Chapter 26
Ned
My senses never failed me. It was why I was such a mighty hunter. So I gathered my patience to wait for her. When my new favorite human stepped back into the wood, the only thing that mattered was her flying to her mate as quickly as possible.
I barked a greeting that would have done my family proud and still the human screamed loud enough to pierce the veil to the other side.
Even so, her arms wrapping around me was the greatest pleasure.
I couldn't help but wiggle my body all over her and that seemed to cue a curious bout of crying and clutching me too tight.
“Ned, where is he?”
I licked her tears from her cheeks. If she would let me out of this rib-crushing embrace, I would show her.
These idiots really didn't seem to understand how life worked at all.
I watched her do mindless tasks when she could have eaten food off the floor that tasted just as good.
She twisted herself right out of love when it lay there for the taking.
Not that my master was any better. He always thought tempting Fate was a game and Fate would win if I didn’t get his mate to him soon.
I latched onto her jacket and pulled her along, deeper into the woods.
She didn't fight me, but she also wasn't the fastest thing on two legs.
We didn't have any time to waste because the forest, the Old Magic, whispered a warning through the pines.
And that warning contained death.