Chapter 41
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
R onin wavered in and out of consciousness, unaware of anything except the scaled, muscular body wrapped around him.
I’m sorry, buddy , he said to his wolf.
I am not, his wolf answered. I am thankful I got to feel the wind through my fur one last time. To fight for you and our female.
She is our female, isn’t she?
Only took her being eaten by a giant snake for you to finally admit it. I’d say I’m proud of you, but I think I’d rather scold you for all that wasted time .
We will find her again , Ronin whispered. In this world, or the next.
He unhooked his fangs from Nyctima’s scales, his paws and legs going limp, and released a mournful howl.
He closed his eyes, resigned to his fate, when the vise-tight hold slackened ever so slightly. Cool scales grew warm against his fur as Nyctima unraveled herself.
Rising to unsteady paws, Ronin readied for another attack.
He didn’t get the chance.
The snake thrashed violently, thumping the ground and throwing stones and puffs of snow, her stomach pulsating.
Ronin shifted back into his humanoid form, sprawled out on the gravel and clutched his aching, re-broken ribs, struggling to breathe.
A clawed paw, covered in fire, burst through the black scales, ripping through flesh and splattering goopy, iridescent liquid. Another flaming paw joined the first.
Nyctima tried, in vain, to sink her fangs into the thing gouging through her insides.
The serpent exploded into two halves, the stench of cooked meat filling the air as her tail slid into the fountain and her head crashed against the fence with a thunderous clang.
Then Ronin lost his breath entirely as he saw what had burst from the creature.
A wolf, covered head to toe in crackling fire, stood tall and proud, fangs bared. She tipped her head to the sky, releasing a victorious howl, and her flames glowed brighter.
She padded over to Ronin, flames flickering as she wove around smoldering chunks of flesh and chipped scales, then banked the fire away from her face.
Heat kissed his knuckles as he reached for her, his ribs screaming in protest. She nuzzled his hand, her nose wet and surprisingly cool.
“Mireille?”
He’d never seen anything like her.
Inside of him, his wolf bowed down and rolled onto his back. Submissive. He’d never done that for anyone.
The she-wolf’s silver eyes glittered with fierce pride. A look which Ronin returned before the beast transformed, and Mireille, in humanoid form, crashed onto the ground next to him, panting. Curling tendrils of smoke rose from her naked skin.
Ronin gathered her into his arms, his own pain be damned.
Layla and a handful of the guests gathered on the stones of the ruined manor entrance, gaping.
Ronin stripped off his shirt, offering it to Mireille.
“That’s never…” she croaked “…happened before.”
“What, love?” Ronin asked, stroking her cheek.
“Clothes disappearing?” Her eyes were closed as she rested her head against his shoulder. Her skin was scorching, the falling snowflakes melting upon contact.
Ronin chuckled. “Most Beastrunners aren’t on fire. I think you burned them off.”
She laughed.
It was the most glorious sound in the world.
“What the fuck happened inside the snake?”
Something soft and sad crept through Mireille’s eyes. “I went to the Halfway, saw my father there. He showed me a vision of someone I’m supposed to meet in the future. I think… I think whoever she is, she gave me the courage to believe the words.”
“What words?”
“ I am one with my power. And I am enough.”
Ronin’s brows rose. “The words from?—”
“Mattias’s dream. The ones Larissa said to him.”
Ronin blinked slowly. “They activated his fire magic.”
Mireille nodded, then looked at him, truly looked at him, for the first time since she’d burst out of the snake. “Your tattoos aren’t glowing anymore.”
Ronin shook his head. “My wolf came out.”
“How?” she asked breathlessly.
“I… I’m not sure. I think seeing you die—well, at least I thought you were dead, never been happier to be wrong about something in my entire life—it made him so furious that he was able to break through his bonds.”
Layla approached, her feet crunching through the gravel. She crouched beside them, her black and white hair in disarray and her eyes filled with awe.
“You two are a sight to behold. Did you know you had fire magic? And that it would turn you into a flaming wolf?” she asked Mireille.
“If I had, I might have tried to access it sooner,” Mireille said with a soft chuckle.
Ronin surveyed the carnage, the chunks of burning flesh, the exploded entrance of the manor. Otto’s human staff were milling around, dazed yet aware. Reawakened from whatever spells Otto had been using to control them.
“What are we going to do about them?” Ronin asked.
“The Teles Chrysos will make sure they’re cared for,” Layla answered. “Many will likely wish to return to the colonies, return to the families they were taken from. We’ll take care of the guests, too. Hoping a few of them might even want to join us after everything they’ve learned here. And we’ll strip the estate of anything we don’t want the Empire to get their hands on.”
Mireille tensed in Ronin’s lap. “There’s a leather ledger, hidden in the desk in Otto’s office. It’s full of family trees, Fae with human heritage. The Empire could use that information to hunt them down. Make sure you destroy it.”
Layla nodded, then pulled the opal flute out of her torn, bejeweled bodice. “What about this?”
“What about it?” Ronin asked.
Layla’s lips thinned. “Nyctima was not the only emissary that Adelphinae left in this world. There are others. Larger, more powerful monsters, if the legends are to be believed. The Teles Chrysos may need this flute to summon them in the battles to come. Will you be returning it to the Empire?”
“No,” Mireille said softly, cupping Ronin’s cheek. “We’re done with the Empire. We won’t be returning to Kheimos. At least, not for long.”
Ronin laid his hand over hers, whispering, “What do you mean?”
“Your wolf is free , Ronin. There’s no need to go back.” Her expression turned fierce. “We don’t have to let them use us ever again.”
“What about the information they promised you? About your father?”
“He told me his name. Gareth Fortin.” Her eyes dampened. “He was…kind. Brave . And he” —her voice broke— “he loved me. Exactly as I am. That’s all I need to know.”
Ronin leaned down to kiss away her tears.
“If you won’t be returning to Kheimos…” Layla cleared her throat. “Perhaps you’d consider joining us? The Teles Chrysos could certainly use two members like you.”
Mireille didn’t look to Layla, her gaze glued firmly to Ronin’s own. “We’re looking forward to some well-earned time off.”
Layla stepped away to give them privacy, then headed for the fence, where she pushed an arm through the bars. The ward had vanished now that Otto had finally met True Death.
Ronin huffed a laugh, then kissed Mireille’s palm. “Should we celebrate first?”
“How?”
“A run through the woods?”
Mireille’s excited smile stirred something in his chest.
“Just give me my shirt back before you shift,” he said with a grin. “It’s one of my favorites and I don’t want you to burn it.”
Mireille pulled at the black fabric as she stepped away from him. “What, this shirt? I think it’s only fair, Matakos…” She burst into her wolf form, his shirt disintegrating, and bounded toward the edge of the forest.
“Guess I deserved that,” Ronin laughed, then stood, his ribs barking, but fuck if he was going to let a little pain stop him.
Mireille turned back, her flames hissing in the swirling snow.
A majestic wolf of pure fire.
Ronin’s heart had never felt so full.
As he began his own shift, he growled out, “I’ll give you a head-start, little she-wolf.
“Run fast before I catch you.”