Connor grimaced. “By rumor they inspired the Keepers to create Guardians.”

“Not exactly a great copy.” Mason laughed. “I for one cannot become the human torch . . . or a wolf torch, for that matter.”

“It doesn’t matter what they inspired or when they fought,” Shay said. “How do we kill them?”

“We can’t.” Connor rolled onto his back, staring up at the cavern ceiling. “That’s the problem. Lyulf are powerful Nether beings, like wraiths. Worse than wraiths, actually.”

“I have a hard time believing anything is worse than a wraith,” I said.

“I support that lack of belief,” Ren said.

“Have you ever burned your tongue?” Connor asked. “Did you enjoy it?”

I frowned at him. “What are you talking about?”

“How do you plan to bite something that is made of fire?” He glared at me. “You’d scorch your lungs and be dead within a minute. We can’t fight them. I don’t know what we’re going to do.”

“I drove off that wraith,” Shay said. “I’ll do the same here.”

“You can’t draw three of them at once,” Connor said. “And we need you to get the blade.”

“Interference,” Ren said. “Like with the bats. That’s what we have to do.”

Connor met his gaze and then looked away. “We won’t all make it.”

“We don’t have a choice,” Ren said. “Besides, isn’t that why it’s just us? Because we knew we wouldn’t all make it.”

Connor swore softly, his swords hissing out of their sheaths. “Anybody remember to bring a squirt gun? That could make all the difference.”

“So how will this work?” Shay asked, ignoring him.

“We’ll draw the Lyulf’s attack,” Ren said. “If we can keep them on the chase, we can buy you time and maybe avoid serious injury. You get the blade. Connor keeps Adne safe so we can get out of here as soon as you’re packing.”

Connor didn’t turn to face him, but he nodded.

“Let’s go.” Ren crouched and shifted forms. He glanced at me. I nodded, meeting Mason’s eyes as we both slid into our wolf forms. The three of us stalked down the spiraling path, into the belly of the volcano where the fire wolves circled Cian, eternally hunting any who dared trespass. I glanced back to see Shay, Connor, and Adne following behind us at a creeping pace.

The fumes grew stronger while we descended, turning my stomach. I shook my muzzle as my nostrils twitched with discomfort.

This would be so much better if we didn’t have to breathe, Mason complained.

Ren’s thought traveled back to us. Stay focused.

Mason dropped his muzzle low in compliance. I kept close to Ren’s flank. We were close enough to hear them now. Steady low snarls emerged from the Lyulf as they stalked their constant unchanging path, their muscles flexing, living flame, their movement like a ring of fire around Pyralis.

Ren paused in the shadows of a rock outcrop. The last place left to remain out of sight before the steep trail ended, leaving only the broad chamber in front of us. Another few steps and we’d be in the open, facing off with the Lyulf.

Try to keep them separated and moving. Don’t get cornered.

He raised his muzzle and howled. The Lyulf stopped their circling, turning in the direction of the sound, which now filled the entire cavern. The fire wolves lifted their heads in an answering cry. Smoke billowed from their mouths.

Ren leapt from his hiding place with Mason and me at his heels. The Lyulf stood their ground, snarling, watching us approach. As we closed in, I could see their eyes, smoldering coals set in the flames of their bodies. Empty save for hate and lust for the kill.

Ren bounded for them. The first of the Lyulf crouched and sprang at him. At the last possible moment Ren threw himself to the side, rolling away, and the Lyulf sailed past him. Ren was on his feet again. He barked, wagging his tail. Taunting the wolf.

Split. I shouted my thought at Mason and Ren. Hold their attention. We need to give Shay time.

I wheeled away from Ren, snarling at the second wolf while Mason snapped his jaws at the third. The heat pouring off the Lyulf was like a furnace. As I dashed past it, drawing its attack, I could smell my fur singe. I headed for the far side of the chamber, hoping to keep the fire wolves away from the path that Shay would need to take. I didn’t need to look back to know the Lyulf was at my heels. With every burst of speed I could feel its heat, flames licking my tail.

I heard Mason yelp and pivoted around, searching for him. He was still running ahead of the other Lyulf, but his flank was smoking.

Just keep running, Mason. I scrambled away from my own attacker. Hang on!

Darting, changing direction, doing everything I could to stay out of reach. My only choice was to run. Fighting wasn’t an option. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a blur of motion. A golden brown wolf sped across the room, reaching the dais where Cian hovered. He shifted forms, throwing himself at her outstretched arms. A flare of heat brushed across my heels and I leapt into the air. And froze.

The room went black. I was suspended in the air, hanging in empty space. No light. No sound. I could still breathe, but I didn’t want to. All our hopes were held in this moment.

Then I was falling. I hit the ground hard, my body slamming into rock.

The Lyulf was still behind me. It shook its muzzle, smoke boiling out of its nostrils. When its eyes focused on me, it snarled and lunged. I rolled onto my back, smelling burnt fur again but managing to avoid its attack.

Shay was shouting. “Adne, open the door!”

In the far corner of the room I saw twinkling lights as Adne began to weave. The Lyulf saw it too. Turning away from me, the fire wolf howled, drawing the attention of the wolf chasing Mason. The other wolf gave its own howl and the two burning beasts plunged in Adne’s direction.

We have to stop them, I called to Mason. Even as we chased the Lyulf, I searched the cavern for any sign of Ren. When my eyes found him, my hackles rose. He was limping, holding one paw up as he tried to dodge the fire wolf’s attack. But it was closing in on him, backing him up against a steaming fissure in the rock.

I didn’t know what to do. The other two Lyulf were racing toward Adne. I couldn’t block their attack and help Ren.

Calla? Mason saw the fire wolf stalking Ren too.

Before I could reply, I heard Connor shout, “Calla! Get your ass over here!”