Free Mother of Wolves (Evalyce Worldshaper Book 1) by J. Aislynn d'Merricksson

Great One?”
    There are many portals to Xibalba, little Wolf. They are scattered all across De Sikkari. From Argoth, the closest lie in Evalyce. The strongest known portal lies within the borders of Arkaddia.
    But the trials of the Underworld are many. You must be sure you are prepared to face Araun and his guardians before you venture there.
    Kalla nodded. “And of the Elephant Lord?”
    I am sorry, little Wolf. I do not know where the Elephant Lord dwells.
Amber eyes regarded Aleister.
    Seek the Temple of Inari. It lies farther within, at the center of the Forest. My wolves will lead you there.
    “We will find more answers there?” Kalla asked. Beside her Aleister fidgeted, clearly uneasy at going deeper into the Forest. Gasta's lips wrinkled, pulling back to expose sharp fangs as he laughed.
    You will find what you need, not necessarily what you want. It would behoove you to go to the Temple before approaching Araun. Sleep now. My wolves will guard you. When you wake they will guide you to the Temple.
    Gasta blew out a long breathe that washed over them with a scent of honeysuckle. In unison Kalla and Aleister slumped over, asleep before they hit the ground. Gasta gave them one last, penetrating look before disappearing into the Forest. He needed to have a talk with the King of Foxes before the pair managed to reach the Temple.
    * * *
    Kalla woke abruptly. All around the grove, eldritch lights glittered as sabre wolves flitted through the trees, but the Keeper was nowhere to be seen. She realized with a start that she had been sleeping with her head resting against Aleister's shoulder. For his part, her magister was still sound asleep. She covered her eyes with a hand. Great Balgeras. Gasta's enchanted sleep must have kept both of them still while they slept. She shuddered to think what would have happened if Aleister had shifted even a bit. In his sleep, he might be dead before she realized it was him. Then again, maybe not. She might have unconsciously realized she'd fallen asleep near him. The few times she'd ever fallen asleep near those she didn't consider a threat, the reaction hadn't been triggered if they woke her.
    The mage knew she should get up, should wake him so that they could get to the Temple of Inari, but she didn't want to. She was content to stay where she was, listening to Aleister's rhythmic breathing. Beneath that, she could hear the slow, steady beat of his heart. Kalla marveled yet again at the simple magick that was life itself. What but the One could have created such a wonder? As a Healer, Kalla knew all of the intricacies of the body and still she was amazed at the fluidity of function.
    She sighed, letting the sound of heart and breath lull her nearly back to sleep. She pondered over Gasta's advice to seek the Temple of Inari. Inari was the father of the forest
kitsune,
the fox spirits of Argosian legend. She remembered hearing tales of the Temple hidden in the Forest, but she'd never been to it, nor even seen it despite her many excursions into the Forest. Kalla's eyes drifted closed, drawing her back into sleep.
    Aleister woke, stifling a yawn, then froze when he realized that Kalla was curled up beside him, head resting on his shoulder. He frowned, giving the sleeping mage a sidelong glance. Since he didn't want to risk gaining closer acquaintance with the hidden knife she bore, Aleister decided to be patient and wait for her to wake rather than wake her himself.
    He closed his eyes, listening to the sounds of the forest. Despite the danger, he found comfort in the mage's presence. Kalla had given him a new lease on life, doing more for him than any other, save the Argosian with whom he'd spent a great deal of his life. Melaric Wolffsson had treated Aleister as a son, giving him the comfort of a family and the benefit of fatherly guidance during a time in his life when he could have gone seriously astray. He remembered Kalla's comment regarding her cavalier attitude in regards to her own