Seeds of Autumn: A Dark Shapeshifter Urban Fantasy (Echoes of the Past Book 1) by H. B. Lyne

Author:H. B. Lyne [Lyne, H. B.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2014-01-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Fortune was the first to speak, roaring at them and frightening Ariana for the brief moment that it took her to realise it was relief, not anger that he was expressing. He stormed over and caught both her and Teri in a tight embrace, dragging them inside and kicking the door closed in one fluid movement.

'Thank Luna you are both safe!' he cried. Ariana whimpered, hoping he would stop squeezing her if she submitted totally. He did let her go and turned to Teri.

'Are you all right?' he asked her softly, taking both of her shoulders in his hands. Teri nodded solemnly. Fortune tugged Teri's necklace from his pocket and placed it carefully over her head. She held it gently and smiled.

'Thank you,' she said quietly. 'I really hoped you would know it was a ruse.'

Ariana knew that Teri had much to tell them and that it wouldn't be easy. The rest of the pack moved in to welcome Teri home, Stone leaping in first. Ariana moved into a corner and breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Movement in the hall caught her eye and she nearly jumped out of her skin to see Grins-Too-Widely slipping silently into the kitchen.

The rest of the pack broke up and went quiet as the fox slunk into the room and sat down, cocking his head to one side. She got the impression that he was waiting for something. Flames-First-Guardian greeted their ally and asked the pack to follow him to the back of the shop. Dawn was just breaking and the shop was empty, so there was no need to cross the veil to hide their ritual.

He and Wind Talker cast a circle, Grins-Too-Widely walked the perimeter of it slowly. Ariana watched as Flames led Teri into the circle and pulled a few of her hairs from her head. Teri hardly flinched. Flames burned the hair in a small bowl and then cut himself and Teri, mixing their blood in the bowl and then painting runes with the blood on Teri's cheeks. Sparks shot out from Teri and Flames, they darted around the circle, touching each pack member. Ariana stepped back in alarm, but Shadow placed his hand calmly on her back and nudged her forward again. She looked at him and his face was serene, reassuring. The rest of the older pack members were equally cool, though Eyes had flinched too so Ariana put her fear aside and put her trust in the ritualist.

She began to feel dizzy and shook her head to try and clear the fog that she felt building between her temples. She lost her footing and felt Shadow's warm hand steadying her, but she felt increasingly disorientated and her knees buckled. Around the circle the other young pack members seemed to be experiencing the same thing, she wasn't the only one on her knees and even Fortune was leaning over, bracing his hands on his knees. Blackness took over and Ariana let out a small cry of panic, but Shadow was there with her, steadying her and the fear abated.

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