Page 24

Chapter twenty

Companion of the Firewolf

Ayla

I steadied on the turtle’s massive shell, bracing against Zayne’s arm to catch my balance. My gaze locked on Ninti’s fur, so dull without her light, for only a second before I glanced away.

We stood toward the front of the shell, Leo’s head not far behind us. The canopy of trees towering over us swayed in the breeze, and a carpet of moss spread before us. Sea breeze mingled with the scent of fresh dirt.

Critters scurried closer to us—birds, squirrels, bunnies, and more. They watched us with uncanny intelligence, their wary gazes all locked upon Ninti’s limp body.

What have I done?

I turned at the sound of splashing behind us. Leo lifted her head, sweeping her vast neck to greet us. It took all my resolve to meet her large beady eye.

“Will Ninti be okay?” I asked, clutching the firewolf’s fur.

Leo didn’t answer—she never did, not to me anyway.

“I’m sorry. We never… I never… She was trying to help me with my magic…” I whispered the final words.

Zayne shifted, Ninti’s body hanging from his arms.

If Leo couldn’t help Ninti, if Ninti was too far gone…

I twisted my ruby ring, guilt knotting my stomach.

If Ninti’s not okay, I don’t know how I’ll live with myself.

“Please help,” I begged, taking a step closer to Leo’s head and forcing myself to hold her monumental gaze. “If there’s anything I can do, tell me.”

The great turtle blinked. Languid, her eyelid took a full second to close and open again.

And I felt… something.

A slow, steady pulse rose up from the shell, vibrating through my body and relaxing me. Magical threads appeared, tugging the firewolf toward the shell. I didn’t understand what this energy was, but I was certain of one thing: Leo would never hurt Ninti.

“Can you set her down?” I asked Zayne.

He nodded, lowering to his knees as he placed the limp firewolf upon Leo’s mossy shell. The turtle nodded slowly, seemingly pleased. The pulse grew in intensity and…

Nothing changed.

Ninti remained still.

I settled beside her, petting from scruff to tail, waiting, hoping.

Beside me, Zayne reached for my free hand and caressed it with his thumb.

In reply, I squeezed his hand, wishing I could hug him, speak to him, but grief welled up in my chest like a wall between us.

At least we had the tether, steady and supportive.

We waited. For too many breaths, too many heartbeats the pulse moved from Leo and into Ninti, achieving… nothing.

I glanced forward and confirmed Leo was still watching. Zayne’s expression remained dour, and only the tether spoke of his growing concern.

The pulsing energy intensified. It felt desperate.

Tears welled up, blurring my vision. Giving in, I wiped them away.

When my sight cleared, I squinted, questioning what I saw. Ninti’s color had shifted from ashen to a dull, dark red. I blinked, afraid I imagined it. Then, all at once, with a great sighing huff, the firewolf exhaled.

Fear became relief.

I patted the shell beneath me. “Thank you, Leo.”

The giant turtle squeezed her eye tight. The pulsing settled to a softer rhythm, and the shell buoyed in the sea as though a great weight had been taken from Leo. Finally, the great turtle straightened her neck, pointing it toward the Umbral Star.

She motioned between us and the boat.

“You want us to… leave?” I asked, my voice catching as I grabbed a fistful of Ninti’s ruddy fur.

Leo slowly bobbed her massive head. A nod.

“Oh.”

Ninti was still unconscious, unable to translate, unable to say what she wanted. If I left, would Leo help Ninti find my side again? I’d lost her trust.

I drew my hand into a fist, staring at the ruby. If Ninti wanted to find me, she would—Leo wouldn’t stand in her way. And if Ninti wanted to stay away from me… that was her choice.

Perhaps we weren’t as suited to one another as we believed. Perhaps it was for the best that she stayed where she was safe.

Leo indicated the boat another time.

“Okay, we’ll leave.” I bit back my tears. “Tell… Tell Ninti I’m sorry.”

Satisfied, Leo lowered her head below the water.

Zayne’s lips drew into a line, but he didn’t disagree. He stood and took a few steps away, leaving me alone with Ninti.

The firewolf breathed steadily, her coloring now warmed to a dark orange. Still, she remained unconscious.

She would wake, in time. I chose to believe that.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I buried my face against her soft stomach and took a deep breath of fire and ash. Satisfied there was nothing more I could do for her, I stood and joined Zayne. I took his hand in mine.

In our absence, the critters scurried forward, surrounding Ninti with a mixture of reverence and curiosity. It felt good to know she wouldn’t be alone.

Still, I didn’t want to go.

But before I could change my mind—insisting that I wasn’t ready, that I would stay despite Leo’s wishes—Zayne jumped, leaving Ninti behind.