Red Rider RIsing: Book 2 of the Red Rider Saga by D.A. Randall (best books to read for beginners .TXT) 📗

Lycanthru.” He held my locked gaze. “Many believe the Lycanthru are responsible for these attacks.”

I could hear my breath now. Feel my chest heaving up and down. “How?”

He shook his head again. “I don’t know.

Some say they capture wolves and practice witchcraft on them. They believe the Lycanthru have the power to transform these wolves into the creatures that attacked those women and children.”

Every nerve of my body was on fire. “How do I find them?”

“You don’t!” he barked. He struggled to calm himself, shaking. “Helena. I’m telling you this to help you understand. These men are practicing witches. They’re performing rituals on wolves to make them kill people.”

I stifled my fear. “Like Mama and Papa?

And Suzette and Francois?”

He frowned. “Yes. And like you, if you keep after them. Do you understand?”

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I stood to my feet. “Someone has to stop them, whatever they’re doing. Someone has to make this stop.”

He rose with me. “But you are not that person, Helena.”

“You don’t think I can face them? You’re wrong. You would know how wrong you were if you saw me last night. I killed two of them.”

“Two of how many? There have been over

a hundred attacks reported, just in the surrounding villages. Do you expect to hunt them all down?”

He stopped himself. Then he took me by the shoulders. “Helena. I know you’ve suffered. I’ve suffered, too, though not as greatly. I lost your father and mother and your sweet sister. I don’t want to lose you, too.”

I felt my cheek twitch, but I steadied my resolve. “I’ll see to it that you don’t.”

“It’s not that simple, Helena.” He turned from me, wringing his hands. “What happens when they come after you? Were they chasing you when I found you?”

I said nothing, but shuddered.

“You’re dealing with something far more dangerous than you realize.”

I bit my lip. “Maybe I am. But someone has to.”

He hung his head, defeated. “I cannot tell you what to do. I can only beg you to stay away from those people. These attacks have been occurring for decades, and no one has yet found a way to stop them.”

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I thought of the two crossbow bolts in my satchel bag, my senses on fire. “I might have found it.”

He blinked and narrowed his eyes at me.

“How, Helena?”

“I’ll look into it further and let you know.”

I knew better than to tell him anything more. He already had little faith in my abilities. What would he think of my report that two bolts had killed wolves when all of the other bolts failed, and I just needed to figure out why.

“All right, Helena.” His eyebrows lifted in a shrug of surrender. He stood as if shouldering a heavy weight. “Please consider what I said. And don’t do anything foolish.”

His warning had come far too late, but I said nothing.

“Rest in my bed for a while. I’ll fetch water and heat the bath. You can make this your home, if you wish.” He frowned again. “You are – You’re the only one left of your family. I’ll do whatever I can to help you. Please stay safe.”

I swallowed. “I will. I promise.”

He nodded, pursing his lips. As though he accepted my vow but knew I wouldn’t give up my dangerous plans. He retrieved the bucket and moved to the front door, creaking it open to scan for intruders before stepping outside.

I felt a strange emptiness in the silent house. Father Vestille was the last person I wanted in my life, especially now. But he might understand my loss better than anyone else. In an 229

odd way, he was the closest thing to a family I had left.

I sighed, dismissing my grief. His hovel kept me warm and secure. That was all that mattered. If this Lycanthru cult was behind the attacks, they would never search for me in a priest’s home, let alone his secret underground retreat.

I could no longer sleep in the loft