CHAPTER TEN
The moon shone over the treetops, turning the colorful canopy into shimmering waves of silver. The drying leaves rustled joyously with the wind. And he ran.
In wolf form, it was the moment when Asher could find his footing and see through any problem. His wolf chased the night away, the blood of a stray rabbit still fresh in his jowls, his heart pounding with fierce freedom.
Near the stream bordering Sanctuary land, he slowed down to a trot and stopped. All prey sensing his approach had left the area and Asher growled in frustration. Even though every muscle in his wolf form quaked, he would have gladly sunk his teeth into warm flesh again, sating him until he could do the same with the witch.
As his thoughts moved to more dire matters, his body went through the change - muscles, and bones magically reshaping and reknitting into man’s flesh. A metamorphosis endured by his kind countless times. He didn’t care about the weird change, his beast yearned for it.
Back in human form, Asher stretched naked in the cool fall air, soothing his feverish skin. He was debating taking a dip in the stream when the wind shifted, alerting him of a known intruder.
“Damn, son. You run like the wind. I almost had trouble finding you.”
Asher arched his brow as Robert came from behind a tree, slightly out of breath.
“Almost?”
Robert smiled. “I’m getting old, son. Same as you are, don’t forget that. It’s not something you can escape, even at that speed.”
Asher looked at Robert fully dressed. “You didn’t run here, you still have your clothes on.”
Robert looked around and put his hands in his pockets. “I did run, just not in wolf form.”
Asher rolled his shoulder as impatience crept in. “Do you need anything?”
“No, not really. Great night to be outside.”
Asher inhaled deeply, reining in his temper. His uncle meant well, but never knew when to back off, or say no to his mate for that matter. “It’s Aunt Ellen who asked you to come see me. To talk to me.”
“Careful, son. One day you too will be mated, and you’ll find it very difficult to say no to her. And on that day, I’ll be the one laughing.”
Asher remembered his own parents well and how they were together. He may tease his uncle, but part of his heart, part of his wolf, envied him. From his own parents, he also learned about duty and what was necessary for the survival of the pack, in this case, the Sanctuary.
“What does my aunt want, Robert?”
“She worries about the witch you keep in the basement. Ellen searched for any possible disappearance in the Otherworld, a warrant on her head, anything to find her identity. She found nothing. Well, nothing without raising flags, which we don’t want to do right now.”
Crossing his arms, he turned to the water. “All the better then, nobody will miss her.”
Robert took a step in his direction. “Asher, be careful. Don’t you find it strange that this witch doesn’t use her powers, even worse, that she accepts magical restraints without even blinking? She was homeless, starving and she even tried to end her life when you cornered her. It doesn’t add up.”
“What are you suggesting? That she’s some sort of spy?”
“Maybe. It can’t be that simple an explanation or a coincidence that she’s here.”
Asher walked to the stream and pondered on what Robert said. The moon flickered on the moving waters in a hypnotic dance. Magic in his eyes was everywhere, in the good, as well as in the evil.
“It seems unlikely that she set a trap, Robert.”
“And what if she purposely left a scented trail for you to follow? You must at least consider that it may not be a pure coincidence.”
Asher was about to answer when something or someone caught his attention. The shadow was downwind, the reason why he hadn’t been alerted sooner. Robert followed his gaze and stepped forward growling when the shadow came into the pale moonlight.
“Holy hell, Genevieve, you could have said something, I almost attacked you!”
Beside him, Robert relaxed his stance, but his frown remained in place. Asher saw the fae woman bow her head and smile as she walked toward the two men. At that instant, he wished for some clothes. He was not shy about his body or being naked at all, but it was a bit more awkward for a reasonable discussion.
“What can I do for you, Genevieve? Are you alright?”
The fae woman came closer, almost gliding to him. He knew very little about the dark, willowy woman. She came to Sanctuary half beaten to death, her little girl bundled up in her arms. It was Spring, all flowers in full bloom and fresh leaves the deepest green rustled by a fragrant warm wind. But when he saw her, scared and hurt, with determination set in her eyes, it was as if the fae brought sadness and darkness to his doorstep, making the cheerful day gloomy. Asher offered her shelter and protection, but she never really recovered, remaining shy and discreet, never talking about her ordeal.
“Why didn’t you tell me that a witch was in Sanctuary?”
Asher crossed his arms, looking at the delicate, almost ethereal being standing in front of him. Faes always acted in peculiar ways. Even if you thought to know their reaction, their real motive, they would surprise and blindside you.
“Genevieve, that witch is a prisoner, dangerous and unpredictable. And she has not used her power for a long time, from what Robert and I could observe.”
Robert stepped closer. “Asher is right. He would never endanger anybody who sought shelter at Sanctuary. You know that.”
The woman looked around, swayed a little, and her forlorn gaze glided back to him.
“My child’s dying, Asher. None of my people could help. Well, those who were actually willing to help. I sacrificed so much. I had to hide here. Do you think I’m not ready to risk even more to save her? To protect my precious child?”
Asher knew well what Genevieve had sacrificed to help little Maya. Part of him wanted to grant her what she wished for. But his more pragmatic self was reluctant to allow the witch any power where he was concerned.
“I will think about your request, Genevieve. But, if the danger is too great for you or Maya…”
The fae woman bowed gracefully. “Well understood. May I be of service and summon some clothing for you?”
Asher refrained from looking at his nakedness and smiled kindly. He knew too well that Genevieve was evading the discussion, and would never let go so quickly. But she was wise enough not to confront him directly. “No, thank you. I’m heading back in wolf form. Clothing would be lost.”
Genevieve smiled and bowed again before walking back, almost floating and evaporating through the trees. Robert came closer as he watched the forest where the fae had disappeared.
“What are you going to do, son?”
Asher didn’t like the idea of letting someone as emotionally fragile as Genevieve close to this treacherous witch. On the other hand, the murderess could do something good before dying. He would need to find a way to discover if she would be the answer to Genevieve’s prayer. If she did, she might know a more humane and painless death at his hands.
“Robert, we’re going to put that witch to the test.”
Robert quirked a smile. “I can’t wait to know your plan.”
Asher turned, preparing to change, and head back to Sanctuary.
“Simple, I’ll apply some woman’s psychology.”