Chapter Ten
Freya
I grimaced at the black SUV that awaited us. I loathed vehicles, but my coven had no established portals in New Orleans, and none of us—not even Cadence—could create a portal that far-reaching. There was always Arion, but the four of us couldn’t fit on his back.
A car’s better than a plane, I thought. We couldn’t take a plane because of Walker’s out-of-control magic, but I was secretly grateful. Getting in a death-trap in the sky was the only thing worse than getting in a death-trap on the ground.
As Walker packed his and Cadence’s things into the back of the SUV, I reminded myself that the iron-clad wall between us was a good thing. It was what I wanted. It was what was best for the safety of the coven.
It did not matter that it wasn’t what was best for my heart.
Ryder snorted. “And here I thought the make-outs were bad. I think the longing glances might be worse.”
I glowered at him and climbed into the passenger seat. Arion hopped into my lap. “Whatever. You’re the one destined to find a mate and subject us to your puppy love.”
Ryder flinched, and I instantly regretted my words. Wolves were destined to have mates, though true mates had become increasingly rare. Many now settled down with romantic partners the human way, rather than waiting for the soul-binding magic of true mates. Ryder had a complicated history with the reality of his people, considering his mother had found her true mate and left Ryder's father, pack, and Ryder himself for the other half of her soul.
Ryder chuckled. “You must really be upset to make a comment that bitchy.”
Just like that, my guilt dissipated. “You’re driving.”
Though he knew how, Ryder hated driving. It frustrated him as badly as it did me to rely on a machine to get somewhere. That wasn’t, however, why I made him drive. If I had to sit beside Walker in tense silence for the next several hours, I might call upon the High Witch to come kill me herself.
???
Several hours and lots of bickering between Ryder and Walker later, we arrived at a campsite in Wyoming and agreed to pull over for the night. We had each taken turns driving, except for Cadence, and I was eager to get out of the back seat. I nudged the young witch awake. She jolted, and Arion jerked beside her. After hours of pacing in the small space, he’d finally managed to fall asleep.
My rest had been brief and poor. As I clamored out of the SUV, I rubbed my dry, exhausted eyes and bumped into a familiar, very male body.
I lurched away from Walker so quickly, I hit the SUV behind me and almost lost my footing on the gravel ground. He caught me by the waist, and heat spread from where his large hands splayed across my body. I met his gaze. His lust mirrored my own.
Just as quickly, Walker released me and turned away.
I swallowed and focused on our surroundings.
The night sky was a blanket of stars. We were parked on a small gravel path off the main road. I basked in the fresh, unfiltered air, and the gentle chirping of insects and rustle of leaves. Mountains surrounded us like a cradle. Though it was a crisp night, it would be comfortable enough with a fire.
“So much better than a hotel,” Ryder said.
I couldn’t disagree. I walked to the back of the SUV to grab my things, but Walker handed me my bag. I took it without meeting his gaze.
“What’s going on between you two?” Cady asked. “I tried to keep my mouth shut, but seriously. This—” She pointed between us. “—is some of the greatest awkwardness I’ve ever seen. And I’m in middle school.”
“Don’t ask, kid,” Ryder said and grabbed his things. “Just don’t ask.”
The four of us walked down the gentle slope to the campsite. The gravel path led to a small, dirt clearing with a firepit in its center, which overlooked a large pond. There was just enough space for a couple of tents, which Walker made quick work of setting up. While Ryder checked the perimeter, Cadence and I gathered firewood.
“You can make portals now,” I said and crouched beside the firepit, which we had filled with enough wood to keep a fire going overnight. “But can you summon flames?”
Cadence sighed. “One day.”
“Don’t let her make you feel bad,” Walker chimed in from where he perched over the tent. “She’s just jealous, Cady-Cat.”
He smirked at me, and for the first time all day, things actually felt normal.
“Your brother’s right,” I said and sparked a flame to life in my hands. “Fire is awesome, but portals definitely win more style points.”
As I set the wood ablaze, Cadence shook her head.
“I’m not so sure about that,” she said and smiled.
Ryder emerged from the woods surrounding the campsite wearing a frown and the joggers I had thrown out in the woods after he shifted. Nudity didn’t bother werewolves, but I didn’t want him to traumatize Cady.
“Frey,” he said, “we’ve got company.”
My magic swelled in response. I hadn’t detected any other magic in the area upon arrival, but that could’ve changed.
“Where?” I asked.
I sensed something strange in the air—something that hadn’t been there before. Walker stood and drew closer to us. His magic crackled, but he wasn’t what I sensed. I wanted to take his hand to settle him, but I didn’t.
“Across the pond,” Ryder said and dipped his chin in that direction. “They’re in the woods over there. Something isn’t right with them.”
“Witches?” Walker asked.
Ryder shook his head. “I’m not sure what they are.”
I blanched. Ryder was well-versed in the supernatural community. I wanted to seek these strange creatures out, but I wasn’t sure if it was the best idea.
“Well,” Walker said, “now I’m really curious.”
“Yeah,” Cadence added. “Let’s go check it out.”
Walker crossed his arms. “Could you ever just be afraid of something?”
She grinned.
“Did they see you?” I asked Ryder.
“No,” he answered. “They were pretty…occupied.”
“Do you think they’re dangerous?” I asked. Ryder’s vague answers frustrated me.
He ran a hand through his dark hair. “I don’t know. I think someone else should check it out. They were saying some pretty strange things.”
“I’ll go,” Walker and I said at the same time.
I glanced at Cadence. “You’re not going to volunteer?”
She sighed. “I know when to pick my battles. Walker has his absolutely-not-face on.”
I laughed and walked into the woods. I was actually grateful for the chance to stretch my legs. Walker followed me, and I paused.
“I’ll be fine on my own,” I said.
“Doesn’t mean you should be on your own,” he said.
I sighed and carried on. Cadence was right. Walker did have his absolutely-not-face on. Besides, I wasn’t sure back-up was a terrible idea, considering I had no clue what we were walking into. I had never seen Ryder so flummoxed.
“One second,” Walker said and jogged back to his bag, abandoned by the tent. He pulled out the Sol Sword and strapped it behind his back. “Just in case.”
I nodded, though I wasn’t sure how the hunter’s weapon would respond to his new powers. It didn’t burn him to touch, so I hoped that even if its flames abandoned him, he could still wield its sharpened blade. With his dad still gone, however, I feared the turmoil the loss of his family’s magic would cause the cowboy.
It doesn’t matter, I reminded myself. Walker is not for you to worry about.
We traveled quickly and quietly through the dense forest. The more ground we covered, the more strange magic I sensed. A hazy scent filtered through the air. It was strong and sweet like lavender.
As we grew closer to the foreign magic, Walker matched me stride for stride. He moved with the grace of a witch, and pride bloomed in my chest. Using his magic, even if it was only to navigate a forest, was a huge step for him.
Despite my insistence upon braving this alone, I was grateful for his company. Walking into a dangerous situation with the cowboy, I could handle. It didn’t allot any time for kissing.
Great, I thought, now I’m thinking about kissing Walker.
I pushed the thought out of my mind and focused on the strange magic. Like Ryder, I had never sensed anything like it before. It was earthy and sounded like a low bass thrumming in my ears, but I couldn’t home in on it. It slipped through my senses like air. All I could grasp was the sweet smell, which was now strong enough to hurt my head.
“Do you feel that?” I whispered.
Walker nodded and drifted a little closer to me. His hand flexed like he wanted to reach for me but resisted.
As we neared the other side of the pond, the magic swelled. It was a heady rush in the air. Several short, stout figures huddled around a fire. At first, I thought they wore baggy clothing or blankets over their shoulders, until I realized their shapes weren’t quite human.
Hidden by the trees, we crept even closer. Raucous laughter erupted from the group. There were six of them. One of them grinned and revealed huge teeth with a set of elongated canines. Its head was larger than a human’s, and green tufts of hair sprouted from its gray-brown scalp.
The creature’s eyes were muddy brown and absent of whites. Rough-hewn fabric covered its body. Its skin appeared textured—rough like a rock. In fact, I’d been mistaken when I assumed they sat on rocks.
They sat on their haunches.
I met Walker’s gaze. It wasn’t difficult to decipher his expression.
What the hell are those things? he mouthed.
I scrambled for an answer. As Walker would say, these creatures were most definitely not from my neck of the woods. I had taken, however, several classes about all the supernaturals in the world.
I should know this.
They were certainly not golems. No one made golems to sit around a campfire, and I sensed no nearby witches. They weren’t orcs either—they were far too short and too far from home to be the creatures that populated the forests of Russia.
One of the creatures passed a huge, smoking cigar to the one whose face we could see, and I finally recognized the magic in the air. Sweet and earthy smoke coiled from the cigar.
Salvia.
They were smoking the salvia plant—known for its magical, vision-inducing properties and commonly used by…
Trolls.
“Dear Goddess,” I whispered.
The troll’s gaze snapped to mine, and I winced.
We were screwed, or we were saved.
I wasn’t sure yet.