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Are we doomed?

If my mother couldn’t beat him, how am I supposed to? Or is there something else I need to do to defeat my father? Again: I don’t know. It’s doing my head in just thinking about it. So I’m not going to. Not tonight.

It’s been a long, long day. Time for bed.

I glance down at the sand. Averyuncomfortable bed.

But I don’t think it will stop me from sleeping tonight. I get up and toss more wood on the fire. Sparks rise into the sky. For a moment, I worry that I’m sending out a beacon to whoever might be out there. Searching. Watching.

But weneedthe fire tonight.

We need its comforting glow.

“Okay, I’m for bed,” I say.

Zayne snorts. “Did you pack one?”

I respond by plonking myself back down on the sand. I wriggle a little to make an indentation, then grab the backpack before he does, so I can use it for a pillow.

Across from me, Zayne is already lying down, with Josh curled against his chest. Winter lies on her side next to them, facing the fire, her eyes open. Fury stretches out beside me, his warm body pressed against my right side.

I thread my fingers through his fur, then look into his face and see his crimson eyes staring back.

Will he ever come back to me?

And suddenly, I’m hit by a wave ofneedso strong that a shudder runs through me. My fingers tighten in his fur. I close my eyes, and a flashback hits me. Khaosti—making love to me in the clearing by the still water, the moon shining down on us. The feel of him—on me,inme—becoming one with me.

It had been the most traumatic andamazingevent of my entire life. It hadchangedme. I hadn’t wanted to leave him. But Idid.

Just one more thing for him to hold against me.

Iforcethe memories away.

I need to sleep. We have a long way to go in the morning.

The warmth from the fire feels good. Fury’s presence calms me, and I find myself falling into a deep sleep.

I’m not surewhatwakes me in the night. Butsomethingdoes.

I feel a sudden sense ofloss.My hand is no longer in Fury’s fur. Has he gone? I sit bolt upright. The fire has burned down to glowing embers.

Everyone is asleep—except me and presumably Fury. Where is he? I feel a movement beside me, and I turn. He’s lying on his side, black fur heaving, eyes closed, skin twitching.

What’s happening?

This does not looknormalin any way. I shuffle forward, not wanting to wake the others. I reach out a hand and touch him. The wolf goes instantly still. His eyesflashopen.

And then—herolls away,his back arching.

A shiver of magic ripples through the air, and I have a sudden premonition of what’s coming. But itdoesn’tfeel right. And it lookspainful.

Shifting has always been a smooth transition for him—man to beast, beast to man. Butthislooks like pain in everyatomof his body. He’s panting, heaving. And then—

All of a sudden, the wolf isgone.

And Khaosti isback.

He lies still for a moment, and I pull my hand away.