Feral Bonds

Chapter 28

Rigaldo took Natania's hand in his and gently bit the meaty part of her palm, doing the same to himself before joining their hands.

"By blood we seal this bargain," they recited together.

Rigaldo started his portion first. "I swear the safe travel of you and yours, without the interference of myself or my pack, away from this place, beginning on tomorrow's eve until the day you return."

Natania found no fault with his wording and nodded. "I swear that I will return to the pack," Rigaldo shook his head and the magic burned her palm. Natania started again. "I swear that I will return to you, as quickly as is reasonable, after my business with this human has completed." The magic burned her hand again and Natania gave Rigaldo a questioning look.

"Without making any additional bargains, or delaying or extending your business with the human, without intentionally causing harm to yourself," he says," You will complete your task, and come straight home as soon as you are well enough to travel."

Natania grimaced at the thoroughness of his wording but compiled. "I swear that I will return to you, as quickly as is reasonable, after my business with this human has completed, without making any additional bargains, or otherwise delaying or extending our business and without causing intentional harm to myself. I will complete my task and come straight home as soon as I am well enough to travel."

Rigaldo nodded and the magic burned between them, sending shooting pain up her arm. She felt it sink into her skin, into her heart, so that it may ensure the bargain was completed, even upon her death.

It took a moment for the feeling to pass. Natania wiggled her fingers to get rid of the last of the tingles. "I will send someone to collect your vehicle. If you would provide your keys," Rigaldo offered.

Gretchen glanced at Natania, who nodded, and fished her keys out of her pocket. Two of the wolves stepped forward, took the keys and ran off in the direction they'd come. Gretchen watched them go with a frown. "Don't they need a description? Or location?"

"They know where it is," Rigaldo said. "Come along now." He wrapped one arm around Natania and guided her forward. He looked back at his wolves. "I don't want to be disturbed tonight. Bran, take the human to your place and set her up for the night." He glanced at Natania. "I assume you would trust him to care for your friend?"

Panic struck her at the thought of being alone with him, but she had little choice in the matter. "Of course," she replied, wiping her sweaty palms on her pants. She hated how quickly this one person could destroy her own confidence.

Gretchen frowned, but followed Bran when he waved her onward.

Rigaldo dropped to the ground a wolf and nipped at Natania's heels. "Run with me."

Natania nodded and shifted to her wolf. She shook out her pelt, eager to stretch her muscles after being cooped in the car for so long. She took off at a sprint and heard Rigaldo's feet sliding on the earth as he raced to catch up to her.

Natania slowed when the cabins came into view, everything looked different, though also the same. She sniffed the air, but the scents were mostly unfamiliar to her. Like the rest of the pack she had known was gone.

She yelped when a heavy form bowled her over and Rigaldo pinned her to the ground. His silver snout trailed over her body. She shifted uncomfortably, earning a snarl from Rigaldo and held herself very still, the familiar fear making her heart pound. Memories of twisted paws, dislocated joints, and bones shattered so heavily even releasing herself to the demon couldn't speed up the healing, flashed in her head.

He trapped her nose between his teeth, chiding, then nuzzled along her throat, stopping at the pulse under her fur. Natania tilted her head slightly, submitting, and his chest rumbled with satisfaction.