Page 32 of The Crimson Princess (The Ravengale Chronicles #1)

“Done,” he says and he walks away, gathering his men, while Raven stays with me. “Sorry if I interrupted anything when I walked up,” Raven offers.

“That wasn’t about you as much as it was about me and Idris.”

“But I was a part of it.” It’s not a question. She knows how people feel about her.

My hand settles on her arm. “There was a reason it all happened the way it did. The truth will be revealed. And there’s more going on right now that proves that point than I can discuss with you.”

“You should hate me.”

“ Never . You’re one of the only friends I have now that my mom’s gone.”

“I am a friend, Princess Satima. A loyal one.”

“I know. And part of me hopes you end up a shadow so I can keep you close, but that’s not up to me. It’s up to the book. You ready to go learn how to kill a werewolf?”

“Very ready,” she assures me.

“What kind of blade are you using? ”

“One cast with my family’s magic. It can handle the thick skin of a werewolf.”

I’m impressed with her knowledge. “You’ve really been on your training.”

“And reading,” she says. “What I haven’t faced, I’ve studied in the ancient gale library. I’ve tried to be ready for anything.”

“Good. Then you know go behind the were, and for the throat. Watch the frostburns. They know exactly what to do. You protect them. They’ll protect you.”

“Got it. Let’s do it.”

I motion to Idris and the two of them step to my sides. We walk into the forest and the frostburns are waiting on us, a good twelve of them, in a V-shaped formation, one at the head of the pack. “Stay here,” I order both of them, walking toward the lead frostburn and kneeling in front of him.

Without reservation, I hold my hand, allowing him to smell me, but he pushes past it, and rubs his face against mine.

I caress his neck and whisper, “I brought help. We’re going to get rid of the werewolves so they’ll stop attacking you.

” I ease back to look at him, and I can sense he understands me.

“There’s a bunch of us. They’re going to kill the weres, but let a few live.

Me and Raven, the girl with the red hair, will follow those out of the forest to find out where they’re hiding.

Then we can get rid of them for good. Don’t eat the help, okay? We’ll fight together.”

He bows to me, literally bows, and the other frostburns follow. Behind me, Idris whispers, “What is happening?”

“I think she’s their alpha,” Raven murmurs, “or maybe there’s more to it. I don’t know. They’re bonded.”

I push to my feet and the frostburns howl in unison. I lift a hand to Idris. “Get your men. Let’s go kill the weres.”

The frostburns turn and dart into the woods, and it’s not long before I’m leading the hunting party deep into the forest. The sun is gone and the night has turned obsidian when a cluster of red eyes appear in the tree line ahead of us.

Idris guides his men one direction, and I take Raven with me another, the frostburns staying with us up front, leading the way.

The frostburns attack the weres before we do, and I turn to Raven. “Watch me first.” I draw my dagger, not waiting for her compliance. I rush a werewolf, circle him and jump on his back, my blade opening up his throat.

Before the were ever hits the ground, Raven is on the back of another, slicing its throat.

I approve. She’s a natural. A were comes at me and a frostburn takes him down before I can react.

From there, it’s one kill after another, and as we merge with Idris and his army, it becomes clear they have things under control.

Idris motions for me and Raven to go, to follow the plan, and head to the other side of the forest. With Raven by my side, we sink into the darkest recesses of the forest, inside its cover, but to drink from the pond we must reveal ourselves inside the clearing.

We pause just inside the shelter of the trees, and for a pitch-black night, the pond has managed to be illuminated in bright white moonlight, and its effervescent glow adds to the spotlight effect.

“I hate we have to go out there,” Raven murmurs.

“Agreed. We move fast. To the pond and back in the coverage of the forest on the other side. You go first. I have your back.”

“No. No, you’re the princess. I have your back.”

“Do as I say,” I command. “Go now.”

“Princess,” she pleads.

“The frostburns will have my back. Do it.”

She breathes out and breaks from the darkness into the light, and I scan the area around her, amazed as the frostburns form a protective circle behind us.

We drink from the pond, and we’re back inside the forest in less than a minute, our relief palpable, but if there were hordes of werewolves on the other side of the pond, they could be here en masse as well.

Our travel starts out uneventful and we’re almost to the spot where I plan to hole up in a small cavern and wait for the weres to exit into the villages.

That’s when we walk into a trap. Suddenly, we’re surrounded by weres, and not just a few, more than any number I’ve seen together thus far.

The frostburns attack, but more weres jump down from high spots in the trees.

They’re everywhere. And when three are all but on top of Raven, I launch to her rescue, but no sooner have I killed one than two are at my back.

I shield myself and blink and the minute I’m in the clear, more come down from the trees.

I throw up my shield again, but I can’t hold it, and I feel the teeth of one of them sink into my neck, dragging me down.

Another is on top of me, his long, sharp teeth biting into my belly.

I scream out, and the frostburns drag the weres off of me, but the war is raging on around me, and I can’t move.

The pain, there is so much pain, and I can’t lift my head.

I can’t shield myself, but somehow, I blink myself as far away as I can from the battle, but it’s not far enough.

I’m still in the forest. Toren, I call out in my mind. H…help. He…lp.

Raven appears by my side. “Oh no. No . Satima, I’m here but I need to get help. I’m going after Idris. I’m going for help.”

“No,” I squeak out. “No.”

Toren appears above me, and some part of me knows, he’s my survival, my only chance at life over death, and he must throw up a shield as two weres come at him and bounce right off.

He kneels beside me, a blessed sight for my blurry eyes, and I watch as he bites his wrist. “I got you, princess,” he murmurs, leaning in close.

“You’re going to be okay.” He presses his wrist to my mouth, his blood pouring past my lips, and I can barely drink.

“What are you doing?” Raven demands. “What are you doing to her?”

“Saving her,” Toren says, his voice calm, when I sense he’s raging inside, “but she won’t heal instantly, not with the severity of her wounds. You need to cover for her. Don’t let anyone come looking. Don’t tell them she’s with me.”

“How can I trust you?”

“Turning on me is turning on her. She will die. And I don’t have time to argue with you or play some game to prove myself.

She doesn’t have time. Do this for her and I promise you, I will save her.

Fight your way out of here and cover for her with the gales.

Do not let them know she’s gone with me. It will—”

He doesn’t finish, or if he does, I’m not aware of how or when. He pulls his wrist from my mouth and slides his arms under me. “I got you, Satima,” he murmurs and then to Raven. “I’m taking her.” And that’s the last thing I remember. Everything goes dark.