by Eve Langlais
“The magic is getting stronger the farther we go,” she remarked. It was as good a line as any to get the ball rolling. Colin scowled. He knew it as well. “Are you worried about what we’ll encounter at the southern border?”
“No.” Colin grabbed a rag from his pack and cleaned the blood from his knife and his hands before sliding the weapon back into his scabbard. “I’m worried about what will happen to you once you break the final marker.”
He turned and started walking. Ellie hurried to catch up, digging the compass from her pocket. She changed course slightly to get them on the right track and Colin shifted without even looking at her, as though he instinctually knew which direction her body had shifted.
“Me? Why?” Worry ate at Ellie’s stomach lining. “I mean, I’ll be free. That’s a good thing, right?”
“Of course it will be.” Colin spoke so low, she had to strain to hear him. “But Ellie, there’s a chance…” He stopped dead in his tracks and turned to face her. “There’s a chance you might die when the curse is broken.” She opened her mouth to speak, but Colin didn’t give her the chance. “That’s why I think we should leave the spell at the southern border intact, just to be safe.”
If Colin’s assumption was correct, it would mean Ellie would never be truly free. Some part of her would always belong to Sarah and her malicious spell. A part of the world would always be blocked from her due to the magic that traveled the southern ley line. Her brow furrowed as she studied Colin and a wave of anger crashed over her.
“That’s why you wanted to start at the eastern border, isn’t it? Because it opened up the way to Stanley. You figured I’d go with you if I didn’t have any other choice in the matter. You tricked me!”
The words left her mouth before she could think better of it. She hadn’t meant to accuse Colin. She wasn’t mad at him or suspicious of him or anything else. She was simply mad at the world. At her lot in life and her own misfortune. And Colin was on the receiving end because he was standing before her, the only other person on the planet—besides a witch who might well be dead—who knew the truth about her life.
“Never mind. Forget I said anything.” She didn’t want to fight. She didn’t want to do anything right now but sit on the ground and cry. But crying never helped anyone do anything, so she kept walking, probably toward her own damned doom.
CHAPTER 16
Forget she said anything? That would be damn near impossible considering she acted as though she’d rather take a chance with death than be confined to the eastern part of the county with him. A butter knife to the gut wouldn’t have hurt as much as her words. Ellie certainly knew how to cut deep, and unlike most of the wounds Colin sustained, supernatural healing wouldn’t help with this one.
“So I should forget that you’d rather be anywhere on the planet than close to me, is that what you’re saying?”
Ellie continued downhill without turning back to acknowledge him. Colin fought the urge to reach out and snatch her by the arm to pull her behind him. Whether she liked it or not, she was his mate. Her cavalier attitude in regards to her own safety after they’d established things would be more dangerous from here on out drove him insane.
“That’s not what I’m saying.” Her arms swung with purpose as she walked. “I told you to forget it.”
“Yeah, well, that’s not going to happen. Especially since you accused me of manipulating you and backing you into a corner.”
Ellie stopped dead in her tracks and turned to face him. The accusation in her gaze was as good as a slap to the face. “Are you going to stand there and tell me that’s not what you did?”
Colin’s jaw welded shut. She made it sound so much worse than it actually was. But he couldn’t deny that he’d planned all of this in a way that he hoped would give him an advantage. “I was trying to protect you.”
“You were trying to control me.”
Colin’s temper spiked. “Don’t forget, I tried to talk to you about this. Several times. And you blew me off. You didn’t want to hear what I had to say. That’s not my fault.”
It was Ellie’s turn to stand in stunned silence. She couldn’t deny she’d put him off. “It still doesn’t change the fact that you knew I’d essentially be trapped.”
Colin raked his fingers through his hair. She absolutely infuriated him. He wished she’d at least try to understand his position. Then again, he hadn’t exactly done a bang-up job of explaining himself, his nature, and their bond to her. “Ellie. I didn’t ask for this any more than you did. But that doesn’t change the fact that there is a bond between us. You don’t understand because you’re not a werewolf. You don’t feel it in the same way I do. The connection isn’t superficial. It’s soul deep. If anything should happen to you, I wouldn’t recover from the blow. The wolf would slowly drive me mad and I’d have to be put down. Once we find our mates, the bond is eternal. Only death can break it.”
Ellie’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean, put down?”
“A werewolf who’s gone mad is a dangerous thing. A werewolf who’s lost his mate is even more dangerous. My alpha would have no choice but to kill me, and believe me, Ellie, it would be a mercy.”
Ellie stared at him for a quiet moment as she digested everything he’d said. “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
“I didn’t want to burden you with that. Not when you’re already dealing with so much. I knew you wanted your freedom, and I knew if I told you everything about our bond you would feel obligated to stay. And as much as I want you to stay, I would never want you by my side out of obligation.” It was a tough admission for him to make. “If you were a werewolf, you’d understand. But I know I can’t make you feel what isn’t there. I should have told you sooner. I should have let you know my fears about breaking the curse before we even left your house. The mistakes are mine and I own them. I tried to control a situation that was out of my control and I’m sorry.”
Ellie reached out and cupped his cheek in the palm of her hand. “Of course I feel something for you. We wouldn’t be here right now if I didn’t. Everything is happening so fast after centuries of slow motion. I shouldn’t have said the things I said. I know you’re just trying to protect me.”
Colin let out a slow breath. Their disagreement might have been smoothed over, but the underlying problems were far from resolved. They needed time to find equal footing. Problem was, time was currently in short supply.
“This is your life, Ellie. And these are your decisions to make. Where do we go from here?”
She worried her bottom lip between her teeth. “I think we should see it through to the end. Find the marker and I’ll decide then what chances I want to take. But these aren’t my decisions alone, Colin. We’re in this together, and so, the decisions have to be made together.”
Together. Colin liked that. “I think we should see it through to the end. But whatever’s guarding the final marker is going to be tough to take down. I think I should shift. The wolf is stronger. Faster. His instincts are better. We’re going to need every advantage we can get.”
“You can do that?” Ellie’s eyes went wide. “I sort of thought it had to be nighttime and the moon had to be full.”
“The transition is more painful outside of the full moon and takes a physical toll,” Colin explained. “But it can be done. I just need a few minutes.”
“You want to do it now?” Ellie’s tone hitched with alarm.
“Yeah. If something jumps us, I won’t have time to shift. It’s better to do it now.”
“Can I still talk to you?”
Colin laughed. “You can talk to me all you want. I just won’t be able to talk back.”
“Oh.” Ellie looked away as though embarrassed. “Right. Of course.”
“My senses will be keener,” Colin said. “It won’t be as hard to locate and follow the ley line, and I’ll likely recognize a potential threat before it manages to show itself.”
“Okay,” Ellie said slowly. “Those
all seem like pluses. What about afterward? After we’ve dealt with those potential threats?”
“I’ll shift back. The process will be a little slower, that’s all.”
“You’re sure it’ll be okay?” Ellie fixed him with a narrowed gaze. “You won’t get hurt?”
“It’s better this way,” Colin assured her. “Promise.”
“Okay.” Ellie let out a slow breath. “I guess it’s time I saw this other side of you.”
Colin gave her a reassuring smile. “Everything’s going to be fine, Ellie.” He shucked his backpack and began to undress. “The transition isn’t exactly pretty and is definitely not something I want you to see right now. I’ll be right back.”
* * *
Ellie waited patiently, despite her curiosity. Her appreciative gaze followed Colin’s naked body as he trotted through the dry grass and disappeared into a tiny dip in the hillside. She’d never considered the logistics of transitioning between human and animal form. Colin wasn’t exactly modest, which led Ellie to believe werewolves often trotted into the woods buck naked. Not that she was complaining. She definitely enjoyed the view.
Minutes passed and Ellie became more anxious. Colin had prepared her for this, told her it would take some time, but it didn’t keep her from worrying. She looped her fingers into the straps of her backpack and had prepared to check on Colin when an enormous dark gray wolf crested the hilltop and came toward her.
Her jaw dropped. No wolf found in nature could compare to the size of the animal that trotted in her direction. He was huge. Bigger than any timber wolf Ellie had ever seen. “Colin?”
The wolf came toward her and Ellie froze in place. Their eyes met, and she knew without a doubt it was him. Those same golden-brown eyes had stared at her before, only now Ellie was face-to-face with the animal that hid beneath Colin’s skin. He sniffed the air around her before extending his neck and running his nose along her torso, across her chest, and into the crook of her neck. Ellie giggled and her hand extended, hovering just above the wolf’s head. Would Colin be insulted if she ran her fingers through the length of his fur?
He answered the question for her as he bucked his head under her palm, urging her to touch him. Ellie went to her knees and combed her fingers through the soft fur, her eyes wide as she took in every breathtaking detail. “Colin,” she said on a breath. “You’re beautiful.”
The wolf let out a chuff of breath as a pleasant rumble echoed in his chest. Apparently, he liked the compliment, and Ellie smiled. “Are you ready to finish what we started?”
The wolf bucked his head once again. Ellie stood and gathered up his clothes, stuffing them into her pack. There was no way she could carry his pack and hers, so she left his propped against the rail fence, knowing no one would mess with it here. She and Colin would come back for it later, after they found the final boundary marker. At least that’s what Ellie hoped.
The wolf was careful to keep a pace Ellie could manage. Downhill wasn’t always easier, especially in areas with this steep a grade and chunks of decomposed granite that rolled out from under her feet as she negotiated the path. The wolf stood at shoulder height to her and offered support when she needed it. He stayed close to her, close enough to touch at all times. Ellie couldn’t help but be amused. She had a feeling the animal had a wicked overprotective streak. Ellie warmed at the thought. She liked that he cared enough to make her safety his priority. Ellie had never really been anyone’s priority before.
The sun moved across the sky, marking the miles that disappeared beneath their feet. Ellie didn’t need a compass or ley lines to lead her to the final boundary. She knew it like the back of her hand. Had spent countless hours there. It was her favorite place in her landlocked prison, and she let out a derisive snort as she thought about all the hours spent there and all the while one of the keys to her prison had been right under her nose.
“We need to cross the highway and hike down to the river.”
The wolf let out a low warning growl. Obviously, he sensed the magic and knew they were close as well. Ellie took a deep breath and held it in her lungs. Colin wasn’t certain breaking the final boundary marker would kill her, but Ellie wasn’t sure if she was prepared to take the chance. Before she’d met Colin, there were days Ellie had yearned for death. For release from the loneliness and isolation that crippled her on a daily basis. But since she had met Colin, a world she didn’t know existed had been opened up to her. Did it really matter that she could never travel farther south than Lowman? And what would a lifetime’s worth of adventures matter if she couldn’t experience them with the one person she wanted by her side?
Without even realizing it, they’d crossed the highway and made it to the river. The South Fork of the Payette might have been cold and barren, but it was the most beautiful stretch of water Ellie had ever seen. Crystal clear, and the most amazing shade of light green. She loved the sound of the water rushing over the rocks. She loved the grace of the swift current. Most of all, she loved the way being close to the water made her feel at peace.
The wolf let out a low, menacing growl, and beneath her palm the fur rose on the back of his neck. Ellie brought her head up whip quick as a flash of tawny fur caught her attention. The cougar stalked them with silent grace, and as she got closer to them Ellie realized she wasn’t a run-of-the-mill mountain cat. Like the other boundary guardians, the cougar had been enhanced by magic. Her eyes glowed red as she bared her teeth and hissed. Much bigger than an average cougar, she nearly matched Colin in size and, Ellie assumed, in strength. The cougar’s razor-sharp claws scraped along the rocks as she approached them and Ellie came to a decision in an instant.
“Let’s go, Colin. I don’t care about the last marker. Leave it.”
Nothing was worth risking his life. Not even Ellie’s own freedom.
The wolf turned to look at her, his eyes narrowed. His low whine couldn’t have conveyed to Ellie what he was thinking any better than if he’d spoken the words aloud.
“I’m positive, Colin. It’s not worth the risk, to either of us.” Ellie meant every word. She knew he could smell the truth of it. She wouldn’t sacrifice either of their lives for something as stupid as a few extra miles. Besides, there were ways to circumvent boundaries. She’d been boxed in before, but no longer. And the world was round, wasn’t it? Maybe Ellie could push Sarah’s final boundary to its limits. But she’d never find out what those limits were if she risked losing her life and Colin’s by smashing the final marker to bits.
Ellie had made her decision, but apparently the cougar hadn’t gotten the memo. The animal continued toward them, hell-bent on protecting the marker. Dammit. Had they come too far? Was there no way out of this? The wolf laid his massive head into her and nudged Ellie out of the way. His low growl sent a shiver of fear down Ellie’s spine. Colin was going to fight, and there wasn’t anything she could do about it.
CHAPTER 17
The wolf was in charge and he wanted to fight. Colin had known this would be a possibility when he’d given his body over to the transition. Whichever of them possessed the physical body controlled the mind and will. Colin could of course make suggestions, as the wolf often did with him, but the animal was under no obligation to listen. The wolf wouldn’t suffer any threat to his mate to live. It didn’t matter what Ellie wanted. It didn’t matter what Colin wanted. The wolf wanted to fight and the animal would have his way.
The cougar wasn’t simply another enchanted animal. Neither did Colin suspect she was a shifter. She was something else entirely, a creature born of magic. And she wouldn’t be easy to kill. His wolf had no such qualms. The animal was an overconfident fool.
The rocky, uneven riverbed made for unstable fighting grounds. The cat was agile and her balance was impeccable. The wolf was fast but not as graceful. The river itself posed another threat. Deep and swift, if he fell in he would have to fight against the current, which would likely exhaust him. The shift had already taken a lot out of him. He couldn’t
afford any more disadvantages.
The wolf was careful to retain his footing as the cat circled them. A strategic move and smart, as it kept them from being maneuvered into a less than advantageous position. The cat lunged and let out a menacing scream. She tried to goad them into an attack, but both Colin and his wolf were smarter than that. They could wait all day and into the night if they had to. They weren’t budging.
The cat lunged again, this time toward Ellie. A threat to Colin and his wolf’s mate wouldn’t be tolerated and the wolf quickly adjusted to throw his body between her and the enormous cougar. A battle of wills no longer, this would be a fight to the death.
The wolf and the cougar went down in a knot of limbs, claws, and snapping jaws. Colin gave himself over to the pull of instinct and let the wolf do what he did best. Adrenaline coursed through their veins and pain no longer registered. The cougar was faster than they’d expected. Stronger than they’d anticipated. Smart and calculating. She showed intelligence beyond base instinct, which bothered Colin more than anything. The fight became less of a one-on-one contest and more about running interference. The cat went after Ellie time and time again and the wolf had no choice but to focus his and Colin’s attention on keeping her safe.
This wasn’t about protecting the marker at all. This was about Ellie.
The cat latched on to his and the wolf’s throat and yanked. Her massive jaws were like a vise as she tossed them in the air to clear the way. They landed at the edge of the cold water, stunned. Colin pushed his awareness to the forefront of the wolf’s mind, urging the animal to get the hell up and get to Ellie before the cat did.
A shot rang out, echoing like thunder off the surrounding mountains. Ellie’s aim was true, and though it stunned the cougar, it wasn’t enough to put the animal down. Enraged, she opened her jaws wide and let out a scream that chilled Colin’s blood. The wolf felt no such fear and didn’t waste a second pushing up from the rocks and charging toward their mate.