I blinked, taken aback.
Did Leveret defend me?
Lupa was similarly surprised. Her jaw hung open in disbelief. She collected herself, shaking out her pelt. "What are you talking about, Lev? Animus is our enemy!"
"Why?" Leveret asked.
That single question silenced both of us. If I was confused, I could only imagine how baffled his sister was.
"Lev, don't you remember all the shit he put our family through?" Lupa demanded. "He's nothing but trouble. We can't trust him."
"Why?"
Again, that question knocked the wind out of her sails.
Lupa forced her fur to lie flat, but she snapped her furious eyes on me. "Okay. Fine. Why don't you explain why you're here, Animus?"
Oh dear. After all the trouble her brother went through to defend me, his efforts were about to be ruined. She wouldnotlike my answer.
"I'm here for Leveret," I said.
Her fur spiked back up.
As a pulse of energy surrounded her, excitement leapt in my chest. Lupa's desire to protect her brother was already brewing magic invisible to mortal eyes. If the whole pack reacted this way upon finding out Leveret had been kidnapped, the burst of magic would be incredible.
"What does that mean?" she growled.
If I wanted to incite her rage—and fan the flames of her invisible magic—I could surely do a better job. Actions spoke louder than words.
I smiled as I stepped back towards Leveret, who remained seated. I draped my hand across his shoulder.
"I'm taking him with me," I stated.
Leveret blinked up at me. His dreamy eyes were not wide with fear, but wonder.
He wasn't scared at all.
Lupa didn't share his feelings. As soon as I touched him and told her my intention, Lupa charged at me like a wild animal. Her fur stood on end and her fangs flashed in the darkness. She wasn't backing down—she'd fight me to the death if it meant saving her brother.
The she-wolf was back, but I wasn't slow. In one quick motion, I shoved my hands beneath Leveret's armpits and sprang up into the air. Shadows manifested on my back, transfiguring into black wings that propelled us higher and higher.
The magic flowing through my blood feltohso good, but how amazing would it feel with even more of it? I nearly salivated at the thought.
Beneath us, Lupa's wolf voice broke into a panicked howl. She paced uselessly, unable to reach us in either of her forms.
"Leveret!" she cried, her bravado shattering. "Give me back my brother, Animus!"
"Of course I will. But first, you'll have to find me," I said.
Her expression twisted in anger. "I won't be alone! The whole pack will get you for this, I swear!"
My mouth curled into a grin. "Good. Bring them all."
I’d told her my honest desire, but Lupa thought I was taunting her. She snarled, jumping into the air in a futile attempt to reach us. It was too late. We were already higher than the treetops, soaring into the sky beneath the light of the moon.
"Leveret, I'm coming! I'll save you!" Lupa called.
Her brother hung like a doll in my grasp. He didn't thrash or squirm. He tilted his head down to look at Lupa, racing beneath us like a desperate passenger who'd just missed an important train.