57. Chapter 57
Chapter 57
Lea
T he Wicked Wood loomed before her, no less intimidating and terrifying than the last time she'd braved entering it. The grass still turned to mud and rot at the border, the trees black and spindly, swaying as if inhaling and exhaling like a sentient being. But there was no time for fear. Not a single second to lose. She urged Luna closer to the trees, their long fingers reaching toward her as if beckoning her to come inside.
A chill shivered through her entire body as she crossed into the boundary of the Wicked Wood.
She looked around, daring any demon to approach her as she urged Luna to move faster. She had no idea how long her father would be able to stall Gray. It could have been minutes, for all she knew. Gray would surely be trying to find a way to get to her by now, and he knew where she was going.
She could almost feel him coming. The pounding of Obsidian’s hooves matching Luna’s. His fury surging forward as it searched for her, so intense that even the trees would recoil from his approach. Gray would stop at nothing to find her before she reached Alaric and Eudora.
Lea couldn’t let that happen.
A twig snapped to her left, and Lea held out her hand, long black flames at her fingertips. She narrowed her eyes to peer through the trees, part of her mind searching for death’s cold approach as the other half ran through the possibilities. Was it Alaric or Eudora? Had they seen her coming, and were waiting to ambush her? Or maybe it was the soldiers he’d taken from the camp?
Another snap sounded, this time behind her.
She called on her shadows as she spun around, her heart racing. Please, don’t be Gray, she prayed, spreading her fire toward the sound to illuminate the darkness. Luna took a single step, when all at once, hundreds of palm-sized yellow eyes appeared, surrounding her completely.
Fenrir, more than she could count.
Lea threw up a wall of black flames, adrenaline coursing through her veins as she tried to steady her breath. She had fought them once, before she’d known of her powers. Gray had defeated them. Erik had killed one. She could do the same. She had to, because if she was going to die, it would not be between the jaws of some giant wolf.
No. If she was leaving this realm today, it would be because she had taken Alaric’s power and returned it to the universe.
She was gathering her primary magic in her chest, coiling it into a tight ball and preparing to destroy the entire pack in a fiery explosion when an enormous silver wolf walked to the front, stopping only feet away. The creature met her gaze for a long moment, and Lea paused. She’d expected to see hunger inside those massive, yellow eyes. A predatory glint betraying its drive to kill, but instead its eyes were soft—understanding and knowing in a way that made Lea’s skin erupt into goosebumps. The fenrir arched its back, extending its neck toward the eclipse, and let out a long, sorrowful howl that sent chills skittering down Lea’s spine. She met the enormous wolf’s eyes again and cautiously lowered her hands. This animal didn’t want to harm her. He wanted to help her. She was as sure of it as her own name .
The wolf bowed, deeply and reverently, then twisted its head to the side, exposing its throat. She dimmed her flames, calling them back to her as a chorus of howls echoed against the dead trees. As one, the fenrir bowed, then moved out of her path, creating an aisle for her as if saying, we will be right behind you. We are here with you. She could feel the promise in their movements, in the way they stared at her.
Lea was breathless, in awe of the beautiful, terrifying creatures. Had they really come to protect her? Erik had said that long ago, the fenrir had been drawn to the most powerful beings, guarding and protecting them with their lives. Following their orders, even to their own deaths. Did they know that not only her life, but the lives of every person in the kingdom were at risk?
"Thank you," she whispered, not fully understanding what had brought them to her, but grateful to not be alone as she made her final journey. A lump formed in her throat as she urged Luna forward, and they followed, their steps eerily silent as they trailed close behind her.
As one, they descended further into the wood, her heart thundering and bile rising into her throat. She swallowed it down along with her fear and guilt, her singular focus making it to Alaric, until through the dense, dark trees, she caught a glimmer of black water. She pulled on the reins, raising her hand to stop the fenrir. As silently as possible, she turned Luna around and led the fenrir back a few hundred yards, out of sight and earshot from Alaric.
Lea climbed off her horse, every sense on high alert as she spread her magic out toward the lake, her shadows mapping out the terrain as she searched for Alaric and Eudora. But no matter where she pushed her darkness, she couldn’t find them. Couldn’t sense any life until—there.
A flicker of something . Not life, but power. Pure, horrifying power that vibrated through the air, taunting her. He was here.
Without wasting another moment, Lea reached inside to find the tether to Evangeline. She tugged on it—three sharp yanks—then opened her eyes and looked around.
"There’s a lake in the Wicked Wood," she said after a few moments, "about an hour's ride from Pontor. He’s here." She repeated the words several times, showing her surroundings to ensure Evangeline understood.
"There’s a lake in the Wicked Wood, about an hour's ride from Pontor. He’s here. Hurry."