Wulfe Untamed (Feral Warriors #8)(79)

“I still can’t see it,” Hawke murmured.

“Good thing we have Daemon Eyes on our side,” Jag said.

“Wait here while I test it,” Wulfe commanded, surprised at how comfortable the mantle of leadership felt on his shoulders. He’d been good at this once, in the old days. Until the goddess took umbrage and struck it all away. Would she do so again? The thought had his gut clenching.

The warding flowed, swaying back and forth like a sheet on a clothesline on a breezy day. “It looks thicker than before,” he told the others, his voice partly drowned out by a hard crack of thunder. “Far more substantial.” Energy sparked and spit as if the warding had been supercharged and was still plugged into some giant electrical outlet.

“That can’t be good,” Vhyper muttered.

As Wulfe neared that shimmering curtain, the hair rose on his arms and his throat began to itch and crawl. The last time, he’d felt nothing. Maybe it was just a factor of his having lost his animal. And, shit, that could be a problem because last time, they’d only gotten through it in their animals. He’d hoped his Daemon blood would allow him to breach it this time, and hand his friends through, even if he couldn’t shift. If not, they were in deep shit.

They were probably in trouble either way. Neither Inir nor Satanan were fools. They knew the Ferals would be back to try to stop them. It only stood to reason they’d have beefed up the warding to keep them out this time.

There was only one way to find out.

Small pellets of hail joined the rain, stinging Wulfe’s bare arms as he pressed forward cautiously, stopping a foot in front of the warding to reach out his hand. Electricity bolted through his body, knocking him back with a powerful blow, setting every nerve ending on fire. With a roar of pain and fury, he landed on his rear in the wet grass.

“Wulfe!” Lyon yelled.

“Stay back!” Wulfe pushed himself to his feet with effort, the jolt still searing the blood in his veins. He wiped the rain from his eyes and stumbled back to the others. “It’s far stronger than before.”

But Lyon was used to giving orders not taking them, and strode forward to try the warding for himself. A moment later, he, too, was picking himself up off the ground.

As Lyon rose, they all stared at one another, an unspoken, What the f**k do we do now? hanging in the rain-soaked air.

Dammit, Wulfe thought, staring at that colorful barrier. He knew what had to be done. And he was the only one who could do it. He could almost see Inir’s eyes lighting with evil glee at the prospect. Inir would know, of course, that if Wulfe pulled the energies through his channel key, he’d almost certainly be able to crash through the warding. But he’d know, too . . . or Satanan would . . . that no Daemon had ever retained control after pulling that power. The two of them were counting on Wulfe’s losing it. Inir had already said it. The Daemon shifter will come to us, my lord. I promise you. And when he does, he will be yours.

He heard Natalie’s words again. You are the finest man I’ve ever known. Just as you’ll protect me, I’ll protect you. I won’t let the darkness take you.

Wulfe turned to Kougar, his gut cramping. “Have the Ilinas bring Natalie. I’m pulling the primal energies. It’s the only way to get through.”

His brothers exchanged wary looks, but Lyon nodded. “We’re out of options. Satanan cannot rise.”

“You can do this, Wulfe,” Paenther said. “There’s no better man.”

He wasn’t sure about that, but somehow, he had to pull this off. Every one of them was counting on him. Natalie most of all.

Wulfe began to run back the way they’d come, back to the drop-off site, knowing the Ilinas couldn’t risk getting too close to the warding. Minutes later, Natalie was in his arms, rain-soaked, warm, and loving.

“I believe in you, shifter.”

He stared into those calm, beloved eyes beneath lashes spiked with rain, and nodded. “I know. You’re going to keep me tethered.” But his heart was pounding with uncertainty and dread. He pulled Natalie tight against his chest, holding her against the buffeting wind as his gaze watched the storm play out on the now-churning lake.

Goddess, please protect this woman who is my heart, my life, against all dangers, including me. Help me stay strong against the darkness, so that I don’t hurt her. And please help us defeat Satanan and Inir. I ask this not out of pride, but because so many will suffer if we fail. I beg you to forgive my errors in the past. I beg you . . .

Without warning, the sun broke through the storm clouds, a single, thick sunbeam illuminating the nearby landscape. And in that sunbeam, a rainbow appeared, running from one end of the sky to the other, a perfect, glorious rainbow beneath still stormy skies. Beauty within the darkness. A miracle. Forgiveness. He felt it shower him, felt his heart cleansed and lifted, buoyed with joy over this omen, this blessing.

Thank you, Goddess.

He kissed Natalie’s hair, hugging her tight, and blinked back the moisture in his eyes. “Are you ready?”

With a nod, she pulled back and kissed him. “I’m ready. We can do this.”

He wasn’t convinced, but they were out of options.

He could not fail.

As the rain pounded, Natalie ran over the wet ground, Wulfe’s hand tight around hers.

“The warding is just up ahead,” he told her. “Only I can see it.”