I sighed, sighting along the arrow.
Nothing moved among the tree line.
The hair on the back of my neck rose.
A twig snapped behind me and I spun, releasing my fingers from the arrow as the dark form lurched toward me. Impossibly fast, it ducked and rolled into the underbrush.
That wasn’t a wolf.
“Let me at him!” Rumple begged from his harness on my back.
“Shut it,” I hissed. I drew another arrow and sighted along the shaft, searching for any movement from the brush.
There!
I released, and then heard a cry of disdain.
“That was my best cloak, Honor!”
“Percy! Leave before I send you back to the clan in pieces,” I growled, calling him out into the open.
“I would gladly oblige and do the chopping,” Rumple added.
The bushes moved and the man from the Dread Knot Tavern appeared. Although I wouldn’t necessarily call the elf standing before me a man. There was an allure about elves, and Percy was the epitome of elven heritage and looks. His long blond hair shimmered as if it was coated with magic, and he stood tall, his frame muscular and lean. For all I knew, he was part siren for how his presence always made my heart skip a beat. He brushed a leaf out of his hair and his impish green eyes laughed at me.
Percy cocked his head and took notice of the large axe on my back. “Seems you’ve picked up a stray?” He sauntered over to me and ran a finger over the wood handle of the axe. I swatted his hand away.
“What are you doing here?” I snapped.
“Following you, of course.”
“Why?”
“No reason, except that I think you owe me an explanation for abandoning me in my time of need at the Dread Knot. I was truly in dire straits, and you left me,” he accused.
“You didn’t need my help.” I turned and walked down the mountain, still following the wolf trail. “You could escape them with your eyes closed. In fact, I’m sure that was part of your grand plan all along.”
“What was?” he asked innocently, easily keeping up with me with his much longer stride.
“To get caught cheating on cards and dragged into the back office. I bet that’s where the safe was. Judging by the bulge in your cloak that wasn’t there a few nights ago, you came out ahead.”
“Indeed. I could never get one over on you, Honor.”
“It’s because I was the one who usually planned your escapades for you. But not anymore. You’re a scout.”
I slowed and turned to take in his very normal attire of brown pants, black leather boots, green wrap jacket, and a cloak.
“Why aren’t you in uniform?” I asked. “You should be patrolling the Doring route with Einan and Rulah.”
“Honor, I’m done.” Percy’s face was like stone.
“What do you mean, you’re done? That's all you ever talked about. It was your dream to be part of the scouts,” I said.
I could feel my own disappointment building. It was all I’d ever wanted as well. Ever since I was little and Lorn had first taken me to the Northern Woods. The scouts appeared out of thin air, hidden by glamour, their arrows and swords aimed at me.
Lorn explained his mission. Who I was. The adoptive daughter of Lorelai Eville. The scout leader, Einan, leaned down to take a look at me. His white hair reflected the moon. In his vest were throwing knives that looked like stars. I’d immediately thought Einan was the most beautiful person I’d ever seen. The other scouts let us pass before disappearing into the shadows . . . like magic.
I’d since learned that the scouts were “the elite.” They were the finest fighters, the most swift-footed, and the best at hiding in all the elven armies. When they returned home, they were greeted like royalty and given a banquet. If I could have, I would have joined the scouts. But I could never, not because of who I was, but what I was.
“I’ve revoked my vow,” Percy said, breaking my daydream.
“I’m sorry, what?” I choked out the words that didn’t make sense. “Why?”
He made a sour face. Most of the elves of the Northern Woods were like Lorn. They were majestic, calm, and hid their feelings behind stony expressions. Except for Percy. His face was broken, and he didn’t seem to care.
“Does it matter?” he retorted. “I was a scout, and now I’m not.”
It did matter. It mattered to me, but I couldn’t tell him that. I didn’t want him to know the jealousy that was bubbling up inside of me. How I wanted to change places with him. That all the training I did every single night was because I wanted to be where he was. I wanted what he so easily gave up. It made me all the more frustrated.
I pinched my lips together and held back my bitter words. Instead, I spun on my heel, and yelled at myself for missing the wolf tracks that were quickly filling back in with the light snow.
I cursed under my breath and took off running, following the trail down the mountain and toward the small village. My heart plummeted when the tracks changed. Four evenly spread paw prints slowly became two as they shifted from wolf to human.
I hated being right.
CHAPTER TWO
“Werewolf,” Percy said in surprise.
“I feared as much,” I said. “It’s getting bolder. We have to stop it before it kills again.”
He leaned forward, sniffed the tracks, and glanced down the mountain toward a small village. His keen elven eyes saw far more than my mere human vision could. The layout of the village, the main roads in and out, the most sheltered route into town. His training kicked in.
Percy stood, his body rigid as he took in the seriousness of the situation. As much as he’d become a lazy thief or joker, he was still one of the best scouts in the kingdoms.
“Let’s not waste time.” Percy took off running, and I sprinted after him. He could always outrun me, but it didn’t mean that I wouldn’t try to beat him every single time. This was my hunt. My kill. I would not let him outdo me.
My lungs burned, but I continued to run. When we came to the outskirts of the village, Percy went left. He beckoned for me to follow, but I intuitively knew to go right. Lorn had always told me to trust my instincts. They wouldn’t fail me.
It was still daylight. The town was buzzing with activity as people went about their daily business. The fresh snow brought a brightness to the town. Children threw snowballs at the wooden placards outside of the shops. An old woman had a stall where she was selling roasted nuts. This nameless village, accustomed to the harsh winters, even had a covered outdoor market where one could walk the rows freely under a manmade canopy tent, safe and warm. Every twenty feet were manned coal burners.
I walked down the aisle of the covered market, my eyes and ears searching for any clues; a hint of the beast. I paused by a burner to get warm while I waited, observing and gauging the people coming and going. Did anyone look out of place? Were they lingering too long? Paying too much attention to a person or item? What were their tells?
My heart thudded in my chest, and I calmed my breathing, focusing my attention outward. When I walked to the end of the row, I was frustrated that I didn’t get anything. Not a sign of him.
“Relax, it’s daylight,” Rumple spoke up. “It won’t strike until night falls.”