Fated: Hare and the Spirit (Pack of Heirs Book 6) Page 3

  The fur rose on Lupa's neck. Her lips curled to reveal her fangs.

  "Who are you?" she demanded.

  The figure didn't respond.

  Instead, he turned around to look down at me with surreal ice-white eyes.

  He was... beautiful.

  Four

  Animus

  I'd intended on a dramatic entrance, but as soon as my claws touched down on the earth and I felt the presence of the hare shifter staring at my back, I turned around.

  He looked different up close. More handsome than I expected. His smooth hair wasn't quite brown—there were slight bands of gold and black, a shade of agouti, just like the pelt of the hare he shifted into.

  My gaze travelled to meet his eyes. They stared up at me, unblinking. There was something odd about the way he looked at me. There was no animosity, no wariness, no intense urge to stab me with the closest sharp object. His gaze was neutral with a tinge of curiosity.

  This one… He wasn't like the others. He wasn't afraid of me, and he didn't hate me.

  It felt good not to be instantly despised—until I remembered my plan to kidnap him. His opinion of me would change in about five seconds.

  But a docile mark was good. Despite my slow buildup of magic, I wasn't all-powerful. It would be easier to whisk him away if he wasn't thrashing in my arms.

  Looking down at the quiet hare shifter, I almost felt a sense of pity. He had no idea what was about to happen.

  On the other hand, the she-wolf behind me was about to wage war.

  "Who are you? Answer me!" she ordered.

  With a sigh, I turned to face her. Her wolf ears perked upright and her maw was twisted into a vicious snarl. Every hair on her pelt stood upright, making her look bigger than she actually was. If I didn't feel the thrum of magic coursing within me, I might've been intimidated.

  But a wolf can't attack what it can't reach, and I didn't plan on staying.

  "Must I have this conversation every time?" I asked. "Surely I'm not that forgettable."

  Lupa glared. She was rash, not stupid. Although she didn't speak my name, she must've realized who I was by now.

  "Leveret," Lupa said slowly. "Don't move."

  Like a hunter watching its prey, she stalked towards her brother while maintaining eye contact with me. But I was closer to him than she was. I took a smooth step in her direction, body blocking her from approaching Leveret, which infuriated her.

  "Get away from him!"

  I liked her nerve.

  "That's quite all right," I said mildly. "I'm fine standing right here."

  She gnashed her teeth and hurled a string of threats that I ignored. Wolf shifters—especially alphas—were always so quick to anger.

  This was good. Lupa's instinct to protect her loved one flared bright and strong. I could only imagine the power of Leveret's entire pack banding together to save him from me, the villain stirring chaos in their lives.

  And speaking of Leveret, what was the poor young man doing now?

  I glanced over my shoulder.

  Leveret just sat there. Watching. Between his fingers was a clover leaf that he spun rhythmically, back and forth.

  What an odd character.

  The fact that I'd shifted focus to her brother upset Lupa. I heard a note of panic in her voice as she tried to steal my attention.

  "Animus," she said. "If you want a fight, I'm right here. Leave Leveret alone."

  Leveret didn't look at his sister. I met his even gaze. Both of them were well aware of who I was now and yet, Leveret had no reaction.

  Interesting.

  Out of the whole pack, I knew the least about him. He was an alpha hare shifter, and twin brother to Lupa. That was the extent of my knowledge.

  But I found myself wanting to know more. The curiosity sparkling in Leveret's eyes reflected back at me like a mirror. His surreal stare drew me in.

  Startled by my reaction, I tore away from him, facing Lupa again.

  What was that?

  I was so stunned by Leveret's deep gaze that I wasn't paying attention to his angry sister. Lupa launched herself at me, fangs and claws bared. I barely ducked out of the way in time. Her claws grazed my ethereal skin. The jolting pain forced me to focus. I wasn't here to goad the she-wolf into a fight. I was here to borrow Leveret.

  It would've been kinder of me to let Lupa know I intended on returning him, but that defeated the point. I needed her protective fury. I needed the ferocity of the whole pack.

  I had no doubt that the second I disappeared with Leveret, Lupa would run straight to the rest of the family and tell them what happened. That was exactly what I wanted. So the bigger display I created right now, the better.

  "I'm warning you, spirit," Lupa snapped. "If you don't get away from him, I'll rip your head off."

  "How crass. You're aware it will grow back, yes?"

  Lupa didn't respond with words. Instead, she lunged at my ankle. I hopped out of the way a split second before her sharp fangs snapped the empty air.

  Though I couldn't be killed in the mortal sense of the word, I was nonetheless averse to pain. It was unwise to draw out this altercation just for the fun of it, or I'd leave sporting one less limb.

  "Lupa."

  Both of us stilled. That was the first word Leveret said since I arrived. His voice was soft and flat with an unexpected calming quality.

  He hadn't moved from his spot in the grass, but now his mouth was curved into a frown. What surprised me was that he wasn't frowning at me, but at his sister.

  "Please don't bite him. And don't rip his head off," Leveret said.

  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 would not like 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 felt oh so 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.

  "It's okay, Lupa," Leveret called to her. "I'll come back."

  That struck me as a strange thing to say. Even though I meant to return him to his family, I hadn't mentioned that out loud. Was he lying to her, or did he intend on escaping from me? Was his apparently docile nature a ruse to trick me?

  My claws tightened instinctively on Leveret's arms. My plan wouldn't work if he fled early. I needed the full magical force of the pack coming to his rescue.

  I had to be on my guard. This hare shifter with the dreamy eyes might not be what he seemed.

  Five

  Leveret

  As a general rule, I don’t like change. But for some reason, I didn’t mind this.

  In fact, I had a good feeling about it.

  Animus... My cousins told me enough stories about him to paint a picture in my mind—stories about a “malevolent” spirit with dark hair and clothes,
with horns and claws. A mysterious spirit they couldn’t get a read on because of his conflicting actions. A spirit who’d harmed and helped in equal measure.

  But nobody ever told me how cute he was.

  I raised my head to look at his face. The shadowy wings on his back resembled Celeste’s, which made sense considering Animus was the one who’d blessed her with them. They flapped languidly, almost disappearing into the night sky surrounding us.

  Animus wasn’t looking at me. He stared straight ahead, flying with purpose.

  “I didn’t know you could fly,” I remarked.

  We hadn’t spoken since leaving Lupa behind. Animus flinched. My voice seemed to take him off guard.

  “I’ll bet there’s a lot you don’t know about me,” Animus said wryly.

  “I don’t want to bet.”

  He glanced down, his pale brow furrowed. “Excuse me?”

  “I don’t like gambling, so I don’t want to bet.”

  Animus was quiet for a moment. Then he let out a small huff. “You’re an interesting one, Leveret.”

  I was unaware he knew my name. That made me smile.

  Animus narrowed his icy eyes. They were a shockingly bright shade of white, like shards of the moon.

  “What are you smiling about?” he asked, not unkindly.

  I wasn’t sure why Animus knowing my name made me happy, so I wasn’t sure why I was smiling.

  “I don’t know,” I said honestly.

  Animus didn’t question me further. He raised his gaze, continuing his flight course. Meanwhile, I looked down, enjoying the scenery. Trees sped by in every shape and color, interspersed with glistening streams. The water reflected the moonlight. It all looked like an abstract human painting.

  “I’ve never been up so high before,” I said.

  Animus made a soft noise. I thought it was one of amusement. “Why would you? You’re a hare shifter, are you not?”

  “Yes. So I can’t fly. How did you know I’m a hare?”

  “I’ve picked up a piece of knowledge or two since I first met your family.”

  “How?”

  “Well, for one thing, the rest of your cousins are all blabbermouths...”

  “How did you pick up knowledge? It’s not a physical thing you can pick up. Unless you’re talking about a book. Are people writing books about my pack? If so, that’s interesting. I’d like to read one.”

  Pausing, Animus glanced down at me. His brow furrowed and his mouth was slightly ajar.

  “I didn’t mean literally,” Animus clarified.

  “Oh. Okay. That makes more sense.”

  Another pause. “I advise you don’t act dumb with me, Leveret.”

  Hot defiance flared in my chest, momentarily smothering my happiness.

  “I’m not acting, and I’m not dumb. Please don’t call me that,” I said.

  Animus’s face changed. His brows knit in the other direction and his eyes widened softly.

  “I... I apologize.”

  “It’s okay.”

  When Animus went quiet for a while, I watched the earthbound landscape transform. The thick tree cover dispersed, fading into rugged earth that sloped upward. A dark mountain loomed ahead.

  I’d never been so far from home—I didn’t recognize my surroundings anymore.

  “Leveret,” Animus said.

  “Yes.”

  “Why haven’t you asked me why I kidnapped you?”

  It hadn’t occurred to me until now. I was too busy enjoying the scenery and conversation.

  And the sensation of Animus’s claws gently holding me.

  “Why did you kidnap me?” I asked.

  He scoffed. “I can’t just tell you.”

  “Then why did you ask me to ask?”

  “You know, that’s a good question,” Animus said whimsically.

  I smiled, amused by his roundabout logic.

  Then I remembered Lupa’s face, and how upset she sounded when Animus lifted me into the sky.

  “My sister’s worried about me,” I mentioned.

  “Yes, I’m aware. Unfortunately, that’s all part of my grand plan.”

  Animus sounded a bit sympathetic, but not so much that he turned around and dropped me back off at the grove.

  Animus tilted his head at me. His black hair flowed behind him like raven wings coasting on a thermal.

  “You have nothing to worry about, Leveret. It’s not my intention to harm you,” he said.

  That should’ve been a relief, except somehow I was already aware of that, so my feelings didn’t change. Still, it was nice of him to deliberately tell me.

  “I know,” I said.

  “How can you know that?” Animus countered. He sounded confused and flustered, not angry.

  I shrugged. “I felt it.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “What if I change my mind? What if I did want to harm you? Could you feel that, too?”

  “I’m not sure. You can try.”

  Animus flared his shadowy wings. “I’m currently channelling heinous, evil vibes at you, Leveret. Can you feel them?”

  I tried my best to sense the heinous, evil vibes.

  I felt nothing.

  “No.” Taking a guess, I added, “But I don’t think you were actually doing it. I think you were joking.”

  The corner of Animus’s mouth curled into a grin. “You’re right. I was lying. Or joking, in your words.”

  When I was younger, it took me a long time to parse the difference.

  “You were including me, and being playful instead of cruel. You also weren’t trying to hide anything important,” I said slowly. “Therefore, joking.”

  His mouth was bunched up like he’d tried not to smile, but he failed. “Fine. I was joking with you. Happy?”

  Animus had asked me if I was happy, and in doing so, made the feeling even stronger. A soft, fuzzy feeling tickled my chest. It was unusual, but pleasant. It wasn’t the same warmth I experienced when I babysat my nieces and nephews, or when I spent time with my family.

  This sensation was charged, new, mesmerizing...

  Despite technically being kidnapped by the mysterious spirit that terrified half my family, I was very happy.

  “Yes,” I said.

  Six

  Animus

  The mortal in my possession was peculiar in more ways than one. It was odd enough that Leveret didn't seem to mind being kidnapped, but mindbogglingly, he actually seemed to enjoy it.

  That was fine by me. It wasn't my intention to scare him, so I was glad not to. Still, I expected more of a reaction. Weren't hares supposed to be timid and flighty? So far all Leveret had done was chatted with me and looked around, like I was a tour guide instead of a spirit in the middle of kidnapping him.

  Despite his oddness—or perhaps because of it—he intrigued me. Out of all the pack members I'd met, he was certainly the least irritating so far.

  We finally reached our destination. The jagged outcrop stood out like a scar, so dark it looked black even against the night sky. Moody clouds of mist formed at this altitude, floating around the cliff and shrouding it from the rest of the world.

  I touched down and placed Leveret on the rocky floor. As my shadowy wings dissipated in the mist, Leveret stretched and immediately explored.

  A cold wind blew across the flat surface of the cliff. He shivered.

  "Where are we?" he asked, rubbing his arms as he looked around.

  Even in a foreign place, he didn't sound uneasy. He had far more confidence than I expected. I thought a quiet hare shifter would be an anxious wreck. Instead, Leveret walked around, regarding pebbles and tiny wildflowers poking out from between the rocks.

  "We are on a cliff," I said.

  "I know that."

  He said it like I was being silly. Which I was. But given his precarious situation, I didn't think he'd be so playful.

  "Would you like some identifying information?" I asked.

  "Yes, please."

  "We are on a remote cliff that your pack has never been to before."

  "Oh."

  That was it.

  I expected some reaction to this confession, since it implied that Leveret was incredibly far from home, maybe even out of reach of his family. But either he didn't care, or he was so distracted by his findings that he forgot. He kneeled to examine a flower.