And then I shifted. A wicked howl left my throat, and the answering calls of my pack were like warning bells in the night. The shield line quaked.

Without delay, I charged and my pack followed. Just as I expected, a burst of fire exploded in front of me. It ignited so fast and so hot, my eyes watered. Some of the aufhockers could not pause in time before they ran headfirst into the inferno, but some managed to leap over the flames, and a chorus of pained shrieks and horrified screams sounded.

And it was to that terrible song that the battle for Lara had begun.

Behind me, Adrian gave commands, and our army raced forward. With them at my back, I circled and made a running jump over the fire just as hundreds of arrows rained down on us. One nicked me in the shoulder, but I landed with no trouble and dashed toward the infantry. Many of them had been plowed down by my aufhockers, and I could hear them in the forest beyond, tearing into flesh and mauling Alaric’s army.

Or at least what I hoped was mostly Alaric’s army. I had no idea how many of my people had joined him. I wondered how many regretted their decision already.

A line of men made their way toward me, swords drawn and shields up. I snarled at them and pounced, crushing two under my weight, swiping my claws at one, and sinking my teeth into another. When I looked up, one lone soldier stared back at me, eyes wide, shaking with fear.

He stumbled and then turned to run, but he was skewered by the blade of an approaching soldier.

“Deserter,” he spat as he pushed him away, marching toward me.

I lowered, preparing to launch, but before the man could even lift his blade, he halted suddenly, and his head slid off the column of his neck. The blood from the blow that decapitated him splattered across my face, and when the rest of him crashed to the ground, Adrian was standing in his place.

“Take the castle,” he ordered.

I held his gaze a moment longer, noting the fierce look in his eyes, hoping that what I saw was not the white of his irises glowing.

“Go!”

I bolted into the woods I knew so well, only to face the horror they had become—a sea of blood and gore. My aufhockers were locked in battle with vampires and mortals alike. There were dead in the trees and dead on the ground, and still arrows rained down on me. I tried my best to dodge them, but when one lodged in my shoulder, I faltered.

Then another came, and while I howled my pain, I kept running, my heart racing and my fear all-consuming. Then I heard the beat of hooves behind me.