Page 117

My body goes still.

"What did you feel?"

"Not the same as before."

"Explain."

He struggles.

"It's farther away."

I wait.

"But..."

"But?"

He swallows.

"It's angry."

The word settles over the room. Because the entity has never shown emotion before. Only intention.

I move outside. The morning air is cold. The yard looks normal. Too normal.

I follow the sensor reading. East fence. Nothing. Then I see it. The grass. A line of frost.

Moving. Not spreading. Moving. Like something invisible is walking.

I follow. Slowly. The trail stops at the tree line.

I crouch. There. A mark. Not damage. Not a footprint. A symbol.

My wolf reacts immediately. Not fear. Recognition.

I touch the ground. The moment I do, something flashes through me. Not a vision. A memory.

Fog. A scream. A child. A doorway. Then it's gone.

I pull my hand back.

"Crap."

"What happened?"

Carys. I turn. She is standing behind me. I should be angry. I am. Mostly because I am relieved.

"You followed me."

"Yes."

"You said you'd stay inside."

"I said fine."

I stare at her. She smiles slightly.

"You should know me better than that."