The beast snarled and lifted its head, sniffing at the house, at the prey waiting inside. But the instant the door shut, a wave of magick passed over the structure at Vynasha’s back, sealing the wylderfolk within. “Easy, eyes on me,” she said as she brought her bleeding hand before its face. The beast cocked its head aside and its shoulders hunched, brown fur bristling as it pressed its wet nose into her palm. She bit back a cry as the beast ran a rough tongue over her wound with a rumbling purr. The rubies in the dagger bit into the hand she kept ready behind her back, just in case.