Hounded

the number, but I couldn’t afford to ignore it.
    » Mr. O’Sullivan, « said a familiar Polish accent, » I have some important information for you. «
    » It’s sure to be a lie, Malina, « I replied, » because that’s all I’ve heard from you up to now. «
    » I never knowingly lied to you, « Malina said. » I believed everything I said to be true. It was only this afternoon that I found out that Radomila and Emily have made me seem to be a liar, that they have been plotting with Aenghus Óg and deliberately deceiving me and others. I have been lied to and manipulated just like you. I confronted them about it, but they refused to leave this foolish path they are on. So now our coven is split. «
    » Split how? «
    » There are six of them waiting for you in the Superstition Mountains. They have no doubt contacted you by now. «
    I pretended not to hear her last sentence. » So where are the other seven? «
    » We are currently at my home, and that is where we will stay while we consider what to do. We are forming a new coven and we have much to discuss. «
    » Which six are in the Superstitions? «
    » That ungrateful snot Emily, and Radomila of course, as well as Jadwiga, Ludmila, Miroslawa, and Zdzislawa. «
    » And the witches with you are? «
    » Bogumila, Berta, Kazimiera, Klaudia, Roksana, and Waclawa. «
    None of the names meant anything to me, but I filed them away for future reference. » How do I know any of this is true? «
    Malina huffed in exasperation. » I suppose I can prove nothing over the phone. However, when you confront my former sisters tonight, I trust you will note my absence. «
    » It occurs to me that you would not be calling me if you expected me to die tonight. You’re trying to prevent me from coming after you tomorrow. «
    » No, I fully expect you to die. «
    » Oh. How charming. «
    » I simply didn’t want you to think I betrayed you. Unlike my former sisters, I have a sense of honor. «
    » We shall see, « I said, and hung up. I’d make a point of calling her tomorrow. I shucked off my shoes as the werewolves finished their changes and milled around impatiently, waiting for me to signal them to go. » Have patience, please, « I told them. » I have a couple of bindings to do. «
    I gave Granuaile the bindings I had promised, then told the wolves we were ready. I had to stay in human form to carry the sword and communicate with Granuaile. » We’re going to sprint, « I told her. » Go as fast as you can; don’t worry about pacing yourself. You won’t run out of breath. Just make sure you don’t twist an ankle. «
    And with that we were off, with nothing more than a couple of excited yips from the Pack. Gunnar had strictly forbidden howling and barks by prearrangement, in hopes of keeping our numbers and our distance hidden from Aenghus Óg and the witches. The werewolves could communicate via their pack link, anyway. Our enemies might have heard the painful cries of the Pack turning wolf, but then again they might not have: Tony Cabin was a good six miles away, and the hill between us might have absorbed the sound.
    Something I was curious about was whether I could shield my mind from Oberon once we got in range. I had never had any occasion to wish for such a thing before, but if he sensed me nearby, his tail would start to wag as sure as a princess waves in a parade, and that would alert our enemies to our proximity. I really didn’t want to give them any warning if I could help it.
    After about a half mile of running uphill at a full sprint—across rocky, treacherous terrain on a moonless night—I heard Granuaile giggle delightedly. » This is unbelievable! « she crowed. » What a trip, running with a pack of werewolves! «
    » Remember this, « I said, » when you get bogged down in your studies and wonder if it’s all worth it. This is only a taste of what you will be able to do. «
    » Will I be able to turn into an owl too? «
    » Perhaps. You can take four different animal forms, but those are determined by a ritual and not by whim. Everyone has slightly different forms. «
    » What are yours? «
    » I can be an owl, wolfhound, otter, or stag. They are not forms I chose but rather forms that chose me in the ritual. «
    » Wow, « she said, suitably awed. » That’s pretty fucking cool. «
    I laughed and agreed with her. We crested the hill and, by prearrangement with Gunnar, we paused there at the entrance to Haunted Canyon. I had spoken with him