“Nothing,” I said uneasily. “It’s just that my hair is so blond, I always thought brown eyes didn’t look right with the rest of my coloring.”
“Don’t begrudge a woman her desire to appear her best,” Martha scolded him.
“But her best is her natural self,” Callan countered.
“That’s for her to decide, not you,” Martha snapped. A groan escaped her. “Men, they never change, no matter how many centuries pass.”
“Can we get back to the Hunter, please?” I asked.
“Yes, we’re on the clock, aren’t we?” Martha said. “He began life as a horned god of the hunt, until he was murdered by his brother.”
“Murdered by his own brother?” Callan repeated.
“He must’ve had a good reason,” I said, a little too defensively.
“The Hunter killed all the livestock on his brother’s land for sport,” Martha said. “The brother returned from a journey and found all his animals dead. He tracked down the Hunter in a murderous rage and killed him on the spot.”
“How should the brother have killed him to make it stick?” Callan asked.
Martha smoothed back her titian hair. “Callan, don’t make me toss you out on your pert yet furry bottom. You’ll have to seek the answer to that question elsewhere.”
Callan splayed his hands on the marble. “We appreciate your help, Martha.”
“It’s always a pleasure doing business with you,” the Fate said. “Can I interest you in any lingerie before you leave? I have a peach bra and panty set that would look amazing on your skin.”
“I prefer to go commando,” Callan said.
Martha rolled her eyes. “I wasn’t talking to you, werewolf.”
My whole body began to burn at the mention of lingerie. “I’m good, thanks,” I said. “I like T-shirts and shorts.”
“She does,” Callan agreed. “I’ve seen it.” He seemed to realize how that sounded. “I’ll shut up now.”
“If you change your mind, you know where to find me,” Martha said. She narrowed her eyes. “Remember, though, I don’t do discounts.”
“Noted,” I replied.
We left the dressing room and reentered the shop where a few customers had trickled in. A couple appeared solely focused on a silk nightgown on display.
“If it’s dry clean only, the answer is no,” the woman said.
“I said I’ll pay for it,” the man huffed.
Callan and I threaded our way around the display tables and spilled out onto a busy sidewalk.
“I’m just relieved there were no mannequins,” he quipped.
I laughed. “I had the same thought.”
“We need to find this Hunter,” Callan said. “And soon.”
“We have the arrow,” I said, patting the spot under my clothes where I’d tucked it into my waistband. “And we saw a forest that wasn’t Allegheny. Different trees. If we figure out the location of the vision, that might lead us to the Hunter.”
“That white cliff is a good landmark,” Callan said. “I’ll run it by the team and see what we come up with.” He began to march along the sidewalk, a determined spring in his step.
“Not too fast,” I said, maneuvering my way through the crowd. “You cross that intersection too far ahead of me and you’ll end up on the windshield of a truck.”
Callan slowed his pace and turned to me with a grin. “Aw, are you worried about me, Cerys?”
“No,” I said. “I’m worried about explaining to Terrene police why a man went flying backward across a busy street.”
Callan winked at me. “It’s okay, Cerys. You can admit it. You don’t want anything bad to happen to me.”
“Of course I don’t,” I said. “That’s called compassion.”
His eyes glinted with mischief. “Sure it is.” He swaggered ahead, leaving me staring after him.
Chapter Twelve
Back at the League office, Mona easily identified the forest with the limestone cliff. “I’m surprised you didn’t figure it out, Callan.”
“Why me?”
“It’s as close to a primal forest as you can get,” the Amazon replied.
Callan’s brow shot up. “The Wild?”
Mona gave a rueful smile. “Maybe we should all go. If the Hunter is there, it won’t be safe.”
“Did Kendall get anywhere with Toppers?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” Mona said. “He’s been gone most of the day.”
A familiar figure strode into the office. “Did I hear something about a field trip to the Wild?” Warden Armitage winked at me as he took a seat in front of Mona’s desk. “How are they treating you, Davies? Everything good?”
“I told you she’s fine,” Mona said tersely. “No need to see for yourself.”
“Trust but verify,” Warden Armitage said. “Now what’s the plan for the Wild?”
“There’s no plan,” Mona said. “And this isn’t your territory.”
“The Wild isn’t your territory,” Warden Armitage pointed out. “It’s not in Terrene.”
I bit my lip, eagerly awaiting Mona’s response. As much bitterness as there was between them, I also sensed a deep affection.
“What do you think, Callan?” Mona said. “Without Kendall, we could use the extra muscle.”
Callan nodded.
Warden Armitage rubbed his hands along the sides of the chair. “Perfect. I’ll take the lead since we’re heading into my territory.” He vaulted to his feet, ready for action.
“Tone it down,” I whispered, as he passed by.
“We’re searching for information about the Hunter,” Callan said. “However minor, we’re interested. We’ve got very little on this guy, other than the fact that he’s hard to kill permanently.”
“Are you up for this, Davies?” Warden Armitage asked.
“She doesn’t have a choice,” Mona said. “The blood bond is still in place and we need Callan in the field.”
“I’m up for this,” I said firmly. I wanted to catch the Hunter as much as anyone and make sure he never hurt another innocent victim.
“Stick with the wolf,” Warden Armitage said. “He’ll look out for you.”
“Cerys doesn’t need anyone to look out for her,” Callan said. “She does just fine on her own.”
“Is that so?” The warden seemed pleased. “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s cross the border into the Wild.”
Mona and the warden fought over which one would drive us to the border. Unsurprisingly, the Amazon won. I couldn’t decide whether Warden Armitage gave up too soon or just knew the argument was futile. He handled our paperwork with the Order of the Edge. Now it was his turn to be in charge and issue orders to Mona. He was in his glory. The Amazon, on the other hand, looked ready to spit nails. I wondered what their relationship had been like, back when it was ‘good.’
“It’s important to remember the Wild is as alive as you and me,” Mona said. “For every tree, there’s a hamadryad wandering nearby. For every body of water, there’s a sprite. Nothing is a simple element of nature.”
“You should do well here,” Callan said to me.
My hand drifted to my pocket and touched my rune rocks. They hummed with energy. “Yes, I think you’re right.”
We crossed the border and I immediately noticed the tallness of the trees. They dwarfed everything around them, even managing to hide the sky from our view.
“We should split up,” Warden Armitage said. “The forest is enormous and there’s a lot of ground to cover.”
“Agreed,” Callan said. “We’ll meet back at the rendezvous point by sundown.”
“How can you tell when it’s sundown?” I asked, peering skyward.
“I’ll know,” Callan said ominously.
Warden Armitage eyed him. “Something we ought to know?”
“He can handle himself,” Mona said. “The Wild is full of dangers. A full moon is the last thing we need to concern ourselves with.”
I swallo
wed hard. A full moon. That would bring out all the scary creatures.
“We’ll take the southern end,” Warden Armitage said. “Davies, if you get yourself into trouble, use your magic to find me.”
“Like a locator spell?” Mona queried.
Warden Armitage kept his gaze pinned on me. “No, I mean her earth magic. Davies can feel this land like it’s a part of her, if she lets it in.”
“Then this is the perfect opportunity for Cerys to practice letting things in,” Callan said.
I ignored his pointed remark. “See you at sundown. Try not to kill each other.”
“No promises,” Mona said with a wave. She and the warden marched ahead and I couldn’t decide which one looked more miserable.
“I feel sorry for them,” I said.
Callan registered surprise. “For those two? I wouldn’t bother.”
“Why not?”
“Because they’re their own worst enemies. Neither wants to admit that they’re married to the job, and that’s okay. That’s their choice. Instead, they act resentful of failed relationships that would have failed no matter what.”
“Because they’re married to their jobs.”
“Exactly.”
I cast a sidelong glance at him. “How about you? Are you married to your job?”
“I’m committed.”
“Is that different?”
Callan shrugged. “Don’t know. Never met anyone that made me think too much about it.”
We maneuvered our way around the enormous trees and I sensed their raw power. It felt different from the vortex in Terrene though. This entire forest seemed lit from within.
“I bet you feel like shifting right now,” I said. “We’re in the Wild on the verge of a full moon. The desire must be pulling at you.”
“You have no idea,” Callan said vaguely.
“I don’t mind if you shift,” I said.
“I mind,” he shot back. “I told you before, I don’t trust myself with you in such close proximity.”
“Because you’re afraid you’ll try to get too far away?”
“Because I’m afraid I’ll try to get too close,” he shot back.
“I don’t understand why you think you’d hurt me,” I said. “Werewolves wouldn’t be allowed to work as public servants if we worried about them running around in their animal forms biting others.”
Callan balled his hands into fists. “You don’t get it.”
“I guess not. I’ve had werewolves for teachers at the academy. Chancellor Tilkin would never choose to put us in danger. I had a werewolf piano teacher. She and I spent an hour a week alone together. My parents weren’t concerned about her shifting and attacking me.”
A deep growl emanated from him. “Let’s just stop talking about it.”
“Why? You might need to shift.”
“I’m not shifting,” he insisted.
“You don’t lose your intelligence in your wolf form, Callan.”
“No, but I lose my inhibitions,” he barked back.
“Okay,” I said slowly, “but you’ll know it’s me.”
He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Exactly.”
I stopped to take out my rune rocks and spread them on the forest floor, debating whether to use any of them now. I chose the rune rocks for speed and endurance and separated them into one pocket before placing the remainder in the original pocket.
“After everything you’ve been through—the demon—I would never want to dredge up any bad memories for you,” he said.
My chest ached. “Oh gods. You’re nothing like him, Callan. He was a horrible demon. You’re kind, considerate…” I broke off, unable to continue.
“See? I’m upsetting you already,” he said. “I would never want to say or do anything to hurt you, Cerys. You deserve better.”
“Let’s focus on finding the Hunter,” I said. “That’s the priority. Not my past.”
“I didn’t mean to suggest…” Movement between the trees caught our attention.
“You seek the Hunter.” A hamadryad emerged from the trunk. Her hair was bright orange and gold and her skin was covered in the same brown bark as her tree.
“We do,” I said, a little too excitedly.
The hamadryad cast a furtive glance around the forest. “He has been here recently and so we all hide, uncertain when he might return.”
“He hunts here?” Callan asked.
“He hunts everywhere,” the hamadryad replied. She spread her arms wide and golden leaves dropped from them.
“He’s not here now?” I asked.
The hamadryad shook her head, causing her crown of branches to tilt. “I do not feel his presence.”
I looked at her. “You can feel him?”
“So can you,” the hamadryad said. “You have nature’s gift.”
“What can you tell us about him?” Callan asked.
The hamadryad shuddered. “No. Not me.” She stretched her arm to the right. “Follow this path and you will find answers there.”
“Why not you?” Callan asked.
“Thank you.” I looped my arm through his. “Be respectful, Callan. She said not her. Don’t push.” I steered him away from the hamadryad and in the direction of our alleged answers.
“I wasn’t pushing,” he insisted.
“She’s too scared to talk,” I said. “You can’t force her.”
“Well, there isn’t time to coax her,” Callan said.
“No, but she didn’t send us away with nothing.” We cleared a hill and I grabbed his arm. “Look! There’s the cliff from Martha’s vision.”
The cliff was just as we’d pictured it—formed of white rocks and dotted with crystals. It pulsed with magic. Only then did I notice the horned figure.
A majestic creature stood on the rocky cliff overlooking the copse. He reminded me of an Ibex, except much bigger. His head and body were pure white like a unicorn, with large curved horns that glowed a golden yellow.
“What is he?” I whispered. I’d never seen anything like him.
Callan seemed equally impressed. “I think it’s Goldhorn. I always thought he was a myth.”
“Goldhorn,” I repeated. Incredible. Before I realized what I was doing, I approached the base of the cliff. His staggering beauty made me forget that we were in the middle of the Wild—that we were courting danger. My sole focus was to get closer to the beast. Goldhorn noticed me and lowered his head. His horns appeared substantial enough to tip him forward.
“Heavy is the head that wears the crown,” I murmured.
“Any chance you can get us up there?” Callan asked, joining me at the cliff’s base.
“I think he’s going to come down to us.” I wasn’t sure how I knew that, but I did. I felt his energy and it was glorious.
“Then I guess we’ll wait here.” Callan stuffed his hands into his pockets and began to rock back and forth on his heels, whistling softly.
I arched an eyebrow. “Is that your official waiting pose?”
“Why? Do you have a better one?”
I didn’t get the chance to show him. Goldhorn rounded a tree and entered the copse. He was even more incredible at eye level. I longed to touch his brilliant white coat. As if he understood, Goldhorn approached me, his black eyes downcast.
Slowly, I reached out a hand to stroke his head.
“There is no need to fear me,” Goldhorn said.
I screamed and withdrew my hand. Callan exploded with laughter.
“I didn’t expect you to talk,” I said indignantly.
Goldhorn didn’t seem offended by my reaction. “I can talk, my friend. And I suspect that what I have to tell you is very important.”
“You know why we’re here?” I asked.
“You seek the creature known as the Hunter,” Goldhorn said.
“That’s right,” I replied. “How did you know?”
“The forest has been whispering of it since your arrival,” Goldhorn said. “They hope to see him
defeated.”
“The hamadryads,” I said, “are they all in hiding because of him?”
“Indeed,” Goldhorn said. “He hunts whatever takes his fancy in the Wild, nymphs included. He has been hunting me for decades. I’ve waited for him to grow weary of chasing me, but his campaign rages on.”
“Have you encountered him recently?” I asked.
“No, but I have sensed his presence now and again,” Goldhorn replied. “I sense he has had other distractions outside of the Wild to occupy his time of late.”
“You could say that,” Callan muttered.
“He’s been murdering humans and we want to know why,” I said. “My friend and I are trying to track him down and stop him before he can hurt anyone else.”
“A noble cause,” Goldhorn said. “I mainly endeavor to stay outside of his reach. I would be most grateful if someone were to remove him from the realm permanently.”
“That’s the goal,” Callan said. “Any help you can offer would be appreciated.”
Goldhorn bent forward and began to chew on the grass. Majestic in appearance. Banal and pedestrian in taste. “He has returned to this world as a centaur, so he moves swiftly. The forest is his domain. He is most comfortable in an environment such as this, as am I. It is one of the reasons I am a worthy foe for him. We are on equal footing here.”
“A centaur,” Callan repeated. “I should’ve known.”
“He is fond of a bow and arrow,” Goldhorn continued. “I have a collection of his arrows in one of my preferred hiding spots. They have missed me, thankfully, and I gather them so he cannot reuse them against me.”
“Smart,” I said, though I had no doubt the Hunter had an endless supply of arrows. “Why does he hunt? What’s his motivation?”
“To win,” Goldhorn replied. “He has no interest in anything other than the thrill of the hunt.”
“Does he typically hunt alone?” Callan asked.
“That has been my experience,” Goldhorn said. “It would destroy his entertainment as well as his ego if someone else succeeded where he had failed.”
“How do we kill him so that he doesn’t come back this time?” I asked.
“The Hunter has lived a long life and acquired many skills over time,” Goldhorn said. “As a former god, he also has access to magic. He has used it on occasion to try to best me here.”
Outwit: Spellslingers Academy of Magic (Enforcer of the East Book 1) Page 14
