Free Shadowlands by Violette Malan

the new
dra’aj
.” A line of saliva trickled from Claw’s mouth, and he wiped it away with the back of his hand. “Like you said.”
    “Tell me,” Fox said, stopping himself just as he was reaching for the other’s throat.
    Claw ducked his head again, and pretended he only meant to look around him, sniffing. As if he didn’t know as well as Fox did that except for the others guarding the stairwells, they were alone.
    “Stump’s missing.”
    Fox’s hand went involuntarily to the cell phone in his pocket—another thing, like the pocket itself, that only existed when he was in Rider form. A great way to keep in touch with the rest of the Pack, since they couldn’t Move.
    “Who reported it?”
    “Badger. She reported in on time, says she hasn’t heard from him.”
    Fox frowned. There’d been a Five of the Pack in the place called Europe. Did this mean there were only four now? Impossible that a human could have killed Stump. Far more likely he was in a
dra’aj
-induced stupor and had simply lost track of time. Possible, but not as likely, that some Rider had got him. Fox considered who to send. He had two Fives of the Pack here with him, but it was still tricky, very tricky, for them to move like humans did. No. He’d have to rely on those already in place.
    “Tell Badger it’s her job to find out what’s happened, not just report it.” Fox deliberately waited until Claw had ducked his head and was turning to leave, before he reminded his Pack mate that they had other business.
    “What about the girl?”
    “Lost her again.” This time the other Hound did cringe away, and even lifted his arm, partly to bare his belly in submission, and partly to block a blow to the head. Fox’s hands (paws) formed fists (hooves), but he held back.
    “How?” His throat quivered with the need to howl.
    “The scentless ones, they got in the way, drew her off, and muddied the scent.”
    Fox rubbed at his lip again. “So why don’t these humans Fade once we’ve fed on their
dra’aj
?” He looked at Claw. “Catch one, bring it here. And tell Badger that when she’s learned what she can, she’s to gather her Five and come to us here. And, Claw—”
    A commotion at the entrance made Fox curl his lip back from his teeth. He was gesturing at Claw to deal with it when the two from the bottom of the stairs appeared with a Rider between them. Neither of them had been able to hang on to their own form, and even Claw flickered as he backed away. The Rider was Sunward, and his
dra’aj
shone from him like the sun through clouds. No wonder the others hadn’t been able to control themselves. The surprise was that they hadn’t simply drained the stupid Sunward fool before he got to the top of the stairs. Fox ground his teeth together, gripped the armrests of his chair, and held his shape.
    The strange Rider approached, and inclined his head. “I amLongshadow,” he said. “My mother was Lightstorm, and the Simurg guides me.”
    Fox blinked, and his mouth fell open in a grin. This Starward one thought he was a Rider! For a moment the blood pounding in his ears blocked out all other sounds. In an instant Fox saw his advantage and took it.
    “From the Lands, huh?” he said. “The Basilisk sent you back to collect his doggies? What if they’re my doggies now?” He hadn’t returned the courtesy of giving his own name and Guidebeast, and Fox wondered what the Starward would do about it.
    “You will not have heard, then.” If Longshadow was offended, he hid it well. “The Basilisk has Faded. The Lands have a High Prince, and the Cycle is turned.”
    Fox pulled his lip back. Well. That was news indeed. “And those with him?” He wouldn’t ask straight out about his brother; Riders didn’t seem to be able to distinguish one member of the Hunt from another. But he had to know what had happened.
    “Some are Faded as well. Some follow the new Prince.”
    “And those who don’t?”
    “Some of us have