Hair of Gold: Just Right (Urban Fairytales Book 6) by Erik Schubach

straighter.
    When we broke camp, Vladimir had broken off with Hansel as we traveled, asking about the whip. I had to grin at them as the younger man showed him the techniques that allowed him to control the weapon so well. I bit back a snort at the fact that apparently, the man could say more than one sentence before returning to silence.
    One thing I can say about Gretel's brother was that it was obvious he took protecting her as his top priority, just like mine did me. Being so protective must be a big brother thing.
    We overnighted in a little village, Adancata, northeast of Bucuresti in the mountainous region that the stories my bears say their father had found Narcisa in.
    I fidgeted in the cellars of the blacksmith, whom we had traded a wild turkey with, for shelter for the night with his animals. My brothers paced by the iron bound oak doors as we heard wolves prowling the lanes. My hand tightened then relaxed on the hilt of my sword, over and over.
    I stiffened when a warm hand rested on my arm. I looked down into concerned brown pools that had such depth to them that I could just stare into them forever, peeling back each layer of complex emotion in them. Gretel asked, with the concern I saw in her eyes coloring her voice as she spoke low, “What is it? We are safe in here Kat. And if the wolves get through the door, we are all capable of defending ourselves.”
    I smiled at her and took my hand off the hilt of my blade to rest it over hers. I caught myself stroking her hand with my thumb and stopped myself before she could pull away. I chuckled under my breath and whispered. “It is not that. We should be out there, protecting the village. The strong have an obligation to protect the weak. The early days when I was young, it almost drove my brothers mad not being out on a Wolf Moon to defend our own village.”
    The corner of her mouth twitched, then she turned her hand to grasp mine and give it a little squeeze. That twitch turned into a wicked smile as she looked back to her brother. He returned it and gave a half nod. She drew her little dagger, and her brother unslung his coiled whip from his shoulder, and he asked, “Then what are we all doing in here?”
    My brothers looked around grinning like fools and started taking their shirts off. I slapped Andrei's shoulder, “Not now, there is a lady present.”
    Hansel snorted and covered his mouth, not looking at us.
    Gretel said imperiously to him, “You heard her Han, a lady.” Then she slapped the back of his head as she walked past to the cellar door. I grinned at her and stood at her side as we stood with our backs to my brothers.
    A minute later we were greeted by the grunting of three oversize bears crowding the cramped space of the cellar. The chickens and four hogs in the cellar with us were making distressed sounds with predators in their midst.
    Pavel stuck his muzzle between Gretel and I. His eyes eager to get to work. Gretel smiled at him and ruffled his ears, “Hello Little Bear.” I was oddly jealous.
    I twapped his nose and chastised, “No need to get pushy.” Then I drew my blade and listened at the door before unbolting it and swinging open the door.
    My brothers streamed out first, barely able to get through the opening. Then before Gretel and I could move, Hansel followed. I exchanged eye rolls with the brown eyed woman at our brother's behavior then followed behind shutting the door behind us.
    It took a moment for our eyes to adjust to the dark. We all turned to the growling and snarling to our left, and the muted whimpering of people in a cellar maybe fifty yards away at the livery. The wolf was digging at the door, and two more came out of the dark to join it.
    I tightened my grip and could feel a smile playing on my lips as I started charging, bellowing out a roar that was amplified a hundred fold as my bears joined in. It felt oddly right as I ran to battle with Gretel at my side, green energies gathering in her free hand. I snarled