Most of the humans in the square had run for safety. But Mike reached for a nearby chair and smashed it against his thigh to break off one of the legs. He held it up, and I saw what he’d done—he’d created a weapon. A stake of sorts. It was brilliant.
Following his lead, I grabbed the destroyed chair and broke off another leg to make one for myself. I didn’t know what I was doing—I didn’t know how to fight. All I knew was how to run and how to climb. But I wasn’t leaving Mike here to fight that wolf alone. And if I died in this fight, then at least I’d have died trying to save the village from this monstrous creature.
The wolf was ahead—so involved in its meal that it didn’t look at anyone else, and I stared at the weapon in my hand, not knowing what to do with it.
“Get everyone nearby to safety.” Mike held the chair leg out in front of him—the pointy end facing out. “I’ll deal with the wolf.”
I was about to say no—that I wanted to help him fight—but then I noticed a girl standing behind the wolf. Her fingers were in her mouth as she stared at the wolf and cried. She must have been five years old, at the most. She needed to get out of there before the wolf spotted her and decided to make her its next course in its human feast.
I nodded at Mike and ran toward to the girl’s side, taking her hand in mine. “Come with me,” I told her, and I looked around, surveying what was left of the crowd. Most everyone had gotten out of the square by now.
She nodded, and not trusting her to run as fast as I could, I dropped my bag to the ground and pulled her onto my back.
“Hold on,” I told her. “Don’t let go.”
Once she was secured, I darted across the square. I jumped over abandoned delivery carts, landing smoothly and perfectly, not breaking my stride. When we reached the alley, I placed the girl down and glanced over my shoulder to see what was happening with the wolf.
Mike ran toward the wolf, ramming the pointy end into the creature’s back.
But it wasn’t enough to kill the wolf—it turned around, snarled at Mike, and charged at him.
“Run,” I told the girl, taking her hands in mine and pushing her toward the alley. “Run to the Tavern, and tell them Annika sent you.”
She turned around and sprinted into the darkness. Once sure she was safe, I hurried back to the square.
The wolf was now facing Mike, and the two of them circled around each other, like predator and prey. They were the only ones who remained in the area—minus the two corpses bleeding out on the ground.
Blood coated the fur around the wolf’s mouth, and it licked its lips, as if hungry for more human flesh. Then it bolted forward, and I grabbed the chair leg again, ready to provide backup even though I had no idea what I was doing.
But before I could get halfway there, Mike rammed the wood into the wolf’s chest and straight into its heart.
Annika
The animal’s eyes dimmed, it let out a long breath, and collapsed to the ground.
I stared at the dead animal, to Mike, and then at the two dead women lying in puddles of their own blood. How had this happened? From what I’d learned about the wolves in my year of living here, they had made a pact with the vampires centuries ago. As long as the vampires didn’t try to take any more of the wolves land, the wolves would respect the boundaries of the Vale.
The wolves never came into the Vale. It was forbidden. After all, us humans “belonged” to the vampires. They needed us for our blood. Wolves were only allowed to attack humans who crossed the boundary.
This wolf coming into the Vale and eating two humans was going to seriously piss the vampires off.
Suddenly, someone started clapping from nearby.
At first, the clapping was faint, but it got louder when the person responsible stepped out of a nearby building and under a streetlight.
She was young—I guessed around my age or maybe a few years older—and tall. Her hair was long, dark brown with a hint of red, her features sharp and serious. Her cheeks had a healthy flush—she was human. But her clothes looked fresh and new. Designer jeans, boots, and a leather jacket that probably cost more than humans in the Vale earned in a year.
“Who are you?” I asked, eying her suspiciously.
“Annika.” Mike said my name under his breath, reaching for my wrist to stop me from saying anything more. “That’s Camelia—advisor to Queen Laila herself.”
“But she’s human,” I pointed out.
“No, dear.” The woman—Camelia—smiled. She reminded me of a snake ready to pounce on its prey. “I’m not a human.”
“Then what are you?” I asked.
“I’m a witch.”
“Oh,” I said, and everything clicked into place. I’d always assumed the witch who upheld the boundary was old—around the age of a grandparent. It had never crossed my mind that she could be a few years older than me.
“It’s good you’re here.” Mike stepped forward, addressing Camelia. “This wolf just came in here and killed these two people. The vampires need to be alerted immediately.”
“I’m well aware of what just happened,” Camelia said slowly. “I watched the entire thing.”
“Oh.” Mike’s brow creased. “Are the vampires on their way?”
“Not quite.” She smiled—as if she had a secret she was about to let us in on. “They will be soon—after all, they’ll need to harvest whatever blood is left from the two humans so it doesn’t go to waste.” She glanced at the corpses in distaste, and my stomach twisted at the realization that of course the vampires would milk as much blood from them as possible. “But first, I have a proposition for you.”
“For us?” My voice hitched. What could a witch want with two blood slaves? And why had no one else returned to the scene of the crime? I glanced around, realizing for the first time since the attack that the square was still empty.
Now that the wolf was dead, wouldn’t other humans want to return and see what had happened?
“I cast a small boundary spell around this square,” Camelia said with a wave of her hand, apparently noticing my confusion. “No one will wander here until we’ve finished our conversation.”
“Okay.” I stood straighter, unable to hide my curiosity. “What’s your proposition?”
She turned to Mike, her eyes hard. “I saw the way you fought off that wolf,” she said. “It was impressive—for a human. Therefore, my proposition is for you, and you alone.”
“Then why am I here?” I asked.
“As a witness.” She barely glanced my way before returning her focus to Mike.
I narrowed my eyes—this was sounding shadier by the second. “If you’re able to create a boundary spell to keep people from entering the square, then how did the wolf get into the Vale?” I asked. “Don’t you have a bigger version of the spell around the Vale to keep them from entering? Or does it not work with such a big area?”
“You’re a witness, not an inquisitor.” She rolled her eyes. “Shut up, and let me speak with your friend.”
“Answer her question,” Mike insisted. “Then I’ll hear you out.”
“Fine.” She huffed, her expression hard. “Yes, I do have a spell over the Vale to keep it hidden and to keep outsiders from entering. The wolves are the only ones who know the location of the Vale. Clearly, they’re working with a witch who was able to break through my shield.”
“But why would they do that?” I asked. “I thought the vampires and the wolves had a pact?”
“I promised to answer your one question, and I did,” Camelia said, and then she turned back to Mike. “Now, for my proposition.”
“Yes?” He lifted his chin, waiting for her to continue.
“I have a job I need to fill in the palace.”
“What kind of job?” he asked.
“I can’t give you the details right now,” she said. “But it’s a job that can only be completed by a strong, brave, young human like yourself. After watching you defeat that rogue wolf, I know that you’re perfect for the task.”
“Interesting.” He spoke slower than usual, as if considering it. “But what’s in it for me?”