House of Vultures - Maggie Claire (epub read online books .TXT) 📗

protective arm snaking around my waist. I try not to gulp whenhis claws graze my hip. “Her time is her own. If she spends it withme, why do you care?”

“You took over the Houseof Lions today,” Wren accuses, a sly smile flashing through hismask. “Attempting to build a Master House now, Wolf? Are you usingour Mynah here just to get to us?”

Wolf growls low in his throat, and Icarefully put my hand on his in an effort to calm him. “It was apersonal vendetta with Lion, and the only part of your House thatdraws my interest is Mynah.”

“You know it would befoolish to think you are strong enough to overpower us,” Wrentaunts as he turns his back on us. “No one who has tried to build aMaster House has ever survived the effort.” Glancing over hisshoulder, Wren adds, “Do you really expect me to believe that youand Mynah are not plotting something?”

Rather than be baited, Wolf ignoresWren’s jibes. He leans over me, his mouth carefully reachingthrough the teeth of the wolf carcass to graze my throat. “Tomorrowmorning, I will see you again. Same place where we lastparted.”

“Wolf, about thisafternoon—”

A carefully placed finger touches mylips and stops my words. “We’ll talk tomorrow when we are free ofprying eyes. Goodnight, Mynah.” My arms circle around myself incomfort as Wolf disappears into the night.

“Well, well,” Wrenmutters, drawing close enough to me that his chin rests on myshoulder. “Wolf is so touchy, so familiar with you, that I almostbelieve him.”

Steeling my resolve, I try to soundconfident as I exclaim, “I do not care what you believe, Wren. Itis only Wolf’s opinion and mine that matter in thisinstance.”

When I attempt to enter the house,Wren catches my arm with a warning. “When I have evidence to provethat you’re lying, I will enjoy watching you suffer.”

My spine straightens at his words,fury building in my heart. I wrench my arm clear of Wren’s grasp.“You have heard no lie. I do meet with Wolf in the woods.” That istechnically truth, so I can say it without flinching. Wren narrowshis gaze at me but says no more, shifting his body back to theporch swing as I hurry inside. I do not stop running until my dooris bolted shut. Engulfed in darkness, I cover my face with a pillowand release a scream.

Chapter 5

Grogginess makes mestumble out into the misty morning light. Wren was right about onething last night, I do hate being up this early in the morning. Theforest is eerily quiet as I trudge down the worn path, my feetscuffing the dirt as I barely lift them for each step. I let mymind wonder about Antero as I amble toward his hiding place.How am I going to keep himsafe? He cannotstay in that cave eating what little I can salvage from the woods.He’ll starve by the end of the week. But where can hestay? He’ll haveto be masked, but how can I get him into one of thehouses?

A plan begins to form inmy thoughts, one that fills me with dread. I’d have to get Wolf’s help, Iadmit, my fingers brushing the place on my neck that he had kissedlast night. My idea would probably be putting all of his pack indanger too. How can I ask him to put hisentire House at risk for the sake of this boy? A boy I know very little about. Aboy that I suspect is from the Déchets. I should consider Antero myenemy rather than try to save his life!

I feel the watching eyes on my back asplit second before the attack comes. From above me the creatureprowls, scaring the birds away. In my preoccupation, I haveneglected my own safety. An earth-shattering howl splits the sky asthe creature leaps, its razor-sharp claws poised to strike myheart. I roll out of the way, drawing my blade in one smoothmotion, facing the threat wild-eyed. Its clear eyes shine withintelligence in the sleek, black fur of its face. Long, yellowedteeth bare in a snarl as it paces, tail flicking withimpatience.

Slowly I lower into a stance toattack, my blade raised before me. Yet the creature does not strikeagain. It observes me slowly, teeth parted to bite me, waiting forme to move. When I do not initiate the fight, the feline pauses,almost as if it is judging me. Then, apparently finding that I amnot worth the trouble, it stalks deeper into the forest.

I should have given chase;I should have caught and killed the beast. Its coat would have madea nice pelt for trading. Those eyesthough, the sentient stare that the creature gave me, is whatstayed my hand.

Fingers brush against my shoulder, andI swing my whittling blade at the person sneaking up on me, slicingdeep into the arm of the unseen entity.

“Why’d you do that?”Antero hollers as he covers the bloody gash I’ve just inflictedinto his arm.

“What are you doing out ofthe cave?” I scowl, already pulling on the threads of control Ihold on him. Heal yourself,Antero, I command through my thoughts. Ienvision skin and muscle knitting together, only a faint whisper ofa scar remaining. Everything that I project into his mind occurs onhis body, and when I inspect Antero’s arm, it is like he has neverbeen struck. Only the blood covering Antero’s hand holds the secretof his injury.

Judging by the fury in Antero’s glare,he knows exactly how I aided him. “I was hungry, so I came out hereto find something to eat.” He turns his hand over to show me theblood. “You can control my body’s healing just by knowing my name?What else have you done to me?”

His anger frustrates me,so when I speak, my words are full of bitterness. “I cannot help itif you were dumb enough to tell me your real name. Besides, I’veonly healed you, so stop acting so put upon. I could have done alot worse.” And I probably will before allis done.

“Does your friend know myname too? Does he have that kind of control over me?”

“Nope,” Wolf appearsbeside me, staring at my shoulder, unable to meet my eyes. “She didnot trust me with