“You looking for a meal or a room?” the barman called. He threw a towel over his shoulder and walked to the end of the bar.
I warily approached. A few patrons craned their necks to look at me. I felt all their leering stares, wishing I could evaporate into the air.
“Both, if possible.” I held out the indigo feather to him. “Alice said to give this to you.”
His eyebrows raised as he looked between me and the feather. He rubbed a hand over his bald head and said, “All right then.”
Simple as that. I looked at him, unsure of what to do. Is this how all humans treated each other? They wouldn’t be so kind if they knew I was a Wolf.
“What would you like to eat?” he asked, pocketing the feather.
“Um . . .” What did Vellia always say the taverns served? “Do you have stew?”
The barman chuckled, pointing to the board behind him. “The menu’s up there.”
My cheeks burned as I glanced up at the chalkboard. The tavern in Allesdale only served one thing, and if you didn’t want it, you didn’t eat. I was woefully underprepared for this journey. How was I going to defeat a sorceress when I couldn’t even order food?
“Sorry, it’s been a long day.” I rubbed my forehead.
“If you’ve come all the way from Alice and Logan’s then you must be exhausted,” the barman mused. It was probably a big trek for humans, but my body was stronger and faster, even in this form. Yet I was tired, so I was glad for his empathy in the moment. He turned and grabbed a key off the hook, sliding it across the bar to me. “Go rest. I’ll have them send something up. A pretty thing like you shouldn’t be around these oafs anyways.”
My cheeks burned as I dropped my eyes. It was equal parts compliment and warning.
“Thank you,” I said, picking up the key.
I tried to ignore the looks from the patrons as I hastened toward the stairs. They were probably just curious, but my heart hammered as if each one might discover I was a Wolf. Nero would pay for my location—Sawyn, too, if she knew I existed.
The floorboards creaked as I treaded down the shadowed hall. I peeked at the number 8 on my key and the corresponding numbers on the doors. The key would probably match the door, at least that bit made sense. One puzzle solved, there still seemed to be so many things that people knew how to do that I’d never been taught.
Arriving at the eighth door, a sense of dread made me peek back over my shoulder . . . but no one was there. I entered the small room and turned the lock, checking it twice before stepping toward the bed. My bag landed on the floor with a thunk and I collapsed onto the hard mattress, barely taking in the humble dwelling. Days without sleep made me feel boneless and hollow. The nerves and panic finally ebbed, forced into the back of my weary mind. I needed to rest before I could even begin to process the roiling storm of emotions brewing inside me. Before, falling asleep had always been a choice, but now it was a deep-seated need.
A light rap on the door made me groan. I didn’t want to get back on my feet after hours of trekking, but I forced myself up. Stabbing pains shot through my tired feet. I hobbled to the door and opened it, finding a maid with a tray.
“Your food, ma’am,” she said, holding out the tray without looking me in the eye.
I muttered my thanks, resting the tray on my forearm and relocking the door. Setting the tray of food on the bed, I lay down beside it. The silence pushed in on me and my body demanded rest. I only managed to eat a few bites of bread before sleep claimed me.
I woke up in a pool of drool. Rubbing my hand down my wet cheek, I glanced at the tray of cold food. Moonlight filtered in through the window, the pull of the moon rousing me from my stupor. I had barely shifted on the night of the full moon. My Wolf still owed the Goddess her prayers, and the demand for payment tugged on my soul.
Shifting under the full moon was remittance for our gifts. We had strength and speed, incredible senses and quick healing, but the moon required penance. I moved to the edge of the bed, skirting the tray of abandoned food. I popped a cold roasted potato into my mouth and grimaced. It would have to do. My legs throbbed from the long hike and the blisters on my toes stung against the cool air.
I stumbled toward the windowsill and stared up at the moon. If I shifted, my legs would heal, and I’d be ready for the long journey when the sun rose. I needed fresh air and moonlight more than ever. My Wolf was strong. She’d know what to do.
I pulled up the window and stared down at the ground below. Wildflowers and brambles covered the back of the tavern, spilling into the forest. I leapt from the window into the bushes; the rush making my stomach drop. The sensation made me miss my favorite oak tree in Allesdale. Briar would’ve laughed at me—to miss a tree, of all things.
The rest of the second-floor windows were dark. No one peered out onto the overgrown patch of earth behind the inn where I stood. Rowdy chatter rang out from the front of the building, along with the tunes of a flute and drum. The inn must’ve come alive while I slept. There seemed little to do in this town at night other than drink and gather with friends.
I crept into the tree line, welcoming the darkness. Trekking through the underbrush, I got far enough that the faint lights of the inn faded away, until only the light of the moon guided me.
Sniffing the air, I checked one last time that no one was near. All I smelled was damp earth and pine. I sighed, whipping Alice’s dress over my head and hanging it on a low branch. My undergarments clung to me with dried sweat. I peeled them off, wrinkling my nose. There were more pairs in my pack. I’d wash these in the next town, since they wouldn’t dry in time before I would need to be on the move again. I couldn’t wait for things like laundry, though. Making it through the mountain pass was my highest priority. Once I got into Taigos, I could disappear until I was ready to go after Maez and save my sister.
The evening air swirled around my cool skin as I stepped into a pool of moonlight. The change racked through me the instant the light touched my skin. I groaned as though stretching a sore muscle, feeling the familiar pop and strain as my spine twisted and I dropped to all fours. My groan morphed into a low snarl as my paws hit the earth. Strength and calm radiated through my limbs. I didn’t feel outside the world anymore.
I prowled off into the pine forest, a slow walk at first as I investigated my surroundings, then breaking out into a sprint. I raced up the hillside. The thrill of my pumping muscles and the wind in my fur made all my sorrows feel as distant as the twinkling lights of the village below. I thought about the stale meal on my bed and decided I’d hunt in my Wolf form tonight instead.