Chapter 22

Chapter Twenty-Two

C arved into the walls, bind runes cover every inch of wall visible. The vermillion shade makes the walls appear to bleed.

"What is all this?" I study the complicated creations.

"Bind runes meant to help with spiritual growth." The symbol looks like a backward "z" with an hour at the bottom is often repeated.

"Guidance on the Voyager's compass. I don't know where this tunnel leads, but someone thinks the journey will be life-altering."

Fell translates the meanings with ease. His future as a history keeper means he's well-versed in old languages, symbols, and customs.

"I'm worried about how alive we'll be by the end," Bo grumbles.

"Bo, always putting things into perspective." Fell snickers.

"It's what I do best, humbling you."

I glance at Cadoc. His lips twitch and I smile. Their bickering provides a background I'm used to. Large sections of jagged writing unnerves me. The test feels manic. I can sense the lingering desperation of its author.

Who were they? Why were they here?

Scratch marks trail down the walls. "Someone or something was trapped here." Fell frowns.

"Where did they go?" I ask the obvious.

Stopping by the end of the nail tracks, Fell inhales. "Fear, confusion, and sorrow." He shudders.

"Was this who left the shovel behind?" I study the area for more clues.

"Maybe?" Kirk clenches his jaw. "But they couldn't have just phased out."

"If they ran into poison like there was in the basket, they could've." Bo snorts.

"Wouldn't there still be some residue from it?" I look at Kirk.

"I don't think we can assume anything here." Kirk gives me an apologetic look. The answer isn't what I wanted to hear.

Fell turns from the opposite wall. "There are directions here." His eyebrows dip and wrinkle.

"But it makes no sense."

"What does it say?" I walk over and the others follow.

"They claimed to make a deal with a Jotun for food and clues. There are none of the old ones here in the new world. There was speculation they might not truly exist. I've read the ancient texts and accounts." Panic threads into his voice. The past he studied and accepted as truth is unraveling daily.

"Why couldn't they be hidden away? These caves were made by, and for, someone." Cadoc shrugs.

"If the old ones were here, we could've appealed to them for help and guidance ages ago," Fell argues, refusing to back down.

"Yes, if help was the goal," Bo plays devil's advocate.

"Everything can't be a lie." Fell shakes his head.

"What if it is?" I deliver the killing blow to the passion he'd built his life around.

He steps back, horrified and breathing hard. "That would make all my work meaningless."

"No." I shake my head. "It's made you a valuable asset. The skills you've acquired can't be taken away by anyone."

"None of it matters anymore." Fell's shoulders slump.

The desolation in his eyes rips at my soul.

"Don't say that." I grab his hand. "You love our lore, culture, and practices. That's admirable, and necessary to keep the old ways alive. We're going to need you moving ahead."

"You always told me I should question things. But I craved order and the sense of belonging. I didn't want to see the gaps that didn't fit."

"You trusted our leaders. The fault lies with them," I insist. I can't watch him self-destruct. "I don't think it's all or nothing, Fell. Everything's happened for a reason. You know how rare male Volva's are."

"It was viewed as an insult." Fell kicks at the dirt.

"Good thing we're in modern times, then, huh?" I step into his space.

"There are few people I'd trust with this much power. You're one of them." Bo's words seem to sink in.

Fell clenches his jaw and nods his thanks.

Cadoc clears his throat. "The question we need to focus on is why they believed there were giants in here."

A deep chuckle comes from further into the cave. My mates surround me. Large yellow eyes blink open.

"You're quicker than the last lot." A shape moves out from the dark. Suddenly, his earthy scent floods the space. He'd masked himself. "You've Jotunn blood in your veins. What a treat. Another visit from family so close together."

I look over at Fell, who takes the lead. "We didn't mean to enter your domain without permission. We weren't aware that anyone lived here."

He bows at the waist. "Manners. How refreshing." He steps away from the shadows and my jaw drops. Nearly twelve feet tall, the barrel-chested bearded being looked to be made of the earth. The rich brown of soil with black hair, he's clothed in a green tunic and tan leggings.

"Others?" I home in on the phrase.

"The ones with the dark magic. They forced their way in and tainted my space. Have you come to do the same?" His voice rumbles the entire space.

"We're here to recover what's rightfully ours." I hold my arm out and the mark on my wrist glows.

"Keeper." His deep voice reverberates through me. "And her guardians. You've come to prevent Ragnarok. To keep me in my misery, locked beneath the earth alone. Let it end."

He roars, shaking the walls. Running at us, he starts an earthquake.

"Shift," Cadoc barks. I let my she-wolf come forth. Bones and muscles melt away, transforming effortlessly. The new room must mean new rules.

I run between the giant's feet. The Jotunn lumbers forward. Stomping at us like a whack-a-mole, he catches me in the side. I yelp. His momentum sends me into a bolder across the room. I land like a pile of bricks, stunned.

Whimpering, I push my upper body up. Cadoc launches himself at the Jotunn, sinking his teeth into his hand. The Jotunn waves his hand. Bo and Kirk attack his Achilles heels while Fell guards me until I gain my feet.

I lope away, limping slightly. Arms flailing, the Jotun stumbles back. My mates bolt, coming to gather with me on the opposite side of the space.

Balancing, his eyes fill with rage.

"It is not your place to interfere with their mission." A voice like thunder bounces off the walls. I can't help but quake in fear at the immense power I sense. "This is your punishment. It will not end until I deem you're suffering sufficient."

I glance around the room, unable to find the source of the voice.

"The Keeper has domain here. Stand aside and let them fight for their people and this world."

The Jotunn cowers, backing away. The strange presence lingers.

"This is your battle, wolves. We are simply watching as it plays out."

I bow my head, knowing I'm in the company of a god. My mates perform the same bow. We've made the gods notice us once more. I'm not sure it's a good thing. If it could bring the powerful Jotun to his knees, we're insects waiting to smash on a windshield.

Stone grinds on stone. A cool draft rushes into the runnel, ruffling my fur. I look up and watch as a wall rolls up like a garage door. We rush ahead, and I don't look back.

Shifting back to humans, we check each other over.

"Are you okay?" Kirk asks.

"I'll live." My battered body aches.

Kirk presses his lips together. "Let me check."

"He hardly grazed me."

Ignoring me, Kirk runs his hands over my body, eliciting grunts and groans. He touches my side and I hiss. Yanking up my hoodie and shirt, he reveals a nasty bruise. "Do you feel anything sharp when you breathe?" Kirk asks.

"Sharp, no, but it does hurt."

"Let me put some healing salve on it and wrap it."

"I think this is mine." Fell holds up a chunky silver ring. He slips it on his ring finger, and the yellow stone glows.

"What's going on with the rings?" Bo tilts his head.

"I have a broach. Maybe these are your items of power?" I suggest.

"We just saw a giant. Anything is possible." Cadoc's deadpan delivery makes us all laugh.

The light drains from the area, and we all go on high alert. Mirth forgotten, we rally. I ignore the dull ache in my side and watch the area.

Foreign scents drift toward us. A thick fog rolls in.

"Don't breathe it in," Kirk instructs us.

I cover my mouth with the sleeve of my hoody. The fog wraps around me, disorienting and obscuring my view.

Yanked back, and spun, I lose track of my clan. Bodies rush by me, knocking me to the left and right. Pain explodes in my injured side. I strain to see through the mist. Magic is at play here. All I can hear is the wind.

Unable to tell friends from foes with my senses muted, I enter a game of cat and mouse. Hugging the wall, I travel away from the area of the initial attack.

The smoke clears. Fire erupts in front of me. I skid to a halt. Backpedaling, another wall of flame roars to life, cutting off my escape route.

The burned man appears in the one opening left. "You can't escape. Make it easy on yourself and surrender." Impossibly tall and clad in all black, he's covered his face with a scarf reminiscent of a Keffiyeh, a Middle Eastern head wrap.

His red-on-black eyes hold a mixture of regret and resolve. I scream as the core of my magic is attacked. The mark on my wrist flares to life.

"I know the Alpha experimented on you." I take a stab in the dark, trying to distract him.

"You know nothing." He explodes. His eyes bleed to black.

"We won't let it continue." I hold out my hands.

"Not good enough." The pain in his words is a tangible thing. "You think they care? That they'll stand by you? Let's see." He laughs bitterly.

A dark cloud engulfs him. When it dissipates, Bo's father stands in his place.

What is this?

"Father?" Bo's voice is gruff in his half-form as he approaches.

"This isn't a battle you can win, son. We made a mistake agreeing to this. Join me."

"You're part of this?" Bo growls.

"We always choose the winning side."

I watch the struggle in Bo's eyes. This man has ruled him with an iron fist his entire life. Tears blur my vision. Blinking, I lengthen my nails to claws. I launch myself at the burned man. He bats me away and Bo attacks, making his choice.

Getting up, I wait for my opportunity as the men fight. The burned man lands a blow that stuns Bo, who's trying desperately not to hurt his father. Following the hit with a vicious undercut, he knocks Bo off his feet.

I attack claws first.

He wraps his hand around my neck and presses me against the wall.

"No." Gritting my teeth, I push at the pressure.

"Stop fighting."

"Never." Rotating my wrist, I pull my arm up, breaking his hold.

A shape rushes forward. The burned man grunts. His head jerks to the left. Blood flies from a claw mark through his scarf. I recognize the candy scent.

"I got you, princess." Bo pulls me away. I match his pace, trusting him to lead us away from danger through the fog. "He has people with magic here. I saw them casting spells."

I panic, unable to feel them through our link. Like a radio station too far from the antenna, it's fuzzy and unintelligible. Pausing, we catch our breath, and I try to locate the others.

"They're blocking the signal."

"What are we going to do?"

"I'm working on that."

I place a hand over my chest. "I think he was trying to steal my magic. Or bind it, so I couldn't change. It was like having my soul sucked out."

"That's not going to happen." His eyes turn to slits and become amber. Without the link, we're too vulnerable in wolf form. He morphs seamlessly to his half-stage. "I won't let anything happen to you, princess."

He's pushed away by an unseen force. I shift, running deeper into the brush. My she-wolf flies forth,

Bo sinks his teeth into the burned man's arm. The burned man rakes his claw down Bo's chest.

The coppery scent of blood mixes with rage and bloodlust. The burned man morphs into an unrecognizable beast. Slender with sharp features, the bulky beast has high angular wings, a double row of fangs, and massive curved claws. With tall curved ears, a batlike nose, and a protruding brow, he's an amalgamation of creatures.

Lighting fast, he takes strips of flesh off Bo's back and side. I jump onto his back, biting his shoulder. He tosses me over his shoulder. I slam into the wall. The breath knocked from my lungs. I struggle to regain my breath.

"You'll never make it to the amulet." He digs his claws into Bo, making him spin and rotate. Collapsing forward, the burned man races off into the forest.

I scramble toward Bo on all fours. "Bo."

He whines in the back of his throat. Pain bombards me as the link returns full force.

Ylva. The others' voices echo in my head.

I'm here, I'm okay. Bo kept me safe. But he's hurt badly.

We're coming. Cadoc promises.

A beam of white light filters through the wide leaves of the trees. It falls onto Bo like a spotlight. The muscles knit back together. His breathing steadies. A chunky ring appears beside his head as the others arrive.

Three wolves move toward me. Blood coats their muzzles and fur. I wince at the puncture wounds.

They roll him over and I slide the ring onto his finger with trembling fingers. A jolt of electricity flows through me. His body arches and his eyes pop open. Gasping, he convulses.

"Kirk." I press my hands over his heart as the others secure his body. Am I going to lose him before I have time to heal our old wounds?

"He's healing." Kirk's relieved whisper allows my heart rate to settle again. I rest my hand on him.

His hand moves to cup the back of my head. "You okay, princess?" His raspy voice is music to my ears.

"Yeah, you chose me."

"Not a choice at all. Always gonna be you."

"It was an illusion."

"Doesn't matter." The sincerity chants the direction of our relationship.

I brush my lips over his. "Thank you."

"If they get the amulet before we do, that's it," Cadoc says.

"I can move." Bo clenches his jaw. "Help me to my feet." Gone is the spoiled rich boy who lashed out at others and lived in a bubble. This is the warrior who was ready to protect me with his life. "I don't know what the man I faced was. But it sure as hell wasn't just a wolf."

"He was from the lab. He confirmed it to me."

"So we have no idea what the fuck we're dealing with." Cadoc snarls.

"Doesn't matter. He's a threat that needs to be dealt with." Bo rallies, straightening as he heals. The stones in their rings seem to glow in agreement.

"Looks like I'm the last one left." Kirk holds up his hand.

"Whatever it is, we'll handle the challenge together," Cadoc's voice grounds me.

"Can you walk, Bo?" I lick my lips, studying his pale face.

Bo grunts. "I'll manage."

Fell offers his hand. Bo takes it, gritting his teeth as he's pulled up.

There's a major shift happening in our clan. I hope it'll help us survive the brutal battle to come.