The Dark Calling (The Arcana Chronicles #5)(41)

“That place is creepy as hell.” And I’d thought Haven House had looked spooky?

On this side of the moat, a line of thornbushes as big as trees trailed over the countryside. Evie must’ve created that fortification.

“Creepy as it may be, that fortress is stocked for an extended nuclear winter.”

Yeah, Domīnija had told me about all the luxuries within. That was part of the reason I’d let Evie go.

I pulled binoculars from my bug-out bag to scope the building. Electric lights shone from windows, while torches lit the grounds. Smoke curled from three chimneys. I caught the scent of cooking meat, and my mouth watered. On one of the many eaves, Gabriel crouched like a gargoyle.

I could even make out Domīnija pacing a room. He’d had everything. Everything. Did some part of him comprehend what he’d lost? What he’d done to the woman he loved? She must’ve been so confused.

I stowed my binoculars, and Kentarch and I started down the hill toward the dome. “I gotta get her back inside that castle.”

“Will you kill the Reaper to do it?”

“I’ll kill any threat to her. The rest is up to Domīnija.” I was conflicted. On the one hand, I hated him for what he’d done to her under the influence. But then I remembered when the Hierophant had brainwashed Evie right out of her head. Could Death be held responsible for his actions when he wasn’t in his right mind?

Plus, I felt a deep gratitude to him for saving Evie from Richter’s attack.

“You must want her back,” Kentarch said. “Will you pursue her?”

She haunted me more than ever. Seeing her again just made it all the worse. But she expected to get Domīnija cured—which meant she expected to return to him. I told Kentarch, “I’ll end up doing whatever’s best for her. Story of my life with that one. You ever been in love?”

He gave a humorless laugh. “You could say that. My wife, Issa, and I were separated months ago. I’ve been searching for her ever since. I came to this castle for assistance in finding her.”

Bonne chance, Kentarch. Good luck, because his Issa was most likely long dead.

As we neared the dome, I unstrapped my crossbow. Just beyond the boundary, Evie’s fortification loomed, a frozen forest of towering thorn plants. The foreboding branches seemed to move under the wavering yellow light.

This place reminded me of tales my mother used to read to me, of enchanted winter forests filled with magic and evil villains.

Only this was real.

Snow trails meandered throughout, forged by what had to be large animals. Another grizzly? I checked my bolt-action clip of arrows, knowing it’d take more than this to bring down something so big.

In a hushed tone, Kentarch said, “If Fauna is awake, she will be able to scent you. Should her beasts give chase, your only hope is to make it back here to me.”

I nodded, not looking forward to an encounter with overgrown wolves—or worse. “No pressure.” More snow started to fall. Merde. This wasn’t exactly my preferred hunting environment, and the cold was making my bad leg stiffen up. “I’m heading in.” In case something happened to me, I turned to give him a last message for Evie but decided against it.

If I died on her twice, no message was going to fix that wound.

“Be wary, hunter,” Kentarch murmured. “All manner of creatures prowl within.”

I crossed the boundary, heading into the thorn forest. Vertigo seized me and sweat started to bead my skin. I felt almost drunk. Not surprising. I hadn’t eaten in days.

I shook my head hard. A successful take could mean the difference between my girl living or not. Stay sharp, Jack. I’d done this all my life. Even before the Flash, my survival had always depended on my ability to hunt. Clotile’s survival and ma mère’s as well.

As I eased deeper into the thorns, I began to hear bird calls. Dozens of them nested on high branches. A jackpot of animals!

We’re goan to eat good today. I raised my crossbow. Took aim—

WHOOSH. They scattered in a frenzy of feathers, squawking a retreat. I stilled. What had spooked them? Was Lark on to me?

An unsettling quiet fell over the forest. All my senses told me danger lurked, but I continued forward anyway. Those fowl would have to set down somewhere.

I sucked in a breath when I saw large tracks ahead. Wait . . . my own footprints? I’d gone in a circle, me? I swiped sweat from my brow. Jack Deveaux doan get lost.

Not even in enchanted forests.

I peered closer and spotted a second set of prints, almost as large as my own. Those tracks followed alongside mine. Some animal I didn’t recognize, something with size to it, was stalking me.

Chills skittered up my back. I straightened, muscles tensed. Finger on the crossbow trigger. I ain’t the hunter here anymore—

A roar sounded in the branches above me. I pivoted, swinging my bow up.

Golden eyes gleamed in the dark. A flash of fangs as a beast sprang for me. I fired.

Before I could shoot again, a weighty body crashed into the snow, not inches from my boots. My arrow jutted from one of its eyes.

A lioness! She looked to be a couple hundred pounds. No wonder all the other game had scattered.

My gaze darted as I shouldered my bow. How to get my prize back to Kentarch?

I would be getting it back. We could feed on it for days.

A shriek sounded from the castle. Lark! She must’ve sensed the kill. Adrenaline spiked my veins. No way I was leaving this lion. I bent down and grasped the carcass under its front legs, maneuvering it for a fireman’s carry.