mountain. Nothing. But he knew of Richelle’s gifts inherited from her mother. If she sensed something, then there was something there.
He mentally called to the wolf pack. They became instantly alert and trotted over to Valya and Richelle, surrounding them as they scanned the edge of the forest, raising their snouts to the air, trying to catch the scent of anything that was out of place. He knew they could not sense a thing except
Of Night and Desire
49
for Richelle’s growing tension. A bead of perspiration dotted her brow as her eyes kept darting across the meadow. Making little noise, she slowly got to her feet. She kept her hand on Valya’s neck as they started toward the trail.
Valya took the lead. Although he could sense nothing, he had the dubious sensation of déjà vu as the skies became lighter with the approaching dawn. It reminded him of another night so very long ago. When he had failed to save one bright soul, and in her death, she had given him the most precious gift of life. He had failed before, but he would not fail now.
He would never let any harm befall Richelle again. And while he could not sense any danger, Richelle could. And he trusted the power in her gifts.
With every step, he could sense her apprehension. Returning to the cabin should have calmed her fears, but instead, they were mounting. That didn’t make any sense to him, but still he led on, each step becoming more lethargic as the dawn approached. He needed to go to his rest to replenish his strength, but he would not leave Richelle alone again. She belonged to him.
He willed his feet to go faster to the safety of the cabin. There was a hidden cavern beneath where they could hide, where she would be out of harm's way and where he could sleep. But each step they took made her more frightened. She stopped, her hand tugging him to a stop as well. He raised his head to the night as the other wolves did, trying to sense anything.
It was faint at first, barely noticeable. But it became stronger—the scent of malevolence, hatred, fear, and sweat.
He growled low, the hair on his neck standing on end. The others in the pack followed suit, baring their teeth, ready for a battle. Valya moved in front of Richelle and backed into her, forcing her the other way along the trail as he continued to growl at the tree line. The scent was becoming stronger, coming closer. He could not wait any longer. He lowered the barrier to his mind to issue his silent command to Richelle.
“Run! Quickly, down the path and into the woods. Hide! I will find you!”
* * * *
50
Mia Bailey
Richelle backed away from the silver wolf, aghast. She had heard that voice before, she remembered. But how could it be?
“Quickly, go! I will find you!”
She turned and ran into the woods. Just as she reached the shelter of the trees, she heard men yelling and screaming and the growling and barking of wolves as they safeguarded her escape. She wanted to turn and see what was happening, but there was no need. She could feel what was happening; she could see it in her mind. Her stomach churned at the thought of her friends fighting, dying for her. I’m going to be sick, she thought frantically.
As quickly as it had begun, there was silence from behind her. The wolves were quiet. She stopped, straining to hear, opening her mind, trying to sense her friends. Nothing. She turned and mentally called to the wolves, begging them to respond. Again she heard nothing except the sound of footfalls on the forest floor, breaking twigs with each step. Again she mentally called for the wolves. Nothing. They were gone. She wanted to die with them.
But an overwhelming sense of self-protection overcame her. She turned and ran faster, as fast as she could. Her hair whipped wildly around her face as she tried to escape the echoing footsteps behind her. She didn’t know from whom she was running. She didn’t know what he wanted from her.
She didn’t know where she was heading. She
He mentally called to the wolf pack. They became instantly alert and trotted over to Valya and Richelle, surrounding them as they scanned the edge of the forest, raising their snouts to the air, trying to catch the scent of anything that was out of place. He knew they could not sense a thing except
Of Night and Desire
49
for Richelle’s growing tension. A bead of perspiration dotted her brow as her eyes kept darting across the meadow. Making little noise, she slowly got to her feet. She kept her hand on Valya’s neck as they started toward the trail.
Valya took the lead. Although he could sense nothing, he had the dubious sensation of déjà vu as the skies became lighter with the approaching dawn. It reminded him of another night so very long ago. When he had failed to save one bright soul, and in her death, she had given him the most precious gift of life. He had failed before, but he would not fail now.
He would never let any harm befall Richelle again. And while he could not sense any danger, Richelle could. And he trusted the power in her gifts.
With every step, he could sense her apprehension. Returning to the cabin should have calmed her fears, but instead, they were mounting. That didn’t make any sense to him, but still he led on, each step becoming more lethargic as the dawn approached. He needed to go to his rest to replenish his strength, but he would not leave Richelle alone again. She belonged to him.
He willed his feet to go faster to the safety of the cabin. There was a hidden cavern beneath where they could hide, where she would be out of harm's way and where he could sleep. But each step they took made her more frightened. She stopped, her hand tugging him to a stop as well. He raised his head to the night as the other wolves did, trying to sense anything.
It was faint at first, barely noticeable. But it became stronger—the scent of malevolence, hatred, fear, and sweat.
He growled low, the hair on his neck standing on end. The others in the pack followed suit, baring their teeth, ready for a battle. Valya moved in front of Richelle and backed into her, forcing her the other way along the trail as he continued to growl at the tree line. The scent was becoming stronger, coming closer. He could not wait any longer. He lowered the barrier to his mind to issue his silent command to Richelle.
“Run! Quickly, down the path and into the woods. Hide! I will find you!”
* * * *
50
Mia Bailey
Richelle backed away from the silver wolf, aghast. She had heard that voice before, she remembered. But how could it be?
“Quickly, go! I will find you!”
She turned and ran into the woods. Just as she reached the shelter of the trees, she heard men yelling and screaming and the growling and barking of wolves as they safeguarded her escape. She wanted to turn and see what was happening, but there was no need. She could feel what was happening; she could see it in her mind. Her stomach churned at the thought of her friends fighting, dying for her. I’m going to be sick, she thought frantically.
As quickly as it had begun, there was silence from behind her. The wolves were quiet. She stopped, straining to hear, opening her mind, trying to sense her friends. Nothing. She turned and mentally called to the wolves, begging them to respond. Again she heard nothing except the sound of footfalls on the forest floor, breaking twigs with each step. Again she mentally called for the wolves. Nothing. They were gone. She wanted to die with them.
But an overwhelming sense of self-protection overcame her. She turned and ran faster, as fast as she could. Her hair whipped wildly around her face as she tried to escape the echoing footsteps behind her. She didn’t know from whom she was running. She didn’t know what he wanted from her.
She didn’t know where she was heading. She
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