

“It is done. When you get out, tell Adler he knows where to find me.”

Not if. When. His confidence in my ability to make it out of here is overwhelming, but he doesn’t give me a chance to voice my worries. He sweeps Aunt Lou into his arms and disappears into thin air.

Another freezing rush of air swirls around me, reminding me my business with Bad Moon Academy is far from over. I adjust Adler in my arms, not getting much relief from the strain, and turn. Bea is stirring, so I rush to her side, shooting my gaze around for any hidden threats.

Whoever is keeping us here is part of the darkness: the spirit who attacked me and stole my wolf in the ballroom. The thing that thinks I belong here.

“Raven?” Bea’s voice is as frail as she looks, her body sickly thin. “She has them.”

“Has who?” I ask, gently placing Adler on the grass to rest my arms. He’s still knocked out cold, but his chest is rising and falling in a consistent pattern, so I know he’s okay. The pack magic didn’t keep him here before. I’m not sure what’s changed, but the ward shocked him when he tried to leave.

“Carter, Draco, Everett, and the dark one.” Bea kneels, and I take her hand, flipping it over and feeling for her pulse. Her heart is beating so slow.

“The dark one?” I ask, trying to figure out if I should be worried about her heart rate.

The little one will heal. Her wolf is a delta, so her power is not as strong as ours.

Strength impacts healing?I ask.

Yes. The stronger the wolf the faster the healing.

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