Chapter 14

A valynn focused on a patch of grass in front of her. The tall blades swayed with the gentle breeze. The early morning sun cast a warm glow on the crowd. Despite the warmth, her insides were frozen like ice cubes. She only wanted to be a hunter and win the prize. Now she was trapped inside palace politics, a mysterious prophecy, and a deadly task with Mateo Vela.

Was he really the bringer of peace?

Addressing the crowd, her High King father and High Queen mother stood on a dais above her and the other hunters. Would they notice she did not look them in the eye? Her mother, no. Her father, a definite yes. Like a vulture hoarding its kill, she knew he kept a keen eye on everything in his usual way—her, Mateo, the other hunters, the dignitaries. Nothing got past him.

A butterfly fluttered and skirted a cluster of white daisies. She watched as it danced from petal to petal but stopped herself. Stay on mission. Sabotage the Sublander. Forget everything else except getting your life back. There was nothing she could do about prophecies anyway. She and she alone held her future in her hands.

Everyone cheered when her father finished speaking. She scanned the crowd and found her little sister in a bright yellow dress. Lily waved a House Stromm banner and grinned from ear to ear. Avalynn smiled and waved back. She would protect Lily from danger or harm, even from their father. No matter what.

In her peripheral vision, an axe caught her attention, followed by a tuft of red hair. Wide-eyed, Kragar grinned and mouthed the word, "Sublander," and then ran his finger across his throat.

Okay … Message received. She moved to the starting point behind the large crate of Shadowblood foxes. Would they run in a pack? Toward the forest? She adjusted the bow and quiver strapped to her back. Or would the foxes splinter and spread in all directions? For that matter, how would she and the other hunters head out for the hunt? In a single line? Or in groups? As far as she knew, she still had an alliance with the other highborns. But her fake alliance with Mateo concerned her.

Something about his more than usual chilly demeanor screamed something was off, missing, awry, gone bad. She wasn't sure why he had changed, but she needed to fix that. Her experience with Mateo thus far indicated that a direct approach worked best.

She stepped next to Mateo. Heart thrumming, she glanced at him, and he met her stare. He wore his dark hair in his usual fashion, two strands braided in the front while the rest flowed down his back. With the stitched lip and the bandage near his eye, he still made her weak in the knees.

"You still with me?" She wore her hair in a long tight braid, and tucked a strand behind her ear .

He swallowed hard and then parted his perfect lips. "Yes, my princess."

Did he mean it? Something about the way he used the word ‘princess' told her he might not. She would find out soon enough.

The hunters took their places behind a line of purple ribbon. Mateo to her right and Finnian to her left. She leaned into a running stance. The weight of the weapons on her back felt like a thousand anvils. She prayed to the Sun, Moon, and Stars to bless her effort as she blew out a shaky breath. She could do this. She had to do this. Her life's preparation for this moment was not lost on Avalynn.

The palace animal keeper positioned himself at the crate's latched opening. Fingers at the ready. The royal trumpeter took his place beside the hunters. He raised the horn to his mouth and stood perfectly still for the longest seconds. His cheeks filled with air and then, Blaaare!

The foxes bolted. The crowd roared. Avalynn took flight in a tight pack with the other hunters. Arms pumping, she kept her eye on the shiny black coats as they bounded across the open meadow through lush grass and scattered wildflowers.

The foxes quickly synchronized in a rhythmic pace as they veered toward the edge of the meadow. In a blink, they disappeared into the Summit Range trees. Catching up to the lethal skulk would challenge the best hunters, but not her. She knew this terrain like the back of her hand. And, she knew the secrets Kragar shared with her and her alone before the hunt.

Grunting and hollering made her look left. Mateo and Eiric were running side by side, jabbing each other with their elbows. They stopped as they locked arms, pushing and pulling like rival stags during mating season .

"Mateo, stop!" She needed him with her. That fool Eiric would only mess up everything. "Let him go."

Mateo threw her a look, lips pursed and nostrils flared. He shoved Eiric away.

"Lowborn scum!" Eiric hollered. Selene joined him, and they took off, their legs in harmonious stride.

Avalynn shook her head and sneered. Eiric and Selene, what a perfect couple. She should have known they'd stick together. To her surprise, Finnian stayed with her and Mateo, and together the trio dashed after Eiric and Selene into the forest's towering embrace.

The transition from open daylight to the dapple-shaded trees added an extra layer of challenge. But she had anticipated that and slowed down, waving for Mateo and Finnian to do the same. "We must be careful." She pulled her bow from her back and kept it in her hand. "There are dangers in this forest." Charging forward like hot-headed Eiric and reckless Selene would only lead them into greater peril.

"You are right." Mateo drew his dagger. "Foxes are crafty and deadly, the Shadowblood probably more so. Not to mention the other creatures lurking here."

Finnian tapped his spear into the ground and glanced about. "What's the plan?"

His question landed like an Enbarr's hoof and reminded her of what she had to do. "Well, we hunt." And she would distract Mateo from capturing or killing a Shadowblood.

"And I shall win," Mateo declared.

"Or I will," Finnian asserted.

She was unsure how to make Mateo last place while she came in first but held on to the idea that she would figure it out along the way. "You both can save yourselves the time and trouble. The first-place prize belongs to me."

Mateo seethed. "You highborns already have the prize." His voice rose. "You have everything. What more could you want?"

His words shook her awake, although she did not sleep. Already had the prize? She tightened her grip on her bow. He was right. The royals did have everything. What did his people have? Nothing… She must stop thinking about that. It did not matter. And it never would.

Snap! She drew an arrow and swung her bow. A flash of fur zipped by, and she unleashed. Yip! She gulped and stared at the others. Had she done it? Had she struck a Shadowblood?

"No way," Finnian uttered.

She shrugged. "Let's go see."

They raced in the direction of her aim and found the lifeless animal. A regular fox with red fur took its last breath.

With his boot, Finnian nudged the dead fox. "Great aim, wrong beast."

"This time," she said. She retrieved her arrow and readjusted her quiver. "We also didn't see the magic in the air. Remember?"

Mateo scanned the area. "Speaking of magic, where's the boundary?" He walked around and squinted as he studied the trees. Everyone did the same.

"Is it visible with the naked eye?" Finnian asked.

Before anyone could answer, Mateo called from a cluster of trees. "Over here. I think I see it."

She and Finnian followed Mateo to the spot. A glint waned in the air, almost like a beam of light struggling to break through the clouds. She pointed. "There. I saw a spark."

Mateo moved closer. "It won't hurt us, right?" His brows gathered and bunched. "I don't trust that red-headed axe wielder of yours."

"Trust and deception are different matters." Avalynn folded her arms. "Master Kragar would never say something untrue."

Stepping forward, Finnian stretched out his arm. "Only one way to find out."

"I would not do that," Avalynn cautioned with her hand on her hip.

The thick fae touched the barrier anyway. Zap! He stumbled backward but stayed upright. He examined his buzzed hand. "It definitely hurt, but not too bad." He rubbed his fingers. "Like dipping your hand in a bucket of bees."

Even though it wouldn't kill them, she'd rather avoid being zapped. She held her bow, tip out. "We should hold out our weapons while we walk."

"Not a bad idea," Finnian agreed, holding out his spear. Mateo found a long sturdy-looking stick and held it out too but kept his dagger closer.

Avalynn walked with caution, searching for signs of prey. She found two sets of boot prints instead. "We are headed in the same direction as Eiric and Selene. Through the trees and to the Grand Valley."

Mateo frowned as he bent down. "Those are sprinting footprints. They're close together, and the pattern is linear." His gaze darted about, and he pointed. "Those are the Shadowblood tracks." And he took flight.

"Thunderation!" Avalynn charged after him. Was he going to win after all? Would she be the big loser? She kept him in view, not letting him get too far ahead. She dodged chunks of rocks and jumped over fallen branches. After running a good distance, the trees thinned, and she burst into a small clearing.

Blurs of black fur streaked around in a chaotic circle. Yips and barks filled the air. In the middle of the circle stood Selene and Eiric. Selene's eyes were wider than a canyon while Eiric jabbed his spear at the nearing foxes. They would be overrun soon.

Avalynn gulped. The Shadowbloods were deadly and smart. But were they smart enough to join forces for an attack? Did her father or Master Kragar or both know they would go after the hunters like this?

Mateo eased toward the frenzy and picked up Selene's thrown spear that had obviously missed its target. He started backtracking toward Avalynn and Finnian, looking as if he wanted nothing to do with the deadly ambush.

But this was not what she had signed up for. She bit her lip. Eiric and Selene would probably not come to her aid in the same situation. But if she could help it, they would not suffer death by mauling.

She reached for an arrow, but Finnian yanked her arm down. "They will swarm us."

"But they will die out there."

"Or we will." Finnian shook his head as if she endangered them more. "We can't take that risk."

He was right. She lowered her hand. Hit or miss, those foxes might come after them if they were alerted.

Mateo backed up until he joined them. Spear readied, he focused his attention on the foxes. "What kind of devious prey did that lunatic Kragar pick for us to hunt?"

She sifted through what she knew of the Shadowbloods—solitary, intelligent, and hunted varmints like mice, rats, and rabbits. Then she sorted the stuff she knew, but the others did not. Bloodsuckers. They disappeared into the shadows, and their claws sometimes passed on a deadly toxin. But Kragar never said anything about behaving as a pack or hunting fae.

"I do not know." She hated the weakness of those four words.

Mateo balanced his newly acquired spear in his hands. He studied the pack of foxes. "I'm going in." He glared at Avalynn. "This is my shot, and I'm taking it."

Of course he would say that. "Fine. I am too." She drew her arrow and matched his vim and vigor. She could do anything he could do…better.

Finnian brandished his spear. "Me first." He ran toward Selene and Eiric.

Avalynn and Mateo locked eyes and then ran after him toward the melee. Neither Finnian nor Mateo were making the first kill. No. Way. That honor belonged to her. Forget the directive by her father. With the attacking prey, all bets were off. Her father would have to understand.

Avalynn darted toward the middle of the clearing. She carried her bow in one hand and an arrow in the other. The Shadowblood foxes had not noticed them emerging from the tree line, but they would soon.

Mateo raced upon the prey like a charging Enbarr. He quickly passed Finnian and hurled his spear. It soared on target for a Shadowblood, but the wily beast darted sideways at the moment of truth. The sharp silver tip grazed the fox's hind flank. The beast yelped and fixed on Mateo. Raising its head, the fox let loose an ear-piercing wail.

Avalynn stopped and mumbled, "What in thunderation?" The foxes circling Eiric and Selene began darting every which way, yipping and barking in a frenzy.

"Stop them!" Mateo hollered.

"Stop them? From what?" Avalynn quickly studied the scene and realized they were assembling like warriors for a battle. She nocked an arrow and aimed her bow, but foxes came from everywhere. Impossible! It was not only the Shadowbloods. She gulped and lowered her bow. Other foxes, some red and others dark, joined from the forest's edge. They were helping the prey. The hunters had become the hunted.

Mateo's back pressed against hers. "I am going to kill that Master of Arms of yours."

"Not if I manage it first." She saw a clear shot, aimed, and let fly. Zip. The arrow lodged straight through the skull of a regular red fox. That was a kill. She nocked the next arrow when a Shadowblood leaped toward her, growling, claws out, and baring sharp teeth. Its eyes blinked from beady black to bright red.

Mateo clutched her waist, spun her, and slammed his fist under the beast's mouth. With that uppercut, the Shadowblood buckled and then dropped with a thud. It sprang back to its feet, snorted, and snarled like it wanted more.

"Why are they working together?" More scurried at them, and Mateo kicked them away. "How is that even possible?"

"Magic!" Finnian moved closer, swinging his spear back and forth. "Must be magic!"

Selene and Eiric rushed in. Selene kicked at anything and everything that neared her boots. She grunted and hollered with each strike. Her wild red hair flew in every direction with each movement. "This hunt is a huge load of dung!"

"We cannot keep this up!" Eiric shouted as the foxes attacked, over and over with relentless abandon.

Avalynn reached for an arrow. Zip. It hit the hind of a Shadowblood, which howled and then raced off. No smoke in the air. That's an injury, not a kill, and not a winner.

Mateo brandished his dagger, slicing at anything that came close. Off lopped a bushy tail with a thwack .

Avalynn flicked another arrow when a scream made her freeze.

"No!" A Shadowblood raced up Eiric's leg, past his stomach, and latched on to his neck. He hollered like it was his last. "Get it off me!"

Mateo whipped around, gripped the beast's tail, and jerked it from Eiric's skin. He spun in two circles, gaining momentum, and flung the creature into the trees.

Blood jetted from Eiric's neck. He slammed his hand over the wound and then slumped to the ground.

"Eiric!" Selene planted herself in front of him. "Protect him!"

Avalynn fired her last arrow, taking out another regular fox. She choked up on her bow and started whacking. She flashed Mateo an unsure glance. Were they goners? No winner. No loser. Only five dead hunters. They would all tie for last. What a joke.

A snarl echoed, and a large black wolf burst onto the scene. Sharp teeth bared and claws unsheathed, it leaped on an unsuspecting fox. The wolf chomped and severed the fox's head with a mighty crunch. Growling and ferocious, it went after another and tore it to shreds. With furious frenzy, it clawed away at two more.

The advancing foxes yipped and scattered in all directions, retreating into the trees. But now they had a wolf to battle. She raised her bow. Her body trembled. Could they destroy a wolf that strong and that big? It was huge. She assumed a fighting stance, ready for whatever came next.

Mateo dropped his dagger. He fell to his knees. The black wolf with a white streak down its back jumped him and then…licked his face?

"Stormy, girl!" He hugged her as she rested her big paws on his shoulders.

Avalynn lowered her bow. "You know this wolf?" Stormy tilted her head, sniffed, and then bounded from Mateo to Avalynn. It circled her legs, jumping and twirling. "Uh…what is it doing?"

Stormy raised up on her hind haunches and pounced on Avalynn, who fell back. The friendly wolf towered over her and licked her face. "My Stars." She moved her head to the side and held up her hands. "Does she greet everyone like this?"

"Stormy, off!" Mateo pulled the wolf away. His brows inched closer together. He squinted as if he didn't understand what his beast was doing.

"Eiric is bleeding!" Selene shouted. "Help him!"

Avalynn scrambled to her feet and joined Selene. Eiric's face had gone white as snow. His eyes were fixed and almost fully rolled back in his head. She touched his wrist. The thump of his pulse remained, but faint. "We need to move him somewhere safe." She scanned the forest. "And quick." But were the foxes waiting? Thank goodness for Mateo's wolf.

"I saw a cave close by." Selene pointed to the other side of the clearing. "Over there."

Mateo took charge. "Let's move."

Avalynn gathered her arrows while Mateo and Finnian lifted Eiric. They trudged into the woods, following Selene. Stormy stayed by Avalynn's side, as if assigned to her protection. She reached down and rubbed the wolf's head. "Thank you for saving us, Stormy." She could get used to this big, loveable beast .

Mateo's wolf moved closer, as if understanding her. Avalynn wanted to know more about the wolf and more about Mateo. His family, his home, where the wolf came from. She shook her head, snapping to her senses. Why? It would only make things harder when she did what she had to do. She had been ordered to sabatoge him and that directive still lingered.

He was a lowborn. Plain and simple. And that would never change. She was a highborn bound for the throne. And that would never change either.