Wulfe Untamed (Feral Warriors #8)(76)

“I agree,” Fox said from beside Zeeland. “I’ve worked with him for decades, and he’s as honorable as they come.”

“This is what we’ve been waiting for,” Tighe said. “A sure thing.”

The Ferals were all streaming down the stairs, now, all but Lyon. When Hawke reached Zeeland, he slapped forearms with him, his grin wide and delighted. “Bringing a good Feral into his animal will reverse the damage done to Kara.”

“You’re our ace in the hole.” Wulfe extended his arm to him, too. “The moment we bring you into your animal, we halt Inir’s ability to perform the ritual to free the Daemons.”

“Time for a Renascence, boys and girls,” Jag said, slapping Zeeland on the shoulder as he extended his arm.

“The goddess stone, ASAP.” Lyon’s voice boomed down the stairs, and Zeeland looked up to find him carrying Kara down. “Ferals only. And Julianne. Olivia’s in charge here.”

Kougar looked up. “Roar, it’s still daylight. There will be humans all over the place.”

“Go. Raise the warding. The rest of us will arrive by Ilina.”

Groans peppered the foyer, but Kougar nodded as Ariana turned to mist beside him. A moment later the pair disappeared. The rest of the males stripped off their shirts, many laying knives and swords of every length into a pile against one wall. Pulling away from Julianne, Zeeland did the same, then kicked off his boots. In a few minutes, he’d be shifting, and he had no idea if he’d be able to hold on to his clothes and weapons.

The chills raced over his skin. Shifting.

“No!” Falkyn cried.

Hawke grabbed her as she swayed. “Faith?”

“My falcon. She’s gone.”

The Ferals’ exchanged ominous glances. They were down to one.

Two minutes later, Ariana was back. “He’s ready.”

Zeeland grabbed Julianne’s hand, meeting her bright blue gaze and the love and pride in her eyes. She grinned at him, slaying him all over again as she did every single time she smiled. Goddess, but he loved this woman.

As Ilinas appeared out of nowhere, all around the foyer, he released Julianne’s hand and, a heartbeat later, was swept into a tingling, scratchy cloud that spun until he was sick with dizziness. Almost as soon as it began, the ride ended, and he found himself on the rocks overlooking the Potomac, retching his guts out. All around him, the other Ferals were doing the same. He finally understood why they complained so much about Ilina travel. What a miserable ride.

Ariana joined Kougar and began chanting, while the rest of the Ilinas gathered close to the short rock face farthest from the river below.

As Zeeland rose to his feet, he found Julianne and went to her. “Are you all right?”

She shook her head with a rueful smile. “Quite a trip.”

He tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear and pulled her close. The sun was low in the western sky and would be setting soon, the day warm and bright. A perfect day to turn into a shape-shifter. His grin escaped, and he kissed his mate soundly, needing to share his joy with her.

Quickly, the Ferals gathered into a circle around the rock, Lyon depositing Kara in the middle, cupping her face.

“Take your time, little one.”

“I can do this, Lyon. I will do it.”

But, goddess, the woman looked like death warmed over. She swayed, dipping her head as if holding it up was too much effort.

“Roar?” Paenther asked.

“Pulling the radiance earlier took a lot out of her,” Lyon admitted, stroking his mate’s head. “But this is what she needs.”

“I’ll pull it,” Kara said so softly, Zeeland barely heard her.

Finally, Lyon stepped back and took his place. “The warding will keep Zeeland from escaping if he’s been marked by one of the still-infected animal spirits and the darkness takes him. If he turns into the eagle or sabertooth, both of which should be clear of the poison, now, we’re good. If not, the Ilinas will whisk the rest of us out of here so that he doesn’t injure anyone while Ariana cures him.”

The thought that he might, like Ewan, be turned to evil, even temporarily, raked at his mind. But the Ferals had been taken by surprise by the first batch of new Ferals, unaware they’d been infected. They would not be caught unaware again.

Golden armbands gleamed in the bright setting sun as Kougar began to chant in some kind of ancient language, and the others joined him. How they expected him to learn all this well enough to pass it on, he didn’t know. The thought that he still might have to be the keeper of the Feral legacy smothered his euphoria, dampening his joy. But he would do what must be done, no matter the cost or the difficulty, as he always had.

Kougar lifted the ritual knife and cut his palm, then curled his fingers into a fist around the blood and handed the knife to Lyon who did the same. Each warrior followed, one after another. Finally, Paenther handed the knife to Zeeland and motioned with his head for him to follow suit. When he had, Kougar shoved his fist into the air and the others followed.

“Little Radiant,” Lyon said softly, his tone tight with worry.

From where she sat on the stone, Kara attempted to lift her arms to the sky, her face pale, her eyes dulled from the poison that had attacked her too many times as she brought evil Ferals into their animals without knowing it. But her arms dropped again, as if too heavy for her.