The air shifted around me, hitting like the soundless blast of a solric as Nico shifted. A massive bear now stood where my brother had been. He shook his molten copper coat, raw muscle rippling in the sun as he settled into his new form.
My skin crawled with the urge to join him, the veska on my palm ached. My own beast keened for release. But this had to bea fair fight. If any of us got involved, everything Nico was trying to accomplish would fall into chaos.
Sawyer sized him up briefly before drawing his own knife across the veska scar on his forearm. Another wave of energy crashed through me as Sawyer’s beast tore free. I stared in stunned disbelief as a giant white bear shook its enormous head.
“A spirit bruin,” Luca breathed. “I didn’t know they still existed.”
I’d heard of spirit beasts—a high gift given by the Divine. They were rare and said to possess special powers. Legend claimed they could weave the veil of the cosmos to their need and walk between the spirit realm and the physical world. I’d never seen one before in my life. Some even considered them a myth.
“Fuck. What the hell has Nico gotten us into? Start thinking of our best escape route,” I muttered to him.
Sawyer’s every movement was fluid, each step calculated, like he carried something otherworldly on his sloped shoulders. His pale blue eyes regarded Nico with an unsettling calm, a stillness that seemed to seep into the surrounding forest.
I leaned against a tree at the edge of the clearing, arms crossed tight over my chest, trying to appear indifferent. But I wasn’t fooling anyone—least of all myself.
Nico broke the silence with a piercing roar before he charged. Black taloned claws tore into the rich soil as he barreled toward Sawyer. Their bodies collided with a thud, like falling trees, echoing through the glade. Nico went on the offense, his hooked claws drawing first blood. Crimson standing out in stark contrast against white fur. It was a glancing blow, and Sawyer shifted with preternatural grace.
Nico was relentless, vicious teeth snapping, trying to seize the upper hand. Each strike was a contest of primal strength, but it wasn’t clear if this was a battle he could win. Sawyer’ssheer size alone gave him the advantage, and Nico couldn’t avoid his brutal counterattack. Blood spilled from his wounds, leaving dark, matted patches on his copper coat. He moved with precision, but there was tension in his movements I hadn’t seen before.
Sawyer was relentless, every swipe of his claws was a brutal reminder of how high the stakes were. Each impact vibrated through the ground, and I swallowed hard, trying to keep the bile from rising in my throat. The onlookers cheered, their excitement grating on my nerves. Idiots. They had no idea what was really at risk. To them, this was entertainment. To us, it was survival.
Luca circled the perimeter, scanning the males to ensure Nico had a fair fight. A solid clap on the shoulder was all it took to render one useless. All of their energy drained away in a heartbeat. His magic was impressive, but it made him a piss-poor sparring partner.
I sensed her presence before she stepped beside me. Her scent hit like a wave, ripping my attention from the fight. My breath hitched, and for a moment, all I could do was stare. Her eyes burned with determination as they locked onto mine.
“What’s going on, Lu?”
“Mic—” Her name tumbled out of my mouth like an admission of guilt. “I didn’t expect you to… are you…” I stammered. My brain scrambled for a coherent thought. Damn it, pull yourself together.
Her gaze flicked past me to the brawling bears. “You didn’t answer my question. What’s happening?”
“It’s…” I glanced over my shoulder, watching Nico and Sawyer collide again, their snarls ripping through the clearing. “It’s nothing. Nico’s got it handled. They’re just sorting things out.” I shifted to block her view, hoping to distract her. “I thought you were still bathing?”
She crossed her arms. “The cabin was shaking like it was about to collapse. Seeing as we’re being hunted, I thought I’d make sure you weren’t all dead.”
Guilt prickled at the back of my neck. “Shit, Mic. I’m sorry. We didn’t think?—”
“No, you didn’t,” she snapped. “None of you have given much thought to my feelings at all, have you?”
Her words hit like a blow, and I stiffened, unsure how to respond. Before I could find the right words, she sighed, her expression softening.
“But that’s beside the point. Are you sure Nico has it handled?”
I hesitated, glancing back at the fight. Sawyer landed a brutal blow, and Nico stumbled—his coat saturated with blood. My throat tightened. “He’s the best fighter I know,” I said, though my voice lacked conviction. “He won’t lose.”
“Why are they fighting?”
My jaw clenched. How much should I tell her? She deserved the truth—but how could I explain this without making her worry?
“Nico’s proving himself,” I muttered, the words bitter in my mouth.
Her brow furrowed. “Proving himself? This is about pride? Are males in every realm this predictable?”
“It’s not just that,” I said, voice low. “The Raven’s Hand wants to turn us over to the crown. Johan’s put a price on our heads. Nico’s making sure that doesn’t happen.”
The color drained from her face. “The crown,” she whispered. “So we’re back to running for our lives?”
Before I could answer, a roar ripped through the air—raw and primal. Michaela flinched, and instinct took over. I grabbed her arm and pulled her back just as Sawyer’s massive paw swiped too close for comfort. We hit the ground hard, and Iwrapped myself around her, shielding her as dust and debris filled the air.
