Queen of the Lycan, Karina Espinosa [accelerated reader books .TXT] 📗

level that led to the exit. Deciding that power-walking was too slow, I picked up the pace and ran down the grand staircase and across the spotless marble floors. Finally arriving at the front entry doors, I spared the carved wolves a cursory glance as I pushed on the door, my escape clearly in sight.

I heard the guards posted by the door and skidded to a stop before I made it outside the foyer’s vestibule. Shit. I stood in a darkened corner with closed doors behind me and in front of me, and knew if I didn’t move before they began to secure the castle, I’d be locked in this little section. I glanced around furtively, and my eyes snagged on a row of cloaks hanging on a set of hooks along one wall. I snatched one up and put it on quickly, pulling the hood over my head and obscuring my face.

“Here goes nothing,” I muttered as I stepped outside and onto the drawbridge that bristled with guards on high alert, searching the sky for threats.

I steadied my heartbeat and forced myself to walk at an even pace so I wouldn’t draw suspicion. I felt pretty confident with my strategy until I reached the halfway point across the bridge and an eager guard stopped me.

“Excuse me, but where do ye think yer going?” he asked, grabbing my arm.

“I er, I’m going to get more supplies for Dr. Harris,” I answered quickly, keeping my head down so he wouldn’t see my gray MacCoinnich eyes. “I’m his nurse.”

There was an uncomfortable pause before he asked, “Yer name?”

My mind scrambled and the first name it came up with popped out of my mouth. “Layla,” I replied, remembering the luna who came up to me earlier with a bouquet of flowers.

My heart galloped loudly in my ears and I heard my blood pumping as I waited for his response. After what seemed like an eternity but was probably only seconds, his grip on my arm relaxed. “Make sure ye return within the hour, Layla. We’re closing the gate soon.”

I nodded in affirmation and hurried out of the way. Thankfully, I crossed the bridge and reached the village without any guards recognizing me. Releasing the breath I didn’t realize I was holding, I peered out of my hood and surveyed the town.

I attempted to think like my adversary. Fenrir wouldn’t be here, so out in the open and with too many witnesses. He’ll be in the forest. Hopefully the Highlanders were safe.

I rushed down the cobbled road until I reached the beauty salon, where I turned left onto a side street. From there, I tried to remember if it was four or five blocks before my next turn, but then I saw the shoemaker’s shop and made a right. I passed a row of similar residential houses until I reached a dead end that opened into a vast amount of undeveloped land. The wide meadow was verdant green and dotted with tiny white flowers, capped by a single house at the far end that bordered the edge of the forest. This was how I remembered to get to Lucian’s house.

But I wasn’t going there right now. Today, I was heading into Caledonian Forest.

I darted across the field, carefully bypassed the cottage, and plunged straight into the forest, quickly getting lost in the multitude of trees and brush. I spun around to get my bearings and tried to think of his most likely hiding place.

My hood fell back, revealing my face, and I gave myself a mental slap for not thinking to change my clothes before leaving the castle. I was still wearing my sundress and flats from earlier; the brambles caught on my bare legs and I felt every twig and rock beneath the thin soles of my slippers. Not the most comfortable outfit to wear while on a hike.

The dense tree canopy blocked out the sun that struggled to pierce the darkness, making it harder to discern the path. I opened up my sense of smell and hearing and tried to sense the presence of someone nearby, but all I heard was the rustle and echo of the wind as it danced along the leaves.

“Looking for me?”

I spun around with a start and came face to face with Fenrir; I couldn’t contain my surprise that my finely-tuned senses hadn’t detected him in the forest. He stood just a couple feet away in a well-tailored suit, which was in stark contrast with our environment, but not at odds with him. I had yet to see him wear anything else.

“How is it possible for you to be here?” I demanded, staying rooted in place.

He gave a wolfish grin, his dark eyes glistening. “I told you I’d be here, little wolf. Didn’t you believe me?” He tilted his head questioningly.

“You shot Alexander with an arrow,” I accused through gritted teeth, fisting my hands at my sides.

Fenrir smiled. “Oh, that wasn’t me.”

“I did,” a woman said challengingly, emerging from behind a wide tree to stand beside Fenrir. The newcomer was a beautiful Hispanic female with honeyed, short brown hair that fell to her shoulders, her athletically fit body garbed in a pair of ripped jeans and a tank top. She appeared to be the polar opposite of Fenrir, but her honey brown eyes made me do a double take.

“I know you,” I breathed as I watched the woman stare back at me with a quirked brow. “How do I know you?”

She shrugged noncommittally. “I don’t know.”

Fenrir laughed. “Trust me, little wolf, you don’t know—”

“Raven!” I declared as her name trudged up from the depths of my memory bank.

I remembered meeting this drunk chick a long time ago at a bar. I was pretending to be drunk while she was completely plastered. It was during a time when I was working for the SIU and I was very anti-Lycan. Cassidy had just joined the team and had kicked my ass in the ring since I was moon bound