Feral Magic

toward her. “Implying something?”
There went her heart again. That smile. “Sounds to me like you’re scared. Don’t you think the loot would be better?”
He scoffed. “Yes, but it comes with a higher risk.”
“And more fun.”
Zak paused and folded his arms. “I’m starting to think you’re crazy.”
“Have I implied otherwise?”
He shook his head and continued their slow walk. “Fine. I’ll take you to one of the hideouts and let you see it for yourself.”
“I thought you’d never been there?”
“Not in the fourth realm, but there are places here in the third we don’t hit either.”
Zak left her after that to consult with Sam about their camping arrangements. She didn’t follow. Instead, Vixin watched from a distance as two magic users struggled to start a fire.
Her gaze drifted to a trickle of water nearby. It rolled off the stones, dripped down a mossy crevice, and finally joined a stream. Vixin pulled her cloak tighter. She’d tried to ignore it, but the dampness had sunk into her bones days ago. If she had to pick a realm to stay in, it wouldn’t be here.
Zak argued with Sam for a long while and though she couldn’t hear their conversation, Sam’s nervous gestures told her enough. He didn’t want Zak to go.
She simply watched, still trying to figure out if Sam was a friend or lover.
Zak shouldered a pack and finally met her at the edge of the ravine they’d climbed into.
“Problems?” she asked.
Zak shook his head. “Nothing to worry about, let’s go.” Zak grabbed the first exposed root and hoisted himself up. She climbed after, digging her boots into the rocks to ensure she had a proper foothold. Sure, she could have lifted them both up, but she liked the climb, liked the challenge and the feel of dirt beneath her nails.
At the top, Zak turned to offer his hand again, but Vixin shooed him away.
“Is your old man a hard ass or something?”
Vixin clenched her fists, fighting the urge to plant one across his jaw. “And what exactly do you mean by that?”
“I just assumed he was the one who, well,” he looked her over, “made you the way you are.”
Vixin glared at him.
“You’re intimidating all right? You seem to have no issue with survival and I’m just asking if your dad had something to do with it.”
She cocked her head and a wry smile formed across her lips. “You find me intimidating?”
Zak shook his head and sighed. “Figures that’s all you’d hear. No, the others find you intimidating.”
She pouted. That explained why he didn’t avoid her like the rest. “You should ask Anton and Blitz just how intimidating I can be.”
“Why do you think I let you join us in that first raid?” So he had been asking about her. “You pride yourself on that, don’t you?” He laughed. “They told me the whole thing was pretty wild.”
She stepped over a rotted log. “It wasn’t anything special. It wasn’t like those boys knew what they were doing.”
“When did you start learning whatever it is you learned?”
Vixin looked to the sky. “Honestly? Can’t remember. Just grew up that way. My mom died at birth, so it’s always just been me and dad.”
Zak winced. “Sorry to hear it.”
She waved him off. “Don’t be, I never knew her. But to answer your question, yes, my dad taught me everything. He was in the military but keeps all the details to himself. He just says the world is crazy and that I need to know how to take care of myself.”
“Sounds intense.”
She shrugged. “It’s not like I’m the bunnies and roses type anyway.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Vixin gave him a sideways glance, but Zak fell silent, his eyes scanning the area for once. Vixin’s instincts took over and she did the same, crouching down to follow him with near silent steps.
Zak directed her around a pair of crooked trees and crawled toward the moss-covered outcropping ahead. She examined their surroundings, instincts telling her to avoid the too open area ahead, but Zak flattened himself on his stomach and crawled toward the edge.
Vixin followed, feeling the moisture from the rocks seep through her clothes as she inched along. Zak pointed and Vixin followed his finger.
A high wall wrapped around the entire perimeter of a much larger civilization. The towers, nine in all, were a far cry from the pitiful structures she’d seen at their first hit. These were sturdy, ready for the rain and storms and raids. And the guards. All on point, all ready with weapons that looked worn from use.
“They’ve reinforced themselves.”
So they’d been hit too. Just like the first one. Someone else was prowling through their territory. Someone less merciful. Someone willing to take more. What did that mean for Zak’s future? Would Zak join them if he weren’t given another choice?
Vixin’s eyes flashed between the entrances. One at the front, one at the rear, both equally guarded. From up here she could see the extra guards who’d been stationed on the inside of the gate. The extra boards they’d put in place to hold it tight.
A wagon was parked just inside the rear entrance and three men carried boxes from its almost empty interior. They walked toward the center, then veered left, leaving her line of sight for only a moment before popping out again. The door to their warehouse sat open and—every hair on Vixin’s body stood on end and her adrenaline spiked. Quicker than her mind could process, Vixin twisted the arm that had reached for her, crushed his face into the dirt, and pushed her blade to his throat.
“Shit, Vixi—”
“Talk.”
“What do you mean—” She pressed the blade into his skin and a bead of red rolled down his neck. “Easy,” he winced, “I wasn’t trying to