Davina (Davy Harwood #3)

As they ran forward, weaving around trees and giving every wolf ahead of them a wide berth, Roane glanced down. The army had changed their positioning. The Mother Wolf was in the middle of her men, along with Romah guards behind her.

They were nearing his army. They wouldn’t risk leaving their leader in the back. It was too vulnerable of a position. She was more guarded this way and for a brief second, Roane knew he could fly down and rip her heart out, as he had one of her brethren just now. It would be a suicide killing, but for the briefest of moments, he considered it. It would be a harsh blow to this army, one that could assist in their victory, but Bastion reached back and grabbed Roane. He pulled him forward with him, and as he did, the moment was gone.

Roane knew he’d have to find an opening later. He couldn’t regret that moment.





Roane and Bastion were nearing their camp. Roane could sense his own men and knowing it was safer, they began killing the wolves and any Romah guards they came upon as they made their way out of enemy territory, closing the gap into their own. They still needed to cover twenty miles, but once they came upon the last of the Romah scouts, and let their bodies fall to the ground behind them, they slowed their pace. They still kept to a brisk speed, but this was their resting time. Once they hit their encampment, he knew their army would have to pick up its own speed to stay ahead of their enemy.

They cleared a tree line, and he sensed an attack from behind. Roane twisted around, his sword drawn before he realized the body hurdling at him was a Christane wolf.

“Halt!” a voice cried out in a commanding tone.

The wolf couldn’t, but Roane tucked his sword down and ducked, evading the wolf’s attack. It hit the ground where he had been standing, but rolled once and was immediately on its feet and rounding to attack again.

“Stop.” Roane held a hand out, showing his Hunter hand symbol. “I’m one of yours.”

“It’s the Hunter.” The same voice from before materialized out of a foliage. It was Christian. He lifted his head, sniffing the air, and he frowned at Roane. “You reek.”

“Your rival’s blood.” As he spoke, Roane signaled to Bastion to keep ahead. Once the other vampire took off, with instructions to ready the rest of their men to move forward at a faster rate, Roane fell in step with Christian. The other wolf moved back to its hidden post, ready to attack anyone else that followed them. Roane said, “It camouflaged us the last few miles. I sent Bastion ahead. The group needs to go faster.”

“Roane—”

“They’re moving faster than us. Your Mother Wolf is in the middle of their group. She’s protected by her wolves and Romah vampires. We need to get ahead and get Davy on our side if we’re going to stand a chance. Or—”

“Roane—”

He ignored Christian, continuing to talk as they grew closer to the main camp. “And I couldn’t find Jacith. He’s not traveling with his family, but he’s a sorcerer. I’m sure he’ll be with them at the battle line.”

“Lucas!”

“What?”

He twisted around, a fierce frown on his face. They had just cleared the last opening, leading to where the others had all congregated. Christian wanted to say something, and he stopped to listen, finally, but he felt one of his own coming toward him. He paused, distracted from whatever Christian was saying when he looked. It was one of his that shouldn’t be there. He hadn’t felt her for so long, since she was taken, and as he searched for her, or whoever it was, Christian’s words broke through his concentration the same time he spotted her.

“. . . Wren is here.”

She paused on her path. Vampires had stepped aside to let her pass, but she stopped, and her chest lifted. She took in a breath before she tucked her hands behind her, but he saw how they trembled. The usual defiance wasn’t there. Instead, she was hesitant, and he sensed the guilt through their blood connection.

He asked her in his head, “Why are you fearful of me?”

Her eyes widened at his question and she swallowed, her eyes glancing to the side for a moment. Her head lowered, but then her shoulders rolled back and she lifted her eyes once more. As they found his, they were strong once again. Her normal flare was back, and she replied, “Because I left them behind.”

Roane started for her. The relief at seeing her faded into alarm. She braced herself for him and as he drew abreast, he grabbed her arm and propelled her with him. There were no tents assembled, but Roane didn’t say a word until he pulled her far enough from the group so no wolf could overhear. As soon as they moved out of earshot, he released her and asked in his head so no nearby vampire could eavesdrop on their thoughts as well, “You left them? What do you mean you left them?”

“She’s safe. Davy is safe.”

“You guys got free?”

“Yes.” She didn’t answer for a split second, then, “Davy got us all free. I don’t know how because she didn’t have her magic, but then she did. She carried us twenty miles away.”