Two of them surrounded Lotus, teeth bared. They didn't attack her, instead blocked her from the worktable while a third hopped up, pushing aside everything with one paw, until only the spell book remained.

That might've worked a few days ago. It would've worked if she were still human. But for Lotus—physical space was only a suggestion. Her horn lit up, she yanked the spell book vertically into the air, slipping past the grasping paw of one expectant wolf.

Unfortunately, there were still two of them on her. She kicked out at one, but the other dodged, then bit down hard on her back. She barely felt it—something tried and failed to tear into the scales back there. She shook to one side, sending it scrambling to the ground. As it did, its claws dug into her flesh, tearing painfully.

She screamed, and the spell book tumbled from her grip, landing open on the dirt.

Lotus might not be strong enough to cope with the pain—but Eric was. He'd broken limbs before, the scratch of a wild animal wouldn't slow him down. There was clearly some of his strength left in her, because Lotus kept fighting. She screamed louder than the voice in her mind, then lashed out with a sudden wave of power.