Mark stared at his hands as if seeing them for the first time. When their eyes met a moment later, Caster saw more fear than he wanted to deal with.
He reached for Riley again and still…nothing.
“What was that?” Mark pushed to his feet, brushing off Caster’s attempts to stop him.
“The source of the witch’s power. I imagine.”
Mark started to walk away from their position, and Caster pushed to his feet, ready to stop him. But before he could, that low growl penetrated his senses again, this time louder. Mark turned to him, his shocked expression a clear indication he’d heard it too.
Footsteps approached from their left, and Caster signaled for Mark to get behind him. The footfalls grew louder, faster. Whatever it was ran towards them, gaining speed with each passing second.
Caster reached behind him, keeping his focus on the sound,and grabbed hold of Mark’s arm, ready to use his speed again to get them as far from the threat as possible. Mark’s quickened breaths matched his as they gathered the strength they would need to fight or get away.
The growls increased to the point of pain, and the source stepped out of the cover of trees towards the clearing they’d found. Mark’s gasp joined his own as it came into full view. The black body shimmered like cloth around the creature, its red eyes piercing the darkness with sinister intent, its giant feet flexing as it approached.
Caster roared, ready to unleash the vampire in him. Whatever this was, it wouldn’t take him alive. Another step, and it grew closer. He pushed Mark further behind him and braced for a fight.
Another step forward, and the monstrous animal whined, the sound loud and piercing, before stepping back. Caster’s gaze met blood-red eyes. It couldn’t cross something there. It tried again, roaring its frustration as the invisible barrier halted its movement again.
Mark moved beside him. “It can’t get through.”
Caster nodded, easing his coiled muscles into relaxation. It was only then that he felt another magical presence. Unlike the darkness that had threatened to tear him to shreds a few minutes ago, this one soothed his aching skin. He glanced at Mark, who didn’t seem to notice their magical protection. It was so subtle, Caster had missed it. It lacked the intensity of Riley’s often overwhelming power, but it was sufficient to keep the dark monstrosity from reaching them.
The darkness surrounding the monster in front of them seemed to follow it as it paced just out of reach. Mark didn’t know what kept it from attacking them, but he thanked the Goddess for it. Once again, his inability to access his wolf had made him a liability. He glanced at Caster, whose full attention was on the creature, and shame flooded his system. He’d saved his life. That was an inescapable fact. If he hadn’t, Mark would not be here to exact vengeance on the witch.
“Thank you.” He hadn’t intended to say it, and his hope his whispered moment of vulnerability had gone unheard died when Caster turned to face him.
They stared at each other for a moment, Caster’s eyesswimming with questions Mark couldn’t answer, didn’t want to answer. He shifted his eyes to the ground, giving in to a sudden desire to remain unseen by a vampire who didn’t seem to miss much.
“We are safe for now. But we can’t leave.”
Mark turned his gaze toward the creature holding them captive. “Why won’t it attack?”
“You don’t feel it?” Caster’s skepticism colored every word.
“Feel what?” Mark dared to look him in the eye, expecting to find the familiar smirk, shocked to see genuine concern and a bit of curiosity.
“The magic here. It’s protecting us from that thing.” He moved to the closest tree, leaning against it, studying Mark with too much interest. “It’s not as strong as Riley’s magic, but you should be able to feel it.”
Mark shrugged. He didn’t owe him or anyone any explanations.
Caster nodded toward his hand. “Why aren’t you healing?”
His tone held no command, and Mark stamped down on the wish that it had. Until now, he hadn’t realized how much he wanted to talk about it. He looked at his hands, studying them for an answer to Caster’s question. Blood continued to seep through tiny cuts all over his body. They would heal, but with his wolf further out of reach than should be, healing took longer for him.
He heard Caster’s sharp intake of breath, and he looked up to catch his eyes glide over the blood on his hands. He frowned, too aware of his companion’s natural tendency to gravitatetowards blood.
“You smell good, that’s all.” The casual shrug accompanying the words did nothing to ease Mark’s discomfort.
Mark wiped away the blood onto his clothes, realizing his mistake when Caster laughed.
“You’re just spreading it around.” He pushed away from the tree he leaned against, and Mark had to strain to hold his ground. “Relax, you have nothing to fear from me.”
The attack he’d fortified himself for didn’t come. Caster guided his body to the forest floor with more grace than Mark expected.
Still, he couldn’t relax. “Right…”
Caster rested against the tree with a drawn-out sigh, raising his head toward the canopy. “You interrupted my meal earlier. The least you can do is offer a replacement.”