Page 2 of Shifter’s Promise (Devourer of Magic)

Chapter

Two

T he weight at my neck disappeared with a clang of metal against the marble floor.

“I’m free.” The words felt foreign, like a lie. I hadn’t been free in over a decade. What was I supposed to do now? I had thought about it for a long time, but that was before…

Gods, so much has happened.

“You are,” the male agreed, drawing my gold and green gaze to his deep emerald one.

“Thank you.” My fingers brushed my neck.

They’d forced that collar on me for ten fucking years. Ten years of torturous abuse, full body shocks, and horrors the likes of which I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. The unfamiliar lightness at my throat felt almost like a loss instead of the key to my salvation.

“Of course. I am Ronan. If you need anything please ask.”

Something about the obscenely tall, sturdy man reminded me of my father. Though this one was a beast of a wolf with rich brown skin and long dark hair, the heart of a father blazed in those eyes and his small, steady smile.

I nodded, unable to speak with the lump forming in my throat.

Still feeling the freedom around my neck, I didn’t move.

I stood in awe of the weightlessness until he gently turned me to follow Fauren, who’d come before me.

The small cat shifter grabbed my hand and pulled me away from the awkward situation.

“It feels good, doesn’t it?” Fauren expressed excitedly, eyes brighter than I’d ever seen.

I smiled my first free, sincere smile in a long time.

“It does feel good.” Really good . So good I couldn’t stop the idiotic grin from taking over my face. “We’re free.”

She returned my grin as we joined the other young women and girls I’d worked with for the last few years.

Every set of eyes glistened. Some cried without care.

After Cinna had freed us from the room we’d barricaded, we quickly discovered that the manor was on lockdown.

How five wolves managed it alone, I wasn’t sure, though I did have an idea.

Glancing at the huge swathes of ice that occupied the foyer, I guessed it had been the ice wolf’s power that freed us.

With the entire guard dead and the willing staff locked upstairs, we had free reign over the manor. The wolves who saved us only asked for our cooperation.

“Do you think you’ll stay for a couple days?” Nani asked the group.

“It would be nice to see what happens,” Fauren said, cheeks flushing.

“I want to be sure they’re dead,” I said before I could think over the words.

All eyes in our small circle turned to me. Shit, what did I say this time ?

“You can see their blood on the floor, Twinlin,” Nani teased.

My lips twitched. “I meant the ones the ice wolf calls.”

“Oh, right.”

“Didn’t you listen to her plan?” Fauren narrowed her eyes at the former maid.

“Of course!” she spluttered.

“Enough,” I said, loudly enough to cut through their protests.

“All I meant was, I want to see what she has planned for them, and what happens next.” After watching Cinna for the last few hours, I was certain more would soon die alongside Lord Elherd’s men.

She’d called other elf lords to the manor, even some human guests.

I hadn’t overheard everything, but it sounded like she was bringing them here to kill them all.

The thought sent a pleasant shiver through me.

“That’s fair, Twin, but I’m heading home.” Nani’s brow set with determination. “I’ve been gone long enough. I’m going to leave once I’ve gathered my things. They said it was best to go now if we aren’t going to stay until the end.”

I nodded, recalling one of the males had mentioned it. “I understand.”

“What about you?” she asked Fauren .

The young shifter looked between us, guilt passing through her eyes.

My smile softened. “Don’t worry, Fauren. No one will be upset if you leave. I’m sure you miss your parents as much as I miss mine.”

Her shoulders sagged. “Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

Tears flooded her eyes before she slammed into my chest, knocking the breath out of me.

“Fauren?” I gasped. She hugged my waist with all of her strength, tears dampening my shirt.

“Be careful, Twin,” she said between muffled sobs.

I ruffled her hair before drawing her into a tight embrace. “I will. Be good for your parents and come say hi to me in the capital some day.”

She nodded against me, and I stroked her hair until she calmed. Once she wiped her eyes and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, she took Nani’s hand.

“I’ll make sure she gets home safely.”

“Thank you,” I said. Though I’d only known Fauren for a year, she was barely twelve years old. She reminded me of my sister so much that my chest squeezed. With big chubby cheeks and wide, curious eyes, they were both adorable kids.

I watched them go, both sad and grateful to have met the beastkin here. If it wasn’t for them and the community we’d formed despite Lord Elherd’s tyranny, I would have killed myself long ago.

Wind tore brown curls from my shoulders as I whooped into the sunshine. The carriage bounced beneath me. The hard, bruising seat was nothing in comparison to the hell I’d been through.

For the first time in a long time, I was free.

I cried my joy into the crisp morning breeze. Elherd was dead. His people were dead and all the elf and human lords Cinna had called were—you guessed it—dead!

With all that death behind me and the sun blazing a trail home, I’d never felt such pure, unbridled joy.

Two massive horses pulled the large carriage—one I’d never be able to afford unless the Sun God descended from the heavens himself. I laughed at the thought. As if gods cared for mere mortals. The carriage bounced over the rough landscape, bumping along worn dirt roads.

Blue skies shone overhead, but I didn’t dare shield my gaze from its splendor. Trapped in the dark for so long, I never wanted to close my eyes again. Had the sky always been this blue? The clouds always this cute and fluffy?

Another laugh bubbled from my throat. If Mom were still here, she’d have scolded me for having my head in the clouds.

She’d tell me to keep my eyes on the road, and don’t lose your grip on the reins!

Not that she’d know how to drive a carriage either.

If I wasn’t so observant, I wouldn’t have had a clue.

Learning to ride or drive horses wasn’t exactly common in Leopard Clan territory.

Why would it when we could shift into big cats that ran twice the speed ?

Though thoughts of Mom usually brought a sad pang to my heart, today, Mom would be truly proud of me. After a decade, I was finally returning home.

Finally .

Water splat on the back of my hand, forcing my fingers to my face. Shit .

“Stop yer crying,” I bade as I drew my tunic across my wet eyes. “Mom wouldn’t like it.” She’d tell me to save my tears for the reunion. With great determination, I would.

“I’m coming!” I shouted to the breeze. “I’m coming home!”

The horses neighed as if in agreement, spurring another giggle from my throat.

“We’ll take good care of you horsies, don’t you worry.” Even if they wouldn’t be the most useful, I’d find them a good home once I sold the carriage.

Glancing back at the gaudy piece of twisted metal, I scoffed. The rich really could afford anything. Even a pristine white carriage with golden filigree and trimming. The cost alone could feed my entire clan for a year. Who needed a gold carriage anyway? Seemed like a waste of money to me.

Shaking my head, I turned on the bench, facing forward as a group of starlings burst from the coming trees. My eyes widened as they soared into the sky, diving and curling as one. Then the trees cut off my line of sight.

I sighed and glared at the canopy on either side of the road.

The jungle was dense this far north. I’d crossed the border from Ransa into the Beast Kingdom only an hour ago.

I’d be dealing with the jungle for a little longer until I reached the tropical sands of the coast. But until then, it was like I was home.

An old home mother and father once showed me.

They said Leopard Clan had once inhabited these jungles, fighting for territory with the rival Jaguar Clan.

They’d fought bloody wars for territory when my parents were young, but that was no more.

Ever since the Beast King rose to power, clans had dispersed or were brought into the Beast Kingdom’s fold.

I might have grown up in the capital, but that didn’t mean my heart wasn’t in my real home. One day, we’d return to it. But until then, I had to find my family.

Snapping the reins, I forced the horses to ride harder, faster.

Home was on the horizon. I just had to get there.

The road smoothed the closer I rode to the capital.

Frequented by merchants, traders and officials coming to and from the Beast Kingdom, the road might be the most well travelled in the land.

I passed more modest carriages and wagons along the way.

Some stopped to stare at the magnificence of the golden carriage, while others rolled their eyes and spat at the wheels.

I couldn’t blame them. Most beastkin knew where these carriages came from, and it wasn’t the Beast Kingdom of Auroi.

The Elven Empire had long made their influence known, trading with the kingdom, both legally and… illegally.

As far as I knew, the slave trade began with the elves. They were the enemy. Most beastkin might not know it, but we were all fodder to them. They wanted to use us; our powers, our bodies, our knowledge.

They thought we were weak. They didn’t expect the fight that was coming.

A wicked grin curled my lips. Cinna’s appearance proved things were about to change in Auroi. As long as that she-wolf continued her quest for vengeance, the slave trade was on its last legs.