Page 51 of Oath of Revenge
Before she could catch her breath at the realization, a horse-sized snake slithered toward them, but they stood back to back and fought it off. They made a great team, their movements in sync as they battled against the ever-increasing number of creatures emerging from the shadows. The snake’s defeat seemed to trigger a frenzy, as if the forest itself had awakened with a hunger for their flesh.
Scarlet’s heart pounded in her chest, adrenaline coursing through her veins as she gripped her daggers tighter. Wulfric’s solid presence at her back gave much need reassurance that she wasn’t alone, his warmth a stark contrast to the chill of the air.
“We can’t keep this up forever,” she panted, slashing at two giant eagles as they joined the fray, the snake twitching in pieces around them.
Wulfric grunted in agreement, his claws sending blood over the white snow as he slashed a monstrous bird with razor-sharp talons. “Any bright ideas, bunny?”
Despite the dire situation, Scarlet felt a flutter in her stomach at the way he said bunny. It was more like a term of endearment than a derogatory nickname like the villagers had made up behind her back. The bird squawked and attacked them while the other grabbed two pieces of the snake and flew away.
Another swipe of her daggers, and then it too flew away, joining its mate. With each enemy defeated, they formed an unspoken bond and learned each other’s strengths and weaknesses. It reminded her of when she was a kid with Knox. They’d often explored the forest, growing bolder with each year, especially after they’d realized the forest protected Knox.
Panting, back-to-back with Wulfric, she replied, “How far away are we from your tribe? When should we stop for the night?”
He stopped to sniff the crisp air and nodded. “Let’s keep going a little further so we don’t waste daylight. Maybe we’ll get a break before the next thing in the forest tries to kill us.”
“Doubtful,” she said, following him South.
When the lengthening shadows of the trees grew longer and the sun was gone, they made camp near the bank of the river.
Wulfric glanced around at the small clearing as Scarlet blew into her hands. “I’ll make a fire so we can get warm, then I’ll hunt for dinner,” he said.
She shook her head. “I’ll take care of dinner. You make the fire.”
He took a step toward her, frowning, but she held a hand out and shook her head. “Don’t even argue, wolfie. You hunted breakfast this morning. I’ll take care of dinner. Just have a fire going when I get back.”
He frowned, the shadows making him look regal and intimidating. “Don’t go too far. This isn’t in the normal Growler perimeter check, but there could still be some loners around. Yell if you need me.”
She rolled her eyes. “I practically grew up in this forest. I’ll be fine.”
He reached for her elbow and drew her closer, nuzzling her neck. She gasped as her hood fell back from her face, the inside red lining showing bright.
“Yeah,” he growled near her ear. “But not on this side of the road. You’re in my territory now, bunny, so pay attention and be on alert.”
Her heart fluttered like an untried maiden. She pressed on his chest and forced a wooden laugh. “Like there’s any other way.”
With a tug up on her hood, she slipped away from him, taking an uneasy breath to clear her confused emotions. Being so near him was like walking in the fancy heels the ladies at court wore.
She felt wobbly on her own legs. One minute, she was her normal, strong self, striding purposefully through the woods.
The next, she was letting him help her over a fucking log like a dainty princess.
Ugh, what was wrong with her? Not that Eirwyn was any less of a badass for being a princess, but still. That wasn’t her.
She didn’t get far before her stomach roiled and her vision swam. The stupid glocken berry was literally keeping her tied to him.
She stopped, taking a deep breath to calm her emotions. Just a few more days, and she’d be free to leap over her own damn logs and go wherever she wanted when she wanted.
An hour later, she walked into the clearing with three eggs and two squirrels.
He looked up from the fire, a stick in his hand as he poked at the logs. She paused just to admire the way the firelight flickered over the rugged beauty of his face. The high cheekbones, the pale pink lips, and black eyebrows framed those piercing golden eyes that saw too much.
Then he smiled, his wolf’s tail wagging. His incisors were too large, reminding her of the predator he was.
He had probably been a gorgeously rough human once. If it weren’t for the long black and silver hair and the pointed wolf’s ears, he did look mostly human.
“Ah, dinner is here.”
The way he said it sent a shiver up her spine. She didn’t know if he meant her or the food in her hands, but she refused to ask.