Page 57 of Call of the Ride

Well done, you bewitched dicks.

“I’ll walk you out?” Marena looped an arm around my back. I marveled at how at ease I was with being touched, knowing I would have flinched only a few short months ago. But Rena naturally had that effect on others, and I was thankful she’d given me a chance, even after I was such a “prickly pear.”

I also knew there was more to my reaction. Since the day Vasi had turned back time to stop The Devouring, I’d been regularly training with Luperca and her wolf warriors. I attributed this routine to helping me not only regain confidence but making me feel like a pretty bad bitch. Like all shifters, I’d been given basic fighting instruction for if we were ever attacked, but it felt good to know I could cause some serious damage now if I wanted to.

And the way Kazimir looks at me during drills doesn’t hurt.

Again, I shook my head, banishing thoughts ofanotheroff-limits man from my head. I needed to stay focused. There were still imprisoned shifters out there to be rescued, and if I couldn’t change what had been done tome,then at least I could help ensure my experience didn’t happen to anyone else.

I suddenly realized Marena was expectantly staring at me as we stood in the moonlight of Vasi’s clearing. Desperate to redirect her from my vulnerable thoughts, I blurted out, “What are your plans, Rena? Now that all the excitement is over with.”

She blinked in surprise. “Well, I suppose I’ll continue assisting mother with bringing balance back to the earth, and with helping Vel torture Koschei.” Her gaze darkened, and I had to remind myself that, despite her cheerful demeanor, this was a powerful goddess before me. “Oh, and I’ll continue to try my best to keep Jarilo away from you while you train—also not an easy feat!”

I sighed heavily, preparing to shift for the flight home. “Ugh. Your twin really doesn’t know how to take a hint, does he?”

Marena shot me a knowing look. “I believe we all struggle with accepting our fate now and then, hmm?” Registering my narrowing eyes, she quickly added, “But I promise, I’ll continue cockblocking him as much as humanly...godly possible.”

I gave the goddess a long hug before she wandered off into the forest, toward the nearest sacred grove. Reaching into my pocket, I brushed my fingers against the envelope Cassandra Moonstone had given me, still unopened despite the familiar seal on the stationery.

Although the autumn chill was creeping into my bones, I paused long enough for my gaze to lift to the moon above. There was still so much I didn’t know about the future, or my own past, but realizing that so many fellow seekers had gazed up at this same moon strengthened me somehow. Life had been a wild ride so far, unpredictable at times, but I trusted everything meant to be would find its way to me, eventually.

That is, unless I reach out and grab it first.

Smiling at the joyous laughter of Vasi and her Riders pouring out of the hut’s open window behind me, I stretched my wings and took off into the night—toward my own destiny.

The End...for now.