Page 2 of Marked
He had one shot. One more attempt to take my life, and I’d be damned if I gave him an easy target. I clutched my dagger and leaned forward, ready to strike.
Before I could attack, a dark, furry figure leapt from the bushes and smashed into the hunter, clamping jaws into the man with a loud snap.
This wolf wasn’t Nala.
I straightened from my crouch as the wild animal tore out the man’s throat. Blood sprayed the damp path and my leather boots.
A wave of conflicting emotions slammed into me—relief, confusion and gratitude. My heart continued to race as adrenaline rushed through my veins. The danger had passed, but my body hadn’t received the message yet.
The wolf paused over the body, breathing heavy, before turning to me. Its yellow gaze flashed under the moonlight. I didn’t recognize this wolf. Granted, I didn’t know all the ones in the area, but I would’ve remembered seeing this one—all black, with blazing yellow eyes. I took several deep breaths and tried to shake away the urge to run.
“Thank you,” I said.
Maybe I should’ve notched an arrow to protect myself from the wolf.
Maybe I shouldn’t listen to my gut which told me this wolf wasn’t dangerous. At least not to me.
Maybe I should talk to someone about my inner dialogue during dangerous situations.
The wolf huffed at me before springing forward. Its large fuzzy body brushed past my legs before it crashed into the bushes and disappeared into the forest.
I let out a long breath and my magic faded away, unused and angry. My gut served me well in situations like these and I couldn’t explain why. It wasn’t like I actually communicated with familiars. My brother claimed I was part wolf myself. Others in the town of Perga called me feral behind my back.
I didn’t care what others thought of me.
All I cared about was protecting the unbonded familiars in the forest and today, it seemed, one decided to return the favour.
2
Blake sighed and pocketed the message I’d scribbled for the queen. “You certainly keep me busy, Emi.”
“It’s all about the job security.” I winked.
Tall and lean, Blake had striking blue eyes and a mischievous smile. As the queen’s messenger, he travelled back and forth between Perga and Wast. Magic might’ve replaced the technology from a time prior to the phaanon and galeon war, but not instant messaging. No vehicles, either. Phones and cars only remained in story books that had crumbled with age long ago.
Now, the queen and king relied on messengers like Blake to distribute information and disseminate orders.
Blake’s gaze snagged on my blood-spattered boots and his grin faltered. “Good…hunting?”
I flashed him a closed-mouthed smile. Technically, it was good hunting for the wolf, but I didn’t want to get into details with Blake. The attack needed to be reported to the queen first—I’d rather she heard the information from me than from gossip.
“Did you just get back?” A familiar husky voice called out from behind me.
Blake stiffened at the sound of my best friend’s voice. He pulled his bag over his shoulders and turned to leave.
I spun to find Lesley sauntering over from the street that led to the center of town. She had a curvy, hourglass figure that made men and women drool. Coils of deep brown hair surrounded her heart-shaped face. With her full lips, large round eyes, cute button nose and slightly flushed cheeks, she always appeared as if she’d just been caught doing something incredibly naughty. She might look like sex personified, and she might joke around about casual liaisons, but my friend was more reserved than me when it came to relationships.
“Hey, Sley.” I waved.
Sley flashed me a wide smile, but she quickly narrowed her eyes as her gaze slid to something over my shoulder. Blake had slipped into the shadows of the forest.
“Hey, Emi,” she said. “Was that Blake?”
“Couldn’t tell from the red tips of his ears?”
“I don’t know why he’s avoiding me.” She frowned at the forest.
“Don’t you?” I raised both eyebrows. “He went to your place with a bouquet of flowers to profess his undying love and was greeted by Graham…and Graham’s cock.”