When he finally set her down, his voice was thick. “I give up. I love you, Adne. I am goddamned crazy in love with you.”
Adne threaded her fingers through Connor’s, squeezing his hand. “Just don’t die in there. Okay? We have lots to talk about after all this is over.”
“I’ll do my best.” Connor almost fell over when she threw herself at him, kissing him again. Mason whistled and started clapping.
We all gazed at each other—our silly grins momentarily washing away the tension of an impending fight. Only Ren wasn’t smiling. He was eyeing Connor suspiciously.
“What?” Connor asked, frowning at the alpha.
“That’s my sister,” Ren growled.
Connor stared at him. “I know. And I love her.”
“Great,” Ren said. “But what are your intentions?”
“My intentions?” Connor looked from Ren to Adne, frowning.
Ren grinned, showing Connor his sharp canines. “When all this is over, you and I have a lot to talk about too.”
NINETEEN
CONNOR LED THE WAY as we scrambled over rough rock that cut into my paws. It wasn’t a long climb, but it was tiring. We had to avoid deep punctures in the earth where bursts of steam or poisonous gas could spew up without notice. Unlike the vibrant forest of the coast, Whakaari was devoid of life, an utterly alien environment. Though breathtaking, the landscape was far too ominous to be beautiful, its very appearance serving to warn away intruders.
“It’s here!” Connor called, waving us forward. We’d reached a point where the slope pitched up suddenly. Straight ahead was a gash in the rock face. Tendrils of steam slipped from the crack, dancing like silk ribbons carried off by the wind.
Drawing closer to the opening, I could see the way the steam caught light flickering within the cavern. Its colors moved from silver to crimson to gold as it fled darkness to dissipate in the air above our heads.
Mason trotted up to the entrance, sniffed, and pawed the ground anxiously. Connor raised his eyebrows and Mason shifted forms.
“You want us to go in there—seriously?” He stared at the cave. “It smells like death. Horrible, farty death.”
“Is there any other kind?” Connor asked.
“He’s right.” Adne covered her mouth and nose. “It smells nasty.”
“Are we all going to make nosegays or just get this over with?” Connor pointed to the cavern.
“Do you really know what a nosegay is?” Adne laughed. “I’m impressed.”
“That is impressive,” Mason said. “Very nineteenth century of you. Not very manly, though . . . nosegays.”
Adne put her hands on Connor’s chest. “Don’t listen to him, sweetie. I still find you very manly.”
Connor swore and ducked into the cavern while Adne laughed.
“You’re not going to ease up on him after what he said to you?” I asked her.
“Explain to me how that would be fun,” she said, grinning at me.
“You’d better keep him on his toes,” Ren said as he followed Connor. “I’d be disappointed if you didn’t.”
“And I wouldn’t want to let my big brother down.”
“Good girl.” He flashed her a smile and disappeared into the cavern.
I squeezed my way into the cave. The air was hot, close, and smelled awful. I began to sweat immediately. Noxious gases seeped into each breath, unpleasant but not harmful enough to merit donning our masks. The tunnel was narrow but not too cramped; we could move along without stooping. Subtle, flickering hues that mimicked firelight illuminated our path. The gentle slope of the earth told me we were slowly making our way into the belly of the volcano.
Connor suddenly stopped, dropping to his stomach and squirming forward. As I got closer, I saw why. The tunnel had opened up, revealing a broad ledge. Connor had crawled to the edge, peering over it. One by one we bellied up alongside him. My breath caught at the sheer drop off the side. The path continued beyond the ledge, where it cut down sharply, transforming from a straight line into a tight, steep spiral.
More than a hundred feet below, I could see an open space, carved in a broad circle out of the volcanic rock. Its smooth surface was broken only by the occasional crevice, belching out steam. A raised stone slab—an unpleasant reminder of the sacrificial dais in the Keepers’ Chamber below Eden—lay at the center of the space. Hovering above the altar was the shimmering figure of a woman. Diaphanous robes of crimson and gold floated around her body, lending her a quality of substance that I knew wasn’t actually there.
“Cian,” Shay breathed.
Connor issued a slow string of curses. “She’s not alone.”
I followed Connor’s stony gaze to three bonfires posted like sentinels alongside Cian’s gleaming form.
“Wait a second.” Mason frowned. “How can the fires move?”
The flames’ positions were shifting, traveling around the dais in a slow circle. I peered down at them, realizing they weren’t shapeless. The dancing gold and crimson of each bonfire had a form.
“Oh my God,” I whispered. “That isn’t possible.”
Ren glanced at me and nodded. “I know.”
“Yes, it is.” Adne’s mouth set in a grim line. “Those are wolves.”
“I thought they were myths,” Connor said, rubbing his temples. “No wonder nobody ever comes back.”
“What are they?” Mason whispered, staring at the fiery creatures that circled Cian far below us.
“Lyulf,” Adne said. “Fire wolves.”
“Those aren’t wolves,” I hissed, hating the scent of sulfur and burning coal that surrounded us.
“Not the furry kind,” Connor said. “But they’re wolves, all right. Lyulf are the Harbinger’s favorite pets by repute. He used them in the first battle between Keepers and Searchers. Only he can summon them and—”
He broke off as Adne threw him a warning glare.
“And what?” I asked.
“It doesn’t matter,” Adne said.
“Just tell us.” Shay shifted the sword on his back, angling for a better view of the three Lyulf.
Connor grimaced. “By rumor they inspired the Keepers to create Guardians.”
“Not exactly a great copy.” Mason laughed. “I for one cannot become the human torch . . . or a wolf torch, for that matter.”
“It doesn’t matter what they inspired or when they fought,” Shay said. “How do we kill them?”
“We can’t.” Connor rolled onto his back, staring up at the cavern ceiling. “That’s the problem. Lyulf are powerful Nether beings, like wraiths. Worse than wraiths, actually.”
“I have a hard time believing anything is worse than a wraith,” I said.
“I support that lack of belief,” Ren said.
“Have you ever burned your tongue?” Connor asked. “Did you enjoy it?”
I frowned at him. “What are you talking about?”
“How do you plan to bite something that is made of fire?” He glared at me. “You’d scorch your lungs and be dead within a minute. We can’t fight them. I don’t know what we’re going to do.”
“I drove off that wraith,” Shay said. “I’ll do the same here.”
“You can’t draw three of them at once,” Connor said. “And we need you to get the blade.”
“Interference,” Ren said. “Like with the bats. That’s what we have to do.”
Connor met his gaze and then looked away. “We won’t all make it.”
“We don’t have a choice,” Ren said. “Besides, isn’t that why it’s just us? Because we knew we wouldn’t all make it.”
Connor swore softly, his swords hissing out of their sheaths. “Anybody remember to bring a squirt gun? That could make all the difference.”
“So how will this work?” Shay asked, ignoring him.
“We’ll draw the Lyulf’s attack,” Ren said. “If we can keep them on the chase, we can buy you time and maybe avoid serious injury. You get the blade. Connor keeps Adne safe so we
can get out of here as soon as you’re packing.”
Connor didn’t turn to face him, but he nodded.
“Let’s go.” Ren crouched and shifted forms. He glanced at me. I nodded, meeting Mason’s eyes as we both slid into our wolf forms. The three of us stalked down the spiraling path, into the belly of the volcano where the fire wolves circled Cian, eternally hunting any who dared trespass. I glanced back to see Shay, Connor, and Adne following behind us at a creeping pace.
The fumes grew stronger while we descended, turning my stomach. I shook my muzzle as my nostrils twitched with discomfort.
This would be so much better if we didn’t have to breathe, Mason complained.
Ren’s thought traveled back to us. Stay focused.
Mason dropped his muzzle low in compliance. I kept close to Ren’s flank. We were close enough to hear them now. Steady low snarls emerged from the Lyulf as they stalked their constant unchanging path, their muscles flexing, living flame, their movement like a ring of fire around Pyralis.
Ren paused in the shadows of a rock outcrop. The last place left to remain out of sight before the steep trail ended, leaving only the broad chamber in front of us. Another few steps and we’d be in the open, facing off with the Lyulf.
Try to keep them separated and moving. Don’t get cornered.
He raised his muzzle and howled. The Lyulf stopped their circling, turning in the direction of the sound, which now filled the entire cavern. The fire wolves lifted their heads in an answering cry. Smoke billowed from their mouths.
Ren leapt from his hiding place with Mason and me at his heels. The Lyulf stood their ground, snarling, watching us approach. As we closed in, I could see their eyes, smoldering coals set in the flames of their bodies. Empty save for hate and lust for the kill.
Ren bounded for them. The first of the Lyulf crouched and sprang at him. At the last possible moment Ren threw himself to the side, rolling away, and the Lyulf sailed past him. Ren was on his feet again. He barked, wagging his tail. Taunting the wolf.
Split. I shouted my thought at Mason and Ren. Hold their attention. We need to give Shay time.
I wheeled away from Ren, snarling at the second wolf while Mason snapped his jaws at the third. The heat pouring off the Lyulf was like a furnace. As I dashed past it, drawing its attack, I could smell my fur singe. I headed for the far side of the chamber, hoping to keep the fire wolves away from the path that Shay would need to take. I didn’t need to look back to know the Lyulf was at my heels. With every burst of speed I could feel its heat, flames licking my tail.
I heard Mason yelp and pivoted around, searching for him. He was still running ahead of the other Lyulf, but his flank was smoking.
Just keep running, Mason. I scrambled away from my own attacker. Hang on!
Darting, changing direction, doing everything I could to stay out of reach. My only choice was to run. Fighting wasn’t an option. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a blur of motion. A golden brown wolf sped across the room, reaching the dais where Cian hovered. He shifted forms, throwing himself at her outstretched arms. A flare of heat brushed across my heels and I leapt into the air. And froze.
The room went black. I was suspended in the air, hanging in empty space. No light. No sound. I could still breathe, but I didn’t want to. All our hopes were held in this moment.
Then I was falling. I hit the ground hard, my body slamming into rock.
The Lyulf was still behind me. It shook its muzzle, smoke boiling out of its nostrils. When its eyes focused on me, it snarled and lunged. I rolled onto my back, smelling burnt fur again but managing to avoid its attack.
Shay was shouting. “Adne, open the door!”
In the far corner of the room I saw twinkling lights as Adne began to weave. The Lyulf saw it too. Turning away from me, the fire wolf howled, drawing the attention of the wolf chasing Mason. The other wolf gave its own howl and the two burning beasts plunged in Adne’s direction.
We have to stop them, I called to Mason. Even as we chased the Lyulf, I searched the cavern for any sign of Ren. When my eyes found him, my hackles rose. He was limping, holding one paw up as he tried to dodge the fire wolf’s attack. But it was closing in on him, backing him up against a steaming fissure in the rock.
I didn’t know what to do. The other two Lyulf were racing toward Adne. I couldn’t block their attack and help Ren.
Calla? Mason saw the fire wolf stalking Ren too.
Before I could reply, I heard Connor shout, “Calla! Get your ass over here!”
Ahead I saw Connor holding his swords low, his expression bleak as the wolves approached. My heart felt like it was being torn in two. I knew what I had to do.
Ren stands a better chance against the Lyulf than Connor. I sent a shaky thought to Mason. Adne is our only way out of here.
I know, Mason answered, putting on another burst of speed.
Keep moving, Ren, I called to him, not daring to look in his direction again. We’ll be there as soon as we can.
Just keep her safe. His answering thought came almost immediately. Don’t worry about me.
Shut up, I snarled. And stay alive.
We’d almost caught the wolves. I threw all my strength into the leap as I hurled myself over the flaming bodies, landing in front of them and skidding to a stop in front of Connor. I wheeled around, snarling. My appearance startled the Lyulf, which gnashed its white-hot fangs. I dashed forward, teasing it by putting myself nearly within its reach and then sliding just out of range of its teeth. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Mason mimicking my actions.
It seemed to be working. Fury at their inability to reach us drew the wolves’ attention off Adne and Connor.
Let’s try drawing them toward Ren.
I was about to make a dash for the alpha, but when I turned, I was shocked to see Ren barreling straight for us. I could see the pain in each movement as he hit the ground with his injured paw. The Lyulf was right behind him and it was faster now that Ren was hurt.
I barked a warning as the fire wolf leapt, but there was nothing I could do. The flaming creature rose into the air, about to come down on Ren’s back.
Roll! I shouted a warning, hoping Ren would hear me in time. Roll to the side!
Ren threw his body away from the descending wolf. But in the same moment another wolf took Ren’s place beneath the attacking Lyulf. And then it wasn’t another wolf but instead it was Shay, a sword in each hand.
The twin swords sliced through the wolf. It screamed, belching smoke. And then there was nothing but ash falling like gentle snow on Shay’s shoulders. He whirled, meeting my eyes as I bounded past him. Shay wielded the blades so swiftly I could barely follow their movement. A second scream signaled the demise of my own Lyulf attacker.
Connor whooped. “Scion!”
The celebratory cry was a terrible mistake. The Lyulf that had been focused on Mason spun around, its burning-pitch eyes narrowing as it stalked toward the Searcher. Mason howled, trying to draw its attack, but the Lyulf ignored him.
Connor lifted his swords as the fire wolf leapt. “Adne, stay back!”
I was running, all too aware I couldn’t get there in time. Shay was at my side, in his wolf form, his toenails clattering on the rocky floor as we ran.
Adne’s scream cut through the chamber. “No!” And then she was there, shoving Connor aside.
Her sudden appearance startled the wolf, throwing its attack slightly off. She threw her arm up and the Lyulf’s jaws locked around her biceps. She shrieked as it took her to the ground.
Connor rolled to his feet. “Adne!”
He threw himself at the wolf, but I reached him first, knocking him aside. Shay shifted, running the Lyulf through even as it stood above Adne. The wolf shuddered and crumbled, blanketing Adne in ash.
“Get off me!” Connor shoved me away from him, struggling to his feet. He rushed to Adne’s side.
“Connor.” Shay was kneeling beside her. “Just wait.”
“Let
me see her!” He knocked Shay over, cradling Adne against him. Her eyes were glassy and she wasn’t moving.
Connor began to sob. I shifted into human form, crouching beside him. My breath caught when I saw what he was staring at. Adne’s arm from fingertips to shoulder was unrecognizable. Her skin was charred to black, and I glimpsed the white of bone where the wolf’s jaws had torn through her flesh. Her shirt had been partially burned away, revealing blistering red on her neck and chest.
Ren limped up beside us, whining. He shifted forms, kneeling behind her head.
“Is she breathing?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” Connor choked. “I can’t tell.”
“Let me have her,” Ren said.
Mason pulled Connor back and Ren stretched out beside his sister, laying his head on her sternum. After a moment he blew out a long breath.
“It’s faint, but it’s there,” Ren said. “I need to give her blood.”
“She’s in shock,” Shay said. “I don’t know if she’ll be able to swallow.”
“All we can do is give it a shot.”
When Ren bit his arm, I saw that his own hand was badly burned, the skin broken and blistering.
“Lift her head,” he instructed Shay. When Shay had her chin tilted up, her head resting in his hands, Ren carefully opened her mouth, letting blood slowly drip in. It began to fill her mouth, red liquid trickling down her chin.
“Come on, Adne,” I murmured. “You’re a fighter.”
“Please.” Connor twisted out of Mason’s grasp, dropping on his knees beside her. “Please come back to me.”
Her throat began to move. She swallowed.
“More,” I said. Ren pressed his arm to her mouth. She swallowed again. And again. Her other arm came up, fingers curling around Ren’s wrist as she drank. Slowly, her body began to remake itself. The redness and blisters faded from her chest and neck. New flesh flowed over her arm, the charred remnants of her muscles falling away as Ren’s blood healed her. After another minute, all signs of the Lyulf’s attack were gone. She sat up, wiping her mouth.