chapter Ten

Caspian's POV

The road through the forest had been quiet enough, but as soon as Richard’s estate came into view, every instinct I had screamed alert. Stone walls intertwined with ivy and a canopy of ancient trees, the estate was a fortress but it smelled of animal musk, alive, territorial, and impatient.

The moment we crossed the boundary, my senses flared.

“Stop” I muttered.

Too late.

Four wolves burst from the tree line, bodies low, teeth bared, momentum built for the kill.

Lyra inhaled sharply and Richard stepped forward, “Enough”

The wolves skidded to a halt inches from us, hackles raised, eyes locked on me.

“He’s with me” Richard said evenly.

One of them snarled and another circled.

I met their gazes without moving. Let them smell what I was. Let them decide.

Then—

“Lyra!”

A fifth wolf came flying out of the forest, brown fur, reckless speed. She turned just as it hit her.

Her body left the ground, I moved with vampiric speed and caught her mid-air, her back slamming into my chest as we crashed into a tree. The trunk split with a sharp crack and came down behind us.

Her hands fisted in my coat and for a split second, she didn’t breathe.

Then she did.

“Thanks” she said hoarsely.

I loosened my grip, “Don’t misunderstand. I don’t want you injured yet, not when your power is still useful to me”

She pulled away and rolled her eyes. “Charming”

Before I could respond, she stalked forward.

The wolf that had hit her was already shifting, bones snapping, fur retreating. A young man stood there in nothing but shorts, wailing as Richard twisted his ear.

“Ow, Ow, Ow... Richard stop, stop!”

“Do you have any idea what you just did?” Richard snapped.

Lyra crossed her arms. “Let me guess? A brother?”

Richard sighed. “Jasper, the youngest”

“Must run in the family, slamming me into trees on first meeting”

Maria snickered and I rolled my eyes, Richard released Jasper's and he straightened up, then squinted at Lyra, his face going slack.

“…It’s you”

Maria frowned, “What do you mean, it’s her?”

“My vision,” Jasper breathed, “I saw you”

Silence...

I tilted my head, “Vision?”

Richard said quietly, “He sees fragments of the future”

Jasper suddenly grinned and stepped toward Lyra. “You’re even better looking than—”

I grabbed Lyra’s wrist and pulled her to my side.

I said, pressing two fingers to Jasper’s forehead. “Go find clothes before you flash us enough, Now.”

“You can’t just—”

“Go now Pup”

Jasper bristled. “I am not a—”

Richard looked at him.

Jasper deflated instantly, “I’ll… go change”

He fled.

Lyra watched him go. “Is he always like that?”

“Unfortunately” Richard said. “He's a bit... Proactive but he means no harm”

I scoffed. “You’re letting children guard your borders now?”

Richard didn’t rise to it, “You’re alive, aren’t you?”

Inside the estate, the air was heavier and smelled of old wood and that distinct terrible smell of werewolves.

Footsteps echoed above us and six figures descended the stairs.

Richard straightened, “Mother. Father.”

Their eyes went to me first, then slid to Lyra.

Not curiosity.

More of Assessment.

Richard’s father stepped forward. “You’re the witch?“

Lyra nodded slowly, “Lyra”

“Human-born?”

“Yes”

A look passed between them and I didn’t like it.

Then—

Hands slammed into my shoulders and Maria's.

“What the hell—?” Maria snarled.

Wolves pinned us both.

Lyra spun. “Stop!”

But no one listened.

Richard stood perfectly still without doing anything, and Jasper had returned, dressed now, eyes lowered.

A massive black wolf stepped forward, circling Lyra as she stood steady ready to defend herself if possible.

Growling.

My grip tightened against the wolves restraining me.

Every instinct screamed to tear free and end this madness.

But I stayed still, because Lyra did.

She planted her feet, shoulders squared. Fear flickered through her eyes but it didn’t take root and her hands curled slightly and I knew she was going to use her magic to defend herself.

I leaned forward against my restraints, voice low and dangerous, “Call it off”

Richard’s father said calmly, “This will decide whether she stays”

The wolf’s muscles coiled as Lyra lifted her chin.

Then the black wolf lunged.