The Dark of Twilight (Twilight Shifters Book 1) by Kate Danley Page A

it be that the fog traveled the east road and was now driving everyone mad?
    Finn stirred and his eyes slowly opened.  He was not doing well.  She could tell.
    "The wolves seem to have stopped," she said.  "I should go and see if it is safe."
    "We cannot leave these people unprotected," he replied, shifting uncomfortably.  There was a sheen of sweat across his face.  The fever was already beginning, Aein thought to herself.
    "Lord Arnkell may be out there unprotected," Aein replied, hoping if he would just let her leave, she could come back with something to help him.  "Your own Princess Gisla may be injured somewhere, waiting for someone to come and save her.  We have a duty."
    Finn shook his head wearily.  "No.  They are strong.  It is a task for someone else now, not for us."
    "I took an oath to protect my Lord Protector," said Aein, trying to insist with some authority.
    Finn did not speak for a long time.  Finally, he said, "We may be the only survivors..."
    Aein felt a coldness run through her veins, a chilling foreboding.  "Take that back."
    "We do not know," said Finn.  "We were taken by surprise.  You saw the carnage.  You know that whether others escaped or not, there are still the wolves out there.  We must look after those who are alive."
    Aein tasted the bitter truth of his words.  She did not want to swallow them.  She did not want to admit they might be true. The room already stank of feces and piss and fear.  They would not survive long if they stayed. "I will go out at dawn," she replied, "to find food for these people.  You stay here.  I shall go alone."
    "Do not be difficult," replied Finn, leaning against the wall in exhaustion.  "I would never allow you to go out into a fight without someone there by your side."
    She sat down beside him, allowing her arm to almost touch his in case he needed someone to lean against.  "You would be a liability," replied Aein.  "You would do nothing but slow me down."
    Finn laughed.  It was joyless and without mirth.  "I knew there was something wrong with this wedding..."
    Aein wiped her face and found herself chuckling, too.  "You know, I may have prayed once or twice that Lord Arnkell would not wed."
    "Really?" he asked.  He did not have the strength to lift his head, but he turned it with interest.
    Aein nodded.  "I hoped that any marriage might be a disaster.  I'm afraid I fancied Lord Arnkell for a while."
    "Bah.  You could do better," he said, bumping his shoulder against hers.
    "But here it is!  My prayers have been answered by the gods!"
    "Since you have this special connection, would you mind asking the gods to help us survive this mess?"
    Aein looked out the window ruefully.  She knew it would take much more than prayers.  False dawn had begun and she could not even imagine what horrors the rest of the day would hold.
    Suddenly, there was the sound of a human voice calling from the courtyard below.  "Hello?" they called.  "Is anyone there?  Oh gods... oh gods..."  And then there was a voice in the hallway which cried, "Where is everyone?"
    Aein looked over at Finn in confusion.  The both scrambled to their feet.  Aein turned to the others.  "Help me move these pews away from the door!"
    It was clear in a matter of moments.  Aein looked over at Finn for permission and he nodded.  She drew back the heavy plank barring the door and opened it.
    In the hallway were three confused people.
    "Princess Gisla!" Aein shouted, throwing the door open.
    The princess stood six feet away.  She still wore her clothes from the wedding battle.  Her hair and skin were as perfect and lovely as the day before.  The other two people showed no sign that just moments before they had been chased down by wolves.  In fact, the wolves were nowhere to be seen.  Aein looked back at the window.  The sun was just beginning to rise.  It had not yet stolen over the horizon, but the sky was still lit with its false rays.  Were they people... or was