Love By Feral Wolves

was no longer alone in my own head anymore. There was activity-footsteps behind the curtain of vines, soft voices speaking tongues that I coul

wrist. The memory of the bright crescent still

rtain

ill water. Her hair was white and was pulled back into a braid. She wore a robe of wov

dy," she sai

ed hard a

orest. There, within a circular firepit surrounded by

ack. His was a silent but commanding presence, like a tide that

razy halo around his head. He winked as I stepped into the circl

Ma

en moved. He was darker than the others, not just in color-with his shaved head and amber-colored eyes that burne

La

dappled light. He was leaner than Marek, but not less lethal. Something in his gaze when he looked at me raised th

rought me t

rs, but to marrow. "Summoned by the Moonshroud. Sealed by the bond. Y

s remaine

or finally spoke, his voic

ny," I

inally. "Then let us start

a spark, but not painful. Instead, I was. overwhelmed. Images crept over me: white

hand, and I took a

old me. "It is not coerced. B

pond before Thorne

" he said

storm of color and noise. I beheld cavorting fires, laughing in grottos, the thrill of

he said. "And

from mine. He said nothing as he reached for me, palm inc

wolf trying to wrestle itself, blood leaking from its muzzle,

d away, I was

he said to me. "And

pliment. It w

sed through me like sun after winter's bitterness. Her being was ancient and wide. I behel

," she said. "And

ly, L

dn't

ed at me for a long moment before stepping into th

mission," Thorne muttered,

with a glance. Then

rust easil

r do I,

at all. And then h

ingers touched, t

not recognize. I saw a boy standing alone in a cavern, his hand on a blade, his body d

ontact, Lazar

s," he breathe

truths, or at least the edges of them. And they see yours. This

t shocked. They weren't what I'd pict

deep inside me stir

one of

on wo

eno

afternoon. The forest shi

thoritative. "Night is coming.

ask wha

I alrea

-

sappeared into concealment with a whistle. Marek lingered, looking at me with unreadable fires in his eyes before disappearing

r rem

up into the air, winking like fireflies, before they were gone. I edged closer,

finally asked, my voice

rds. It's something you feel. It takes on a different shape for eve

y brow. "Sou

chan

est. Think of it as an introduction. The forest is alive, Tabitha. It remembers. It ob

s. For a moment, I could have sworn I saw something m

a hand on m

me, "you are not alone. We are bound

wing and inexorable, dark fingers insinuating themselves through the trees. I ro

it, deep

est was

mbering

___