Part 17

Zara felt her blood turn cold. A chill started at the base of her spine and ended at the nape of her neck. Ronan's expression was frozen in shock, his grip on her hips still tight although now for another reason entirely. Zara pushed him away, scrambling for her pack and her blade. Ronan seemed to snap to attention then, following her lead. From the corner of her eye, she watched as he swiped the Finder's Glass from the table top and tuck into one of his pockets. Another solemn howl came again, only this time it was slowly joined by others until it was impossible to tell where one sound began and another ended.

"We can't out run them." Ronan said, shaking his head. He hurriedly shrugged on his bloody shirt, not bothering to finish buttoning it completely.

Zara shushed him, pressing her back against the wall closest to the door and peering out into the darkened street. Her heart plummeted. She felt momentarily dazed, her breath faint. Her stomach twisted and writhed with what she knew was raw, inescapable fear. When she turned back to Ronan, his eyes grew wide at the sight of her expression.

He staggered back into the table, resting his weight there. "What is it?' He asked in a ragged whisper.

Zara swallowed hard over a lump in her throat. "They're already here."

His face seemed to drain with color and he stumbled to her side. Together, they peered out the dingy window once again. No less than twelve wolves, fur ranging in all shades of color from black to brown to auburn, stood outside the cottage. Only now, there was a tall, slender figure among them she hadn't seen before. She recognized the thin, sallow face and the coldness of his gaze.

"Is that—"

"Yes," Zara answered Ronan in a whisper. "Ardon."

"You can't run, you can't hide." Ardon's voice suddenly rang out in sing-song voice. "Might as well come out and play."

Zara sank to the ground, fingernails digging into her palms. She wanted to convince herself she was stuck inside another one of her nightmares, that Ardon really wasn't there and that all of this existed only in her head. Yet the reality of it all was too tangent. Ronan was kneeling in front of her, cradling her face in his hands. He was saying something in a low, frantic voice but she only caught the tail end.

"—have to do anything he says, okay? Zara?" His eyes pleaded with her to listen to him and she wrapped her fingers around his wrists before pulling his warm palms from her face.

"If we don't go out, he'll come in." She said, her voice much steadier than she felt. She closed her eyes for a moment and inhaled a slow, deep breath before exhaling and trying to expel as much of her fear with it. She remembered her training with the Red Capes, and how to control fear...how to push it to the corners of your mind where it was still felt but controlled. She grabbed the back of Ronan's neck and pulled him in for a quick, rough kiss before she was standing to her feet. Her sweaty grip held tight to her sword as she turned towards the door.

Ronan still looked unsteady on his feet, and she knew there was no chance of them fighting their way out of this. Not with just the two of them, and especially not with Ronan still recovering from his earlier injury. Still, he stood by her side with his own weapon in hand, resigned to follow her even if neither of them knew what waited. "Together?" He asked.

"Together." She agreed with a nod.

With one last deep breath, she pushed the door to the cottage open and stepped out into dark street. The moon hung low and bright overhead, casting unusual shapes and shadows across the ruins of the village. Ardon's lips curled into a pleased smile, his hands clasped behind his back. One of the wolves came forward and sniffed at Zara's feet, letting out a low growl before Ardon waved it away with a flick of his wrist. His eyes then locked with hers, as yellow and emotionless as she remembered them being in her dreams.

"At last...we meet. In the flesh anyways." His said, voice like ice. His eyes traveled lazily over her from head to foot before meeting her gaze once again. "Aren't you the spitting image of your father, hm?" And at the earnestly curious look that appeared on her face, Ardon chuckled. "You're right, of course. You'd have no clue if you did or didn't resemble him, would you?"

"What have you done with her?" Ronan snapped from next to her. She assumed he meant the princess, although he had yet to mention her by name.

It was the first time Ardon looked at him and his expression appeared only mildly interested. "Hush, Ronan of Valsthar. It's not your turn yet." He clucked his tongue.

Zara curiosity prickled once again, remembering all too well Ardon's hint of Ronan's own secrets. Although maybe that was what he wanted, to turn her against the only ally she had. She brushed off his comment and squared her shoulders and lifted her chin, attempting to appear taller than she was. "What do you know about my father?"

"Oh, plenty. All of which I'd only be too happy to share with you. Of course, I'll need a favor first." Ardon said, picking at a nonexistent thread on his shirt before glancing back at her. Zara stared back expectantly. "Well, I thought it'd be obvious. I'm going to need you to come with me." He said it as if this were an unfortunate circumstance that just couldn't be avoided. His eyes slid to Ronan. "And you, as well. My, my. What a lucky day indeed. Two birds with one stone."

Every nerve in her body seemed to be on high alert, buzzing with a trepidation but it was Ronan who reacted, moving closer to her in an almost protective stance. She felt simultaneously grateful and irked at his boldness. She knew more of Ardon than he at this point and knew he was not someone who liked to be challenged.

"We will do nothing until you give us what we want."

Ardon perked an eyebrow. "You speak as if you have a choice." He chortled. "Although, I am a little touched. "Warms my heart to see two young people...grow so fond of one another. Unfortunately, I expect that may change any moment now."

The implication in his voice made Zara's skin flush and her anger grow. "What are you talking about?"

The wolves behind Ardon paced restlessly, the expressions in their eyes incredibly human which she supposed made sense assuming if they were like Ardon and were werewolves. She could see no escape route here, no means of controlling the situation. Whatever Ardon meant to do, she was certain it was going to be done. He was the one pulling the strings and she had a feeling when he finished tugging this last final string, everything was going to fall a part.

He glanced at Ronan with a false, sympathetic look. "Well, shall we tell her? Do you think it's time your little lie came out?"

Zara felt something dark and ominous growing in the pit of her stomach. It was heavy like lead, and when she turned to look at Ronan her pulse faltered. He was looking at her with an almost tortured expression, the guilt and sadness there too apparent. He reached out for her and she took an automatic step back, and he looked further pained. "What is he talking about, Ronan?" She asked in a low voice.

"I was going to tell you, I swear. I just needed more time." He suddenly insisted and made another attempt to grab her hand but she pulled away from him with lighting speed.

The betrayal Zara suddenly felt was overwhelming, and she had yet to know the depth of it. She curled her hands into tight fists to hide the fact that she was suddenly trembling with rage. "Tell me." She urged through gritted teeth.

Ronan's face was drawn and colorless, his eyes begging her for forgiveness for something she had no idea of yet. She could feel the glee radiating off Ardon over what was unfolding in front of him, but she couldn't take her eyes off the man in front of her. The man who not long ago she had been kissing, she had been believed she cared for.

"When I sought you out, you truly were my last hope. I was desperate and I knew you would need a reason to go back into the forest, and I didn't have one I believed would convince you. There was truth in my words, though...we are searching for someone, just not the someone I led you to believe." He paused for a moment, as if it pained him to continue. "There is no princess. It's Annika. They took my sister." The last of his words trailed off into a whisper.

There is no princess. The words echoed in her head. All this time she had believed they were rescuing a king's daughter, someone who would help her redeem herself to the Red Capes. That dark pit growing in her stomach seemed as if it would devour her. She stared at Ronan in disbelief, shaking her head. "You played me. Like a fool. Why wouldn't you just tell me the truth?" She struggled to keep her voice steady.

"Zara, listen. Please, I beg you. You wouldn't have agreed to help me if I'd have told you it was just a village girl, someone who only mattered greatly to me." He said desperately.

She ignored his plea, although a small part of her knew he was right. Had she known, she wouldn't have given him a second thought that day in the tavern. "Are you even a Huntsman?"

"Yes! I really do serve the king of Valsthar, I swear it."

One truth, though how could she really know now? She turned her back on him, staring hard at the worn cobbled path at her feet. The entire quest was a lie. This would not help her win back the favor of the guard, but perhaps instead diminish her chances even more. Both of them had deliberately disobeyed the law by entering the forest in the first place. All along she had felt something was off about his story, yet had never given it much thought. She had trusted him so easily. Too easily. And yet, would she have not done the same thing had it been her gran in danger? Or Gray? She had not lived a blameless life either. She too had made mistakes. But to lie? To manipulate her?

She felt his touch on her arm and shrugged him off. "Don't." She snapped.

There was a low, delighted chuckle and she turned her hardened gaze on Ardon, who had been watching the partnership between the two people in front of him crumble. "My, my. The tangled lies we weave. And by the way, Annika is fine. Well, alive anyways."

"Tell me what you want with us." She growled, her grip on her sword tightening. The wolves seemed to sense the change in her mood and rallied around Ardon, hackles raised.

"Patience. My conditions still stand. You come with me without resistance." He said calmly. "Or I''ll make sure his poor sister gets ripped to shreds. I'm sure you're not eager to cause yet another death."

Her heart tightened in her chest, though she refused to look at Ronan. As angry as she was, a life was not something she wanted to barter with. Especially not his sister's. She had not yet forgiven him for his lies, but they had not erased her feelings for the man either. "Let Annika go, let them both live. Those are my conditions."

He looked at her contemplatively for a long moment. "What makes you think you have any control here, Zara? If it were up to me, I could care less about either of them. Unfortunately, there are plans at play here that you don't yet understand. Besides...now he's good leverage.You did that to yourself." He grinned wickedly. He snapped his fingers and two of his wolves flanked Ronan, teeth bared and both foaming at the mouth. "I can't kill him, but I can hurt him a little."

Her heart lurched despite her anger at Ronan for his lies. She couldn't just turn off her feelings, even though she so badly wanted to forget how she felt.

"Now, what will it be?"

Her mind was reeling with questions and there were little answers. She turned to face Ronan, where he was no pressed again the wall, eyes glued on the two creatures who eyes him hungrily. Defeated washed over her. She couldn't win. Not without consequences. "We have no choice, Ronan."

Ronan's eyes snapped toward her, but she refused to meet his gaze. "Zara—"

"Don't," she said in a low voice, keeping her eyes on Ardon's icy blue ones. He was smiling at her, that cold, calculating smile.

Ronan reluctantly stepped forward. One of the wolves snapped at his heels, making him flinch just slightly. His made was set into an angry grimace, though, his eyes seething. "I want my sister back," he said in a low voice.

"In good time," he finally murmured to Ronan, not even bothering to spare him a glance. He pocketed the mirror and clapped his hands, rubbing them together. "Now, we have much to discuss and a ways yet to travel. Come now, both of you."

He gave another snap of his fingers and Zara felt her mouth fall open as the two wolves that still circled Ronan with predatory gazes began to shift, their back legs lengthening and claws retracting. Their snots shortened and the hair began to recede from their bodies as they slowly morphed into hunched, crouched men onto the cobble stones.

Zara gaped, unable to look away. She had never witnessed the change before, but it was different than what she had imagined. There was no grinding of bones and stretching of flesh, but rather a fluid, graceful transition that seemed anything but painful. Two men now stood where the wolves had been moments before, straightening up. Both wore gray trousers, though they were shirtless, their chests covered in a fine layer of hair. One had stark white hair, while the other's was dark, peppered with gray.

"Make sure he doesn't try to do anything stupid," Ardon ordered. "He looks the type."

Zara saw the effec of Ardon's words instantly. Ronan's teeth were clenched, a wild look in his eyes. She opened her mouth to warn him not to fight, but it was too late. His fist connected with the white-haired man's nose with a sickening crunch. Zara watched in horror as the dark haired man gripped Ronan's wrist and twisted it painfully behind his back.

She reacted without thinking, barreling into the man and throwing him off balance. It was like trying to topple a boulder, though, as she collided with pure muscle. The man easily regained his footing and his fingers curled around her throat, turning to slam her back against the stone siding of the cottage. Her head smacked against the wall, making her dazed. Just over the man's shoulder, she could see Ronan now on his back, the white-hared man's curled fist slamming into his stomach where the ghoul's claw had sliced into his skin. His cries of pain made her cringe and she dug her nails into the dark haired man's wrist, trying to draw blood. He leered at her, tightening his grip until she felt herself gasping for air.

"Enough!" Ardon snapped. Instantly, the pressure was released from her throat and she sagged back against the wall, catching her breath. She stumbled toward Ronan, falling to her knees at his side. Fresh blood flowered through his shirt. She pressed her palm over it, shakily trying to staunch the bleeding.

Ronan's eyes sought hers and he opened his mouth, but she shook her head. "Don't. Just don't," she heard herself whisper in a hard voice.

Ardon suddenly towered over them, nudging Ronan with the toe of his boot. "Foolish. Both of you. You're making it very difficult for me to want to keep you alive," he snarled. "Bind his wrists."

Zara was being pulled to her feet then, Ardon's fingers curling around her upper arm. He started walking briskly toward the drawbridge. She glanced behind her, but Ronan was hidden from view by the two men. She looked back at Ardon. "Where are we going?"

He let out a low whistle and the rest of his pack sprang on ahead of them. Ardon linked his arm through hers, pulling her tightly to his side. Against her better judgement, she cast one last look towards Ronan who had sank to his knees on the street and was watching them go with a conflicted, agonized expression. When she looked back at Ardon, he was watching her expectantly.

"Tell me. What do you know of blood magic?"

The question seemed irrelevant and caught her off guard. "Only what knowledge was passed on through the Red Capes."

"Well, it seems this will be a learning experience as well as a bonding experience for you. You will be go great value to me. My brother would be pleased to know his daughter is in such good hands." He smirked at her.

Zara felt her feet stop, her entire body coming to a halt. She looked at the man next to her in horror and incredulity. "What did you say?"

"Welcome to the family, my niece."

A damp cloth, smelling strongly of something potent and acidic, was pressed over her mouth. Then, everything went dark.