Wraith Wolf_Cloak Games short story

by Jonathan Moeller

  The wraithwolves glided forward, their eyes fixed upon us.

  “Lightning globes,” I muttered. “You take the one of the left, and I’ll take the one on the right.”

  “Won’t kill them,” said Nadia, flexing the fingers of her right hand. “I can’t hit them that hard, and neither can you.”

  “It’ll stun them,” I said, drawing together power for a spell. “And that should be long enough. On three. One, two…”

  Blue sparks played around her fingers.

  “Three!”

  I lunged forward, thrusting out my hand, and Nadia did the same. A globe of blue-white lightning exploded from my fingers, snarling and crackling, and a smaller globe erupted from Nadia’s hand. Hers wobbled and jerked a bit, since she wasn’t as experienced with the spell, but it nonetheless worked. Both lightning globes slammed into their respective wraithwolves, and the creatures reared back with screams of fury, fingers of lightning crawling up and down their limbs.

  In their instant of pain, I moved.

  I leaped forward, drawing on my Shadowmorph, and the symbiont came at my call. A blade of shadow erupted from my right hand, shaping itself into a weightless sword that could cut through anything. I swept the sword forward, and took off the first wraithwolf’s head before it could react. A surge of power went through me as the Shadowmorph fed upon the creature’s alien life, converting it into strength that I could use. The second wraithwolf started to turn, but I flicked my wrist, driving the Shadowmorph blade down, and I cut it in half, more life energy surging into me.

  The wraithwolves twitched a little and went still, black slime leaking from their wounds.

  I let out a long breath and looked at Nadia. She was staring at me, eyes wide, and a wave of intense desire went through me. Using the Shadowmorph’s power had that effect. I wanted to throw her to the ground, rip off those tight jeans and tank top, and take her right now, consequences be damned, my fears be damned, my self-control be damned…

  My self-control kicked in and drove that impulse back. I had not remained a Shadow Hunter for decades by ignoring my self-control.

  Sasha had, and it had killed her.

  Nadia swayed a little on her feet. She could feel the dark lure of my Shadowmorph.

  “Wow,” she said in a little voice. “That was…fast.”

  “Thanks,” I said. “I…”

  Five more wraithwolves leaped over a nearby car, charging at me in perfect silence.

  “Nadia!” I said. “Watch out…”

  She gestured and vanished, disappearing beneath her Cloak spell.

  The wraithwolves attacked, and I retreated, dispatching one with a sweep of my Shadowmorph blade. I attacked again, but the wraithwolves retreated, and then lunged at me, driving me back step by step. There was no sign of Nadia.

  I realized that she had abandoned me to the wraithwolves. She had taken her own advice and fled, using me as a distraction to get away. It was disappointing, but not surprising.

  Maybe Nora had been right. I should have seen it coming. I should have…

  One of the cars roared to life and surged forward. I sprang out of the way, but two of the wraithwolves weren’t so lucky, and the car smashed into them, crushing the creatures against the wall of a nearby building with a loud crash. The remaining two wraithwolves came at me, but two against one was far better odds than four against one. I dispatched the first wraithwolf with a quick sweep of my Shadowmorph blade, and then a lightning globe burst from the window of the car and slammed into the remaining creature.

  It went into a wild, twitching dance, and I finished it off with a thrust.

  I lowered my hand, the Shadowmorph blade dissolving and crawling back up my arm, and took a deep breath.

  The car let out a creaking noise, and Nadia kicked her way free.

  “Wow,” she said, looking at the carnage at the front of the car. “That made a mess. You weren’t kidding about massive kinetic force.”

  I nodded.

  “Do you think we should hide the bodies?” said Nadia.

  “They’ll dissolve in a few minutes,” I said. “They’ll leave behind pools of black slime, and those will evaporate quickly. We should get out of here before someone comes to investigate the crash.”

  “Right,” said Nadia, pointing towards another alley. “Circle around the block first?”

  “A good idea,” I said, and we left. As we vanished into the alley I heard shouting as someone discovered the wrecked car, but we were out of sight by then. “Thanks for the help, by the way. I couldn’t have handled that many on my own.”

  “You’re welcome,” said Nadia, and then she grinned. “Oh! I get it!”

  “What?” I said.

  “You thought I had abandoned you!” she said, amused. “That I had left you to fight the wraithwolves alone. And you would nobly and heroically battle to save me, the distressed maiden.”

  I snorted. “I’m the heroic one? You’re the one who stole someone’s car and rammed into the wraithwolves.”

  “Ah, whatever,” said Nadia. “God, I’m hungry. Let’s go get a steak somewhere. Preferably not here.”

  “Agreed,” I said.

  “You’re still paying for it, though.”

  Nadia led the way on her motorcycle, and we found a steakhouse a few miles away. It was a good meal, and we wound up talking until the restaurant closed. Once the staff kicked us out for the night, Nadia paused near my car.

  “Hey,” she said. “I had fun.”

  “I’m glad,” I said.

  She hesitated, and then leaned up and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek.

  “We should do this again sometime soon,” Nadia said. “All right?”

  “All right,” I said. “Next time I’m in Milwaukee, I’ll call.”

  I suspected I would find a reason to be in Milwaukee sooner rather than later.

  “I’ll look forward to it,” said Nadia, stepping back. “Don’t drive into any wraithwolves.”

  “You’re the one who ran over them.”

  She grinned, pulled on her helmet, started up her bike, and rode off.

  I watched her go.

  Maybe this was still a bad idea. I was a Brother of the Family and she was a thief for Morvilind. She might get killed. I might get killed. This could go sour very quickly.

  But I was in a better mood than I had been in years.

  Yes, this might go sour…but I would take the risk nonetheless.

  THE END

  Thank you for reading WRAITH WOLF. If you liked the book, please consider leaving a review at your ebook site of choice. To receive immediate notification of new releases, sign up for my newsletter, or watch for news on my Facebook page.

  Other books by the author

  The Demonsouled Saga

  MAZAEL CRAVENLOCK is a wandering knight, fearless in battle and masterful with a sword.

  Yet he has a dark secret. He is Demonsouled, the son of the ancient and cruel Old Demon, and his tainted blood grants him superhuman strength and speed. Yet with the power comes terrible, inhuman rage, and Mazael must struggle to keep the fury from devouring him.

  But he dare not turn aside from the strength of his blood, for he will need it to face terrible foes.

  The priests of the San-keth plot and scheme in the shadows, pulling lords and kingdoms upon their strings. The serpent priests desire to overthrow the realms of men and enslave humanity. Unless Mazael stops them, they shall force all nations to bow before the serpent god.

  The Malrag hordes are coming, vast armies of terrible, inhuman beasts, filled with a lust for cruelty and torment. The Malrags care nothing for conquest or treasure, only slaughter. And the human realms are ripe for the harvest. Only a warrior of Mazael’s power can hope to defeat them.

  The Dominiar Order and the Justiciar Order were once noble and respected, dedicated to fighting the powers of dark magic. Now they are corrupt and cynical, and scheme only for power and glory. They will kill anyone who stands in their way.
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  To defeat these foes, Mazael will need all the strength of his Demonsouled blood.

  Yet he faces a far more terrible foe.

  For centuries the Old Demon has manipulated kings and lords. Now he shall seize the power of the Demonsouled for himself, and become the a god of torment and tyranny.

  Unless Mazael can stop him.

  Read Demonsouled for free. Mazael's adventures continue in Soul of Tyrants, Soul of Serpents, Soul of Dragons, Soul of Sorcery, Soul of Skulls, and Soul of Swords, along with the short stories The Wandering Knight, The Tournament Knight, and The Dragon's Shadow. Get the first three books bundled together in Demonsouled Omnibus One.

  The Ghosts Series

  Once CAINA AMALAS was the shy daughter of a minor nobleman, content to spend her days in her father’s library.

  Then sorcery and murder and her mother’s treachery tore her life apart.

  Now she is a nightfighter of the Ghosts, an elite agent of the spies and assassins of the Emperor of Nighmar. She is a master of disguise and infiltration, of stealth and the shadows.

  And she will need all those skills to defend the Empire and stay alive.

  Corrupt lords scheme and plot in the shadows, desiring to pull down the Emperor and rule the Empire for their own profit and glory. Slave traders lurk on the fringes of the Empire, ready to seize unwary commoners and sell them into servitude in distant lands. Yet both slave traders and cruel lords must beware the Ghosts.

  The Magisterium, the Imperial brotherhood of sorcerers, believe themselves the rightful masters of the Empire. With their arcane sciences, they plan to overthrow the Empire and enslave the commoners, ruling all of mankind for their own benefit. Only the Ghosts stand in the path of their sinister plans.

  And the Moroaica, the ancient sorceress of legend and terror, waits in the shadows, preparing to launch a war upon the gods themselves. She will make the gods pay for the suffering of mankind...even if she must destroy the world to do it.

  Caina Amalas of the Ghosts opposes these mighty enemies, but the cost might be more than she can bear.

  Read Child of the Ghosts for free. Caina's adventures continue in Ghost in the Flames, Ghost in the Blood, Ghost in the Storm, Ghost in the Stone, Ghost in the Forge, Ghost in the Ashes, Ghost in the Mask, and Ghost in the Surge, along with the short stories Ghost Aria, Ghost Claws, Ghost Omens, The Fall of Kyrace, Ghost Thorns, Ghost Undying, Ghost Light, and Ghost Dagger, and the prequel novels Blade of the Ghosts and Champion of the Ghosts. Get the first three books bundled together in The Ghosts Omnibus One.

  The Ghost Exile Series

  Caina Amalas was a nightfighter of the Ghosts, the spies and assassins of the Emperor of Nighmar, and through her boldness and cunning saved the Empire and the world from sorcerous annihilation.

  But the victory cost her everything.

  Now she is exiled and alone in the city of Istarinmul, far from her home and friends. Yet a centuries-old darkness now stirs in Istarinmul, eager to devour the city and the world itself.

  And Caina is the only one that stands in its way...

  Read Ghost in the Cowl, Ghost in the Maze, Ghost in the Hunt, Ghost in the Razor, Ghost in the Inferno, Ghost in the Seal, Ghost in the Throne, and Ghost in the Pact along with the short stories Ghost Sword, Ghost Price, Ghost Relics, Ghost Keeper, Ghost Nails, Ghost Lock, Ghost Arts, Ghost Vigil, and Ghost Mimic.

  The Third Soul

  RACHAELIS MORULAN is an Initiate of the Conclave, the powerful order of mighty mages. But to become a full Adept of the Conclave, she must first survive the Testing. Those who survive the Testing never speak of the trials they endured.

  Those who fail the Testing are never seen again.

  And now the Magisters of the Conclave have come to take Rachaelis to undertake the Testing. And there she shall face perils to both her body and her sanity.

  And creatures that yearn to devour her soul.

  If Rachaelis survives the Testing, she will face even more dangerous foes. The demons of the astral world watch the world of mortal men, desiring to rule it for themselves.

  And some Adepts of the Conclave are eager to help them.

  Read The Testing for free. Rachelis's trials continue in The Assassins, The Blood Shaman, The High Demon, The Burning Child, The Outlaw Adept, The Black Paladin, and The Tomb of Baligant. Read the entire series in The Third Soul Omnibus One and The Third Soul Omnibus Two.

  The Frostborn Series

  A thousand years ago, the last grandson of Arthur Pendragon led the survivors of Britain through a magical gate to a new world, a world of magic and high elves, of orcs and kobolds and stranger, darker creatures. Now the descendants of the exiles rule a mighty kingdom, peaceful and prosperous under the rule of the High King.

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  But he alone sees the danger to come. The Frostborn shall return, and unless they are stopped, they will cover all the world in ice and a neverending winter.

  CALLIANDE awakens in the darkness, her memories gone, and creatures of terrible power hunting her.

  For she alone holds the secret that can save the world…or destroy it utterly.

  The secret of the Frostborn.

  Read Frostborn: The First Quest, followed by Frostborn: The Gray Knight, Frostborn: The Eightfold Knife, Frostborn: The Undying Wizard, Frostborn: The Master Thief, Frostborn: The Iron Tower, Frostborn: The Dark Warden, Frostborn: The Gorgon Spirit, Frostborn: The Broken Mage, Frostborn: The World Gate, and Frostborn: The High Lords, and the prequel novel Frostborn: The Knight Quests along with the short stories The Orc's Tale, The Mage's Tale, The Thief's Tale, The Assassin's Tale, The Paladins's Tale, The Knight's Tale, The Soldier's Tale, and The Soldier's Tale. Read the first three books combined in Frostborn Omnibus One.

  Mask of the Demonsouled Trilogy

  MAZAEL CRAVENLOCK has prevailed over terrible foes and now rules the Grim Marches with firm justice. Yet ancient evils are stirring in the shadows, freed at last by Mazael's own hand. Unless Mazael fights with all his strength, the world will fall.

  SIGALDRA is the last holdmistress of the Jutai nation, the final defender of her people. Now the darkness comes to devour the final remnant of Sigaldra's home and family. Even Sigaldra's courage may not be enough to turn aside the darkness.

  Read Mask of Swords and Mask of Dragons along with the short stories The Ransom Knight, The Bronze Knight and The Serpent Knight.

  The Tower of Endless Worlds

  THOMAS WYCLIFFE just wants to finish his dissertation in peace and quiet. So when a man in a black robe appears in his closet, claiming to be the last of the Warlocks, Wycliffe figures it is a bad joke.

  But he soon realizes the last of the Warlocks can give him power beyond imagining.

  And all it will cost is his soul.

  SIMON WESTER needs a job. Badly. So when a rich and powerful Senator offers him employment, he jumps at the chance. Sure, Simon expects to find some corruption, some shady deals.

  He doesn't expect to find black magic.

  LIAM MASTERE is a Knight of the Sacred Blade, defender of the mortal races. But can swords stand against guns? As bullets and bombs destroy his kingdom, Liam must risk everything to save his homeland's one chance of salvation.

  By daring the horrors of the Tower of Endless Worlds…

  Read The Tower of Endless Worlds for free. The saga of the Tower continues in A Knight of the Sacred Blade, A Wizard of the White Council, and The Destroyer of Worlds.

  Cloak Games

  In 2013, a gate to another world opened, and Elves used their magic to conquer Earth, crushing all resistance before them.

  Three hundred years after the Conquest, the exiled Elven High Queen rules an orderly but stagnant Earth, with humanity forced to fight in the High Queen’s war against the traitors on the Elven homeworld.

  Nadia
Moran doesn’t care about that. She doesn’t care about the High Queen, or the Rebels seeking to overthrow her. All she cares about is getting her baby brother the treatments he needs to recover from his potentially fatal disease…and those treatments have a steep price.

  Fortunately, Nadia has magic of her own, and she’s a very, very good thief.

  Unfortunately, the powerful Elven lord Morvilind has a hold on Nadia. If she doesn’t follow his commands, her brother is going to die.

  Of course, given how dangerous Morvilind’s missions are, Nadia might not live long enough to see her brother’s death…

  Read Cloak Games: Thief Trap, Cloak Games: Frost Fever, Cloak Games: Rebel Fist, and Cloak Games: Shadow Jump, along with the short story Wraith Wolf.

  About the Author

  Standing over six feet tall, USA Today bestselling author Jonathan Moeller has the piercing blue eyes of a Conan of Cimmeria, the bronze-colored hair of a Visigothic warrior-king, and the stern visage of a captain of men, none of which are useful in his career as a computer repairman, alas.

  He has written the DEMONSOULED series of sword-and-sorcery novels, and continues to write THE GHOSTS sequence about assassin and spy Caina Amalas, the COMPUTER BEGINNER'S GUIDE series of computer books, and numerous other works.

  Visit his website at: