A Song of Mange and Poison by Caroline Noe

Author:Caroline Noe
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: women's paranormal fiction, Humorous fantasy, Midlife fantasy, humorous fiction, satire, midlife comedy, midlife magic, wolf romance, fantasy wolf, older characters, female comedy, fantasy comedy
Publisher: Caroline Noe
Published: 2023-09-19T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 23

Let Me Go

Just keep walking. One foot after another, pushing through the snow, leaning against the wind, sheltering the child, until my legs and arms scream in agony, my broken heart bleeding inside my chest. Curt, Serpen, Anguis and Wings crowd around me, hands waving, all speaking at once as I keep climbing the slope. I can see their mouths moving, but I can’t hear the words over the throbbing heartbeat filling my ears.

Whump, whump. Whump, whump.

“That’s enough,” someone says. I don’t know who.

Curt shoves a hand beneath my knees, wanting to carry me, but I pull away from him, staggering into Anguis. Sospa’s head emerges from beneath my chin, whimpering, snowflakes catching in her hair. She would look magical, if I wasn’t dying inside.

“I’ll take her,” Anguis yells at Curt, but my eyes don’t find him in the chaos.

“I can do it,” the wolf hollers back.

I don’t want either of you. Just leave me be. I want to walk. To get away from it all.

My right knee gives way and I collapse into the snow, the child tumbling from my arms with a scream. I scramble on my hands and knees, desperately reaching for her, but Serpen kneels beside me and gathers her up.

“I have her,” he says, one hand gripping my wrist. “It’s fine. I have her.”

He lets go and both my hands fall onto my knees, burdened by their own weight. I don’t think I can move. Not anymore. He rises, leaving me staring at his feet, boots half buried in the snow.

Anguis’ face takes their place as he kneels in front of me, cupping his hands around my face. “It’s going to be alright, Edi,” he says, and I look up into those emerald eyes. “We’ll be together. You’re not alone. Never alone.”

Curt shoves him so hard, he tips sideways, landing on his shoulder, anger flashing in his eyes.

“No more fighting,” I scream, shredding my lungs and throat. My whole body starts to spasm and I can’t make it stop.

“Go and pack. It’ll be sunrise soon,” Wings says to Serpen. “Get your people ready.”

Anguis gracefully rises, his gaze still spearing the manwolf, even though the question is aimed at the eagle. “You’re coming with us?”

“Yes. For now,” Wings replies, nodding at me. “She needs shelter.”

“She’ll have it,” Anguis says, finally breaking eyelock with Curt. “I promise you.”

“We’ll meet you at the mansion,” Wings tells him.

“Sospa?” I cry out in fear, suddenly understanding she’s no longer in my arms.

“I’m alright, Auntie Edi,” she calls, clinging to her uncle.

“Go,” Wings tells them. “I’ll deal with her.”

I barely feel Curt place an arm around me and pull me against his chest, or the melting snow soaking through my trousers, or the claws of a giant eagle as he gently shuffles me into his grip. The land falls away as I rise upward, body limp, my town disappearing into the night’s shroud. Held tightly in the other claw, Curt stares at me, willing me to fight, but I haven’t the energy to give him what he needs.

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