Howl And Growl Complete Collection

by Cloe Cullen

  Bronwen twitched in her seat, but remained silent, waiting to see how much more Silvan would be willing to say.

  “Orpheus may have had the right idea,” he continued. “Making the Clans our servants is preferable, but Orpheus was hot-headed, even more so that Cadogan. He screwed up, made it more difficult for us to eventually let our influence wash over the Oldwood.” Picking up his glass once again, he smiled, draining the rest of his wine. “I never should have sent you to serve under Orpheus. You never should have met Remus, it’s made you too soft.”

  Bronwen trembled in her seat, her expression twisting as she gawked at her adoptive father. For the second time in her life, she wanted to throw something at him, destroy something valuable of his. Often, she could deal with Silvan’s unapologetic way of voicing his opinion, but speaking about Remus like he was nothing but a virus, plaguing her life? Now that was unacceptable.

  Lord Silvan caught the fumes rising in her heated cheeks, so he quickly tried to fix his mistake. “All I want is for the quality of your life to not go down the drain, dear.”

  A sudden surge of red-hot wrath erupted in Bronwen’s mind, forcing her to her feet and leveling the most dangerous look she could throw at Silvan. “Do not utter another word about him, or the others for that matter. I have not grown soft on anything, Silvan, and you will not insult me like that ever again. Do you understand me?”

  Silvan blinked, his own brows creasing slightly. “I only meant -”

  “You meant to suggest that Orpheus’ madness was actually anything but, right? You said so yourself.” Bronwen shook, her fists clenching as she mimicked Remus and growled Silvan’s way. “You were in agreement about negotiating with the Clans, so hold up your end of the bargain. I won’t be humiliated because of your sudden loss of dignity.”

  That shut Silvan up instantly, his thin lips unwilling to part as Bronwen exhaled heavily. While she calmed herself down, Silvan looked into his wine glass, and when she sat back down he spoke. “I apologize, Bronwen. I didn’t realize Remus and the others meant so much to you. Clearly, I’ve been wrong about a few things.”

  Bronwen snorted. “Clearly.”

  After another few minutes of silence between the two Lords, the door to Silvan’s bedchamber slammed open, shattering the tension between Bronwen and Silvan. Glancing behind her, she spotted Remus rushing in, Keanu and Magnolia awaiting just outside the door. Keanu panted hard, while Magnolia patted him on the shoulder.

  “We’ve got a problem,” Remus said quickly, marching up to Bronwen. Rising from her seat, she rounded the chair and met him in the middle. “Keanu says Finn is missing. Lenna and the others are searching for him as we speak, but those Changelings that have been hanging around the manor are still there, and now they’re more hostile than ever.”

  Swinging her gaze back around to Silvan, who now openly frowned at the sudden barging in, Bronwen shook her head. “This meeting’s over for now, Silvan. We can speak at length again later, after I find my subordinate. Don’t do anything rash in the meantime.”

  Silvan smiled at her. “Since when do I ever do anything rash?”

  Ignoring his final words, Bronwen fled with Remus out of Silvan’s bedchamber, striding up to Keanu and Magnolia. “What are you both doing here?” Bronwen asked, curiously glancing at Magnolia. “Just one of you would have been enough to report to me.”

  Magnolia shrugged. “Silvan’s guards wouldn't have let Keanu in on his own, so I came with.”

  “So, what exactly happened?” Bronwen asked, eyeing Keanu.

  Still heaving, Keanu looked at Bronwen. “I don’t know exactly. Finn went off with Lenna somewhere...they’ve grown close, so I didn’t think about it. Next thing I knew, Lenna came back shouting that Finn had disappeared in the woods behind the manor. Which is extremely strange.”

  “Then let’s go talk to Lenna,” Remus said, earning a nod from Bronwen.

  “Let’s, where is she now?” Bronwen asked.

  “Still searching around the manor with Nyx and Lowell,” Keanu replied.

  “Alright, lead the way then!”

  As Bronwen took off with the others, racing away from Silvan’s bedchamber, she glanced back to catch one final angry look from Silvan, his face contorted in a way that seemed at odds with his personality.

  Chapter Fifteen: Remus

  Remus had a feeling something like this would happen sooner or later. With Lord Cadogan openly disagreeing with the treaties and threatening Bronwen herself, it was practically inevitable for something to come to a head, whether that something was a full-on attack with his hundreds of Changelings, or picking them off one at a time.

  His first indication had come a week ago when Lord Cadogan’s Changelings were spotted by Nyx and Lowell arcing in a wide perimeter around the manor. Remus had watched with the others while the snarling, black-furred wolves and cats, and even a few bears, stomped the ground, howling and roaring and trying to intimidate them all. He, Lowell and Keanu had shifted into their animal forms to drive the Changelings off, which had worked, but the next night a group double the size of the original showed up. Each night more and more came, trotting around the manor, hissing, and snarling and even fighting amongst themselves at times, but they always stayed at a distance.

  Remus had never thought of Finn as a true fighter. He was much too charismatic and thin to really pose much of a threat, and yet the young shifter hadn’t shown so much as an ounce of fear at the increasing number of Changelings appearing in the dark of night.

  Fool! Remus wanted to scream at Finn, though now he wasn’t sure he’d get the chance to scold the bear shifter anytime soon.

  The trek from Lord Silvan’s manor to Bronwen’s was just over a few hours, enough time for the group to sprint in their animal forms and arrive before sunset. As the group approached Bronwen’s manor, Remus noticed the Changelings still ringing the manor, howling and yapping as they hurriedly scrambled out of the way at one of Remus’ growls. Once past the Changelings, the beasts closed the hole they’d made, intent on trying to keep Remus and others boxed in. Whoever had commanded the Changelings to appear at their manor wasn’t too keen on slaughtering them all just yet, and if the Changelings were really all Lord Cadogan’s then why would he wait?

  Remus shook his head as he came to a sliding stop in front of the manor, Bronwen panting at his side, and Keanu and Magnolia showing up moments later. Quickly shifting back to their human forms, Remus and Keanu were thrown their clothes by Bronwen and Magnolia, quickly pulling on their pants as Lenna ran over to them.

  The girl was beyond hysterical, her eyes wide in fright and her cheeks stained wet from recent tears. A gash on her left arm told Remus she’d gotten into some sort of fight, and her lack of clothes, save for a simple sleeveless gown thrown over her body, saved her from going naked in front of them. Nyx and Lowell approached as well, though more slowly, Nyx holding some sort of cloth in her hands.

  “Wait!” Nyx called. “Stop running so fast, or your wound will open wider.”

  But Lenna didn’t seem to care as she wobbled to a stop before them, Bronwen catching her in her arms. “What’s wrong? Keanu told us about Finn…” Bronwen said.

  “He’s gone!” Lenna said, her voice rising and falling. “W-we were attacked in that mess of a forest behind the manor. We were just exploring, walking around, and the next moment Changelings surrounded us, leaping at us. We both shifted and fought for our lives. I was so caught off guard that I didn’t have time to look for Finn as I ran. The Changelings stopped following me after a while, and then I calmed down enough to go back to look for Finn...but...all I found was blood, and no Finn...and…” By now Lenna was crying her heart out, letting her warm tears flow freely down her cheeks. Bronwen pulled Lenna to her chest, allowing her respite from the many eyes watching her.

  Remus’ stomach churned, realizing how close she and Finn had become. He couldn’t imagine what he’d do if Bronwen suddenly vanished in an attack; he might very well go wild, trying t
o uproot every single rock while looking for her. Watching Lenna struggle with that, he found himself speechless.

  Cautiously, Nyx crept forward, nodding to Bronwen as Lenna’s arm was held out for Nyx to wrap it up. “We’ll find Finn, okay?” Nyx said softly. “He’s probably just hiding right now.”

  “But we looked!” she shouted. “We looked, and he’s nowhere to be found. What if he’s...dead?”

  “He isn’t,” Remus said quickly. “If Changelings go in for the kill, they rip apart their foes, so if Finn was killed…”

  Bronwen held up a hand, stopping Remus from finishing his sentiment. It was clear on everyone’s faces that they realized what he had been getting at. It wasn’t easy to say, and not easy to accept, but it occurred to Remus that if Finn’s remains hadn’t been found, he was most likely kidnapped.

  “Why did you go so far out?” Bronwen asked Lenna.

  Lenna shook her head, as if she couldn’t believe what she was about to say herself. “Finn wanted to explore...he couldn’t stand being cooped up in the manor all the time, said that the Changelings clearly weren’t that much of a threat at the moment. We were just going to go a little way...find a place for ourselves…” Her voice cut out, and she managed to wipe at her tears, swiping at her red eyes and nose. “We weren’t planning on going that far out, and we never did. That’s why the Changelings were so shocking to me. They appeared so close to the manor, as if they were waiting to ambush us.”

  Remus and Bronwen exchanged looks, trying to piece together what had happened. Turning, Bronwen gazed hard at the others. “What about the rest of you? Did you see or hear anything strange?”

  “No,” Lowell said. “Nyx and I were...well, enjoying each other’s company when we heard Lenna come shouting. Nyx’s cheeks inflamed as she threw him a deadly look, though Lowell ignored her. “We came down, saw Keanu and Magnolia run off, and we came to comfort Lenna. She insisted we go looking for Finn, so we did, and we found that blood trail she mentioned. It leads off into the woods and then abruptly ends.” Crossing his arms, Lowell shifted his weight. “It was beyond freaky. No Changelings ever take a dead body with them.”

  Lenna inhaled sharply again, and Nyx slapped Lowell on the shoulder, causing him to flinch.

  “So, it’s a kidnapping,” Magnolia offered. “I think we can be sure of that then. Changelings are mindless on their own, but at another’s command they can be silent thieves and assassins.”

  “But who's command?” Nyx asked, peering out at the Changelings resting a few hundred yards away. “I’ve heard that Changelings under different masters can be extremely hostile to each other, but clearly these are all comfortable each other. So we’re looking at one Lord, aren’t we?”

  Remus crossed his arms, tapping his fingers along his arm like Bronwen often did. “Well, who’s been the most opposed to us? The answer should be obvious.”

  “Lord Cadogan,” Bronwen hissed. She rubbed her forehead, gazing wickedly into the glowing red sky of the sunset. Remus could see a plan forming in her dilating red eyes, something that only Bronwen would think to do. As their Lord, everyone looked to her, waiting for her to speak. “Alright, fine. If he wants to play this little game of his, then we’ll play. Finn will be back in our arms soon, okay everyone?” The whole dire mood swirling the group suddenly disappeared, with more than one muttering agreement. Bronwen turned to Nyx and Lowell first. “You two. Neither of you are strangers to fighting. I want you both to search the forest once again. Find that blood trail, trying finding Finn’s scent, anything that could help us.”

  Nodding, the two shifters turned and took off.

  “Keanu, Magnolia, and Lenna, I want you three to look inside the manor. It’s possible that Finn could have slipped away and found shelter inside without anyone realizing. If you don’t find anything inside, come back out and guard the perimeter. Make sure no other Changelings approach. If they do, hole up inside. Understood?” Bronwen said, eyeing the three.

  Each agreed one by one, with Magnolia and Keanu dropping in on either side of Lenna as they trotted away.

  Remus watched Lenna silently, hoping she’d pull out some hidden courage somewhere. Turning to Bronwen, he spoke, “What about us? Where do you want us to search?”

  “At the heart of this whole problem,” Bronwen growled, turning to walk the way they’d come. “I think it’s finally time to confront our dear Lord Cadogan about his actions.”

  “We’re going to his manor.” Remus breathed, imagining what Lord Cadogan’s home would be like. “You think he really was the one behind it all?”

  “Has to be,” she said easily. “Besides, if Finn really was kidnapped, where else would the Changelings take him than to their Lord’s manor? If we’re quick, we might just catch Cadogan with Finn before he can do anything else to him.”

  “Like turn him into a Changeling?” Remus said sourly.

  Bronwen winced, her expression twisting at the suggestion. “Get ready, Remus, because I don’t know what we’re about to walk into. Just make sure you’re ready for the fight of your life if things go really south.”

  Grunting, Remus made to follow Bronwen as they walked away from her manor. It finally happened, Remus thought, I knew blood would be spilled, but I didn’t think it would be this quickly. Right as he was beginning to think the Blackwood could have been a blessing in disguise, reality was there to remind him; the Blackwood was no sanctuary or haven, it was a nightmare.

  Chapter Sixteen: Bronwen

  Lord Cadogan’s manor was by far the most frustrating to find in the Blackwood. Bronwen had never visited it before, only knowing of its general location thanks to the old man flapping his grizzled lips during Vampire Lord meetings.

  The rest of the rumors she’d heard about Cadogan’s manor came from Lord Silvan. Deep in the southern part of the Blackwood, where the desolation of the fifty years past had turned the very earth into soot and grime, Lord Cadogan’s enormous manor stood in one of the few remaining standing forests. The forest, according to Lord Silvan, could only be recognized as such because most of its blackened trees still stood tall, rather than being cut or toppled over like the rest of the Blackwood had been. The forest was apparently surrounded on all sides by three hills, each cracked and rent up from the ground. Much like Gray Creek, a strange, dark mist supposedly clouded the area, as if some poisonous gas had risen from the gaps in the earth.

  As they neared the hills, Bronwen could see that the rumors had been right. Rarely was anyone invited into Cadogan’s manor, so a few doubts had entered her mind, but once Remus began to cough uncontrollably, there was no doubt in her mind they were in the right area.

  “What is this mist?” Remus said through his sharp coughs. “It’s scratching my throat…”

  Bronwen inhaled to get a taste of the air, the heavy soot and ash blanketing her tongue. She remained unaffected by the mist, despite taking in so much of it, while Remus fell into a fit of obnoxious coughing.

  “It must be one of Cadogan’s powers. It’s leaking out, covering the land like the smoke trailing a fire,” she said, answering Remus.

  Growling, Remus gazed around, covering his mouth and nose with his arm as they climbed the first hill. The mist thinned at the top, allowing Remus to breathe better. From this vantage point, Bronwen was able to see the forest spread out before them, and Lord Cadogan’s unbelievably massive manor sprouting from the middle. She guessed from a glance the manor was at least six stories, it’s multiple layers jagged and angled, as if each were a slab of brick slapped on top of the others. A hundred differently sized windows covered the walls facing them, and lanky shadows moved past each and every one. There were many Vampires in Lord Cadogan’s care, so Bronwen wasn’t entirely surprised to see even more shapes dot the forest, moving and speaking in groups.

  No Changelings caught her eye, which gave her all the more reason to believe the Changelings surrounding her own manor were under Cadogan’s command.

  “Talk about making a statement
,” Remus said as they descended the hill and into the main forest. “How many Vampires are we going to have to fight through?”

  “We’re not fighting, not yet,” Bronwen said as she glided forward, knitting her brows together. “First we need to make sure Finn is here. Lord Cadogan is powerful, and with power comes the ability to be brash. If he has Finn, then it could be simply bait to lure me into his den. He might be planning on killing us. And if that’s the case, he won’t hide the fact that Finn is in his care.”

  Remus snorted. “Yeah, care isn’t the right word I’d use.”

  Bronwen grimaced once again, trying to keep away thoughts of the abuse Cadogan could very well be putting Finn through at the moment. She was sure he was here, and it was just a matter of time until she found him. For Lenna, for everyone. Finn was her responsibility now, and she had to take care of her own. If Lord Cadogan truly wanted a fight, then he’d get one.

  The first group of Vampires they approached hissed at them, and then upon realizing who Bronwen was, they backed down, stepping aside as she marched forward, Remus right behind her. He growled at every Vampire that eyed them, every hair on his body standing on edge. Even Bronwen trembled slightly under the pressure of so many red eyes.

  Reaching the front gate of Cadogan’s manor, Bronwen and Remus were greeted by four guards, each wielding a short sword. One Vampire strode forward, stopping Bronwen in her tracks.

  “Lord Cadogan is very busy at the moment, and doesn’t have time for any visitors,” the Vampire said. Behind him, two of the other guards exchanged glances, while the third swallowed hard. “I’m sorry, Lady Bronwen, but he’s to be undisturbed for today.”

  Stepping closer, Bronwen leveled a glare at the guard, surprised to find him resolute in his stance towards her. The other three guards tensed, their hands shaking as their fingers closed around the hilts of their blades. She found Remus’ gaze lingering on the weapons, guessing this was the first time he’d seen a sword before.