Page 46 of Kiss of Fire

“This way, my Lady,” he said casually. He walked into the trees.

Raya hesitated, remembering Shade’s warning. But he’d told her not to go into the forest on her own and shewasn’ton her own, was she? She followed.

Eighteen

Strangely, what had seemed an impenetrable wall of foliage was less so when she was standing inside it. A path ran through the trees, dappled with sunlight. Birds swooped and trilled, and the whole thing felt magical.

She caught up with Torven.

“Shade – I mean, Lord Shadeed – told me the forest was dangerous. It doesn’t feel dangerous.”

Torven cast her a glance.

“It isn’t dangerous to fae. Especially one with the power of the Vulcani.”

“I guess.” Raya shifted uncomfortably. “He said fae were cruel. But you don’t seem unkind.”

“He was probably speaking of the elven, my Lady. Some are very capricious.”

“Elven?”

“The fair folk. The highborn. Glamorous but volatile. Our king is an elven.”

“Aelfric? I heard he was unstable.”

“Aye. He’s unpredictable.”

“Is it true? About the fairy bones?”

“That, and more. It isn’t helped by the fact that he’s surrounded by fawners who egg him on.”

“What about you? Are you elven?”

He laughed out loud.

“No, my Lady. And if you ever see elven folk, you’ll realise what a daft question that was. Here we are.”

He led them into a clearing where a cottage stood. Smoke came from the chimney and flowers curled around the windows. It looked like a fairy tale – until she saw what was lying outside the door.

A wolf.

A large silver-grey wolf with yellow eyes. It rose to all fours when it saw them and Raya froze. The thing was huge.

“What should we do?” she quavered.

“Stand still, or it may eat us.”

“Eat us?”

“Aye. Bones and all. That’s a dyrewolf. One of the fastest, strongest creatures in Nush’aldaam.”

Heart pounding, Raya tried not to breathe. The wolf prowled towards them, eyes locked on hers. Its shoulder came to above her waist. If it were to stand on its hind legs, it would tower over her.

It sniffed at her hand and she tensed, sure it was going to bite her. Then it turned to Torven. A low growl issued from its throat. It sank onto its haunches, readying itself to pounce.

“Torven! Watch out!”

In the next second the wolf had launched itself at Torven and he went tumbling backwards. Man and wolf rolled in the grass as Raya watched in horror.

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