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"I can hear something ahead," Dominicus said, lifting his chin as if the forest itself answered to him.

"It should only be a moment." He moved with easy certainty, shoulders squared, steps silent despite the undergrowth. I followed, and Time kept pace at my side as camp shrank behind us. The firelight dimmed to an ember-glow between the trees. Dura stood at the edge of the clearing, arms crossed, her scowl sharp enough to cut bark. The farther we walked, the smaller she became, until she was just a shadow. Then nothing. A cold thread of dread slid down my spine.

I swallowed it and forced myself to face forward, after one last look back. Time noticed. He shifted closer until our arms brushed, a quiet point of contact. Are you truly this unsettled by Dura remaining at camp? I scowled, still not happy with him for landing me in this situation. Gee. What gave you that idea? He didn't rise to it. His gaze slid toward me, calm, perceptive, and annoyingly patient. You know this is necessary. You would not have agreed otherwise.

Now answer the question without the snark, if you please. I bit back the urge to flip him off. Why wouldn't I want her here? Dominicus has the bedside manner of a brick and the emotional intelligence of a damp sock. I'd take Volpe as backup at this point. The fox had been asleep when we left. I regretted not waking him now. At least he would've been on my side.

Instead, I was marching toward whatever poor creature Dominicus had decided would serve as my therapeutic blood exposure, with an asshole and a spirit as witnesses. Don't act like you'd be thrilled working through your issues with anyone but Karma, I shot back. Especially someone like him. Time was quiet for a moment. Then he grimaced with actual, visible discomfort and inclined his head. A fair point. Victory was hollow but satisfying. However, he continued, you have nothing to fear from Dominicus' opinion.

It is worth less than the soil beneath our feet. If you give your best effort and he derides you for it, I will handle him. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. I almost snorted. You? Handle him? Dominicus could probably bench press a horse. Time caught the thought and smirked faintly. If required, I possess several… tools. I am far from helpless, even in my current state. There was something in his tone that made me believe him.

Then he added, almost idly, And once Karma wakes, I imagine she will be very interested to hear how her son was treated. Understanding clicked. I bit back a laugh. You're planning to rat him out to your wife? That's hilarious. A valid threat though. Karma didn't fuck around. He nodded, clearly pleased with the direction of my thoughts. She is protective to a fault. When she decides to involve herself personally in a mortal's affairs… It is quite the spectacle.

Depending on Dominicus' behavior today, he may become an instructive example. Was it terrible that part of me hoped he pushed just far enough? After the condescension. The constant measuring glances. The assumption that I was one wrong move away from useless. I kind of wanted to see Karma unleash hell. Time gave a delicate shrug. I certainly do. Not surprising. Dominicus stopped so abruptly I nearly walked into him. He gestured toward the trees ahead.

"There's a clearing. Something is drinking. That will be your first lesson." He reached into his pouch, drew a dagger, and tossed it toward me.

"Here." I sidestepped, and the blade struck the dirt with a muted thud. Moonlight slid along the steel, cold and merciless. My pulse jumped.

"I'm not using that," I said quickly, dragging my gaze back up to him.

"I'll use a branch." Scanning the forest floor, I spotted one a few feet away, thick as my wrist, long enough to serve as a staff. I pointed.

"Like that." Dominicus rolled his eyes, irritation bleeding into the air between us.

"You will not confront blood that way. This exercise serves two purposes: increasing your level and addressing your fear. Pick up the dagger." I stepped back instead.

"No. I'm not training with a weapon I have no intention of using." Time bent and retrieved the branch before I could, testing its weight with a few experimental swings.

"It would suffice as a club." I nodded.

"There. See? No dagger required." Dealing with blood was bad enough. Using a blade like the one that had slid into my gut? Absolutely not. Dominicus inhaled slowly. Instead of arguing, he said, "Very well." That should've worried me more. He lifted two fingers to his mouth and let out an ear-splitting whistle. Sound ripped through the clearing like a physical force. I clamped my hands over my ears, hissing as the ringing set in.

"Warn a guy before you deafen him, you asshole!" He didn't so much as blink.

"You may want to pick up the dagger." That was the only warning I got before the bushes exploded. The ringing in my ears swallowed the first growl, so all I saw was movement, a dark blur launching from the underbrush. A wolf. It was huge, nearly my height at the shoulder. White fur gleamed under the moonlight as it cleared the brush in a single, powerful leap and landed with a bone-jarring thud. Its eyes were sharp. Intelligent. They flicked between us and then it lunged. Directly at Time.