If I had been in my human form, confusion would have been plastered all over my face. Good thing I had fur to hide behind. What was she playing at?
“So not only have you lot stolen my offering, you’ve majorly screwed up my purpose for being sent.” Ro spoke with such disdain and superiority that the others shifted on their feet, trying to grasp the situation.
“Fuck this.” Harlson lunged, dagger in hand, toward Ro.
A heartbeat later, her arrow aimed directly at his heart, and he halted.
She didn’t let a second pass before saying, “I bet you’re all getting pretty close to eating each other up here. I’m sure you’d make an acceptable substitution if you hinder my task,” Ro’s voice bled with feral anger. One that promised she’d make good on her word.
I shifted then, regretting it instantly as I changed from standing on four legs to two. “She’s not bluffing,” I said, trying to calm my rapid heart rate as I joined her side. “I’d stand down if I were you, Harlson.”
The weary looks in their eyes told me she’d done it. She’d convinced them. Great divine, she almost convinced me with that speech and the confidence she exuded.
I wanted to throttle her, to try any and all methods to convince her to turn tail and get far away from here before the others figured out her ruse. But from the time she and I had spent together, I knew she wanted answers—if she’d even been telling the truth. No fucking question was worth this, though.
I’d told her the risks, and she still chose to proceed. Now, we’d travel north together. At least I could keep an eye on her that way, maybe satisfy her questions before we reached base camp, and free her of this insane death wish.
“Fine,” Val said, sheathing her sword. The sprawling roots lay flaccid as she released her hold. “You were sent to help us hunt, then?”
“I was. Taja thought you could use the help.”
Fuck she was clever, using all the information I’d given her. Had she used me for that intent all along? Not such an innocent young woman traveling the woods by accident, then. Someone who’d survived the journey as far as she had obviously possesseda certain degree of skill. Underestimating her had been a mistake.
I caught a glimpse of her friend, or whoever this person had been to her. Ro wore a stony mask of indifference under the pale moonlight, but I had seen beneath it. Watched her lips tremble, her eyes gloss over when she beheld her friend. Stood close when her stomach emptied itself over what she’d done. What a cruel, clever tactic to place herself in this position.
“You could have at least let us keep her. The chances of bringing back anything from around here is slim,” Johni said, also tucking his weapons away. Their bodies melted from a defensive stance to casual. He, Harlson, and Val had all been in Windguard’s army before joining The Order, making them well trained and ruthless.
“You didn’t deserve to take her from me.”
I didn’t need to be in animal form to catch the increasing rise and fall of her chest. Before giving them a chance to see and hear the raging truth behind her words, the evidence that the dead woman was more than merely a magical offering, I stepped forward, the sudden movement causing me to stumble.
“What the fuck happened to you?” Val asked, crossing her arms. There was no warmth in her question, no care, just pure assessment.
“His punishment for spooking my kill,” Ro stated coolly before I had a chance to respond.
“Bloodthirsty,” Johni chuckled, running his hand through his mess of red hair. “I see why the king sent you.”
“Glad I have your approval,” Ro said sarcastically, holding the same air of arrogance that’d convinced them. “Now show me where to sleep in this shit hole. I have hunting to do tomorrow.”
Val scoffed, removing herself from the conversation, returning to her log at the fire.
“Looks like Dae owes you. He can offer his spot.” Harlson grinned smugly. That sadistic son of a bitch loved seeing me injured and wasted no time piling on to my misery.
“Well?” Ro stared at me for the first time since the ridge, but there was no evidence of the woman who’d criticized my name, who’d held me up when my strength waned.
“Right this way,” I crooned, sweeping my hand in a guiding motion.
She rolled her eyes. That could have been a real reaction. I guess I didn’t know how to read her anymore, if I ever really did. She was savvy, cunning even. She’d attempted to keep a facade of heartlessness until she’d collapsed from dehydration and woken to find I’d helped. After that, her edges softened. She’d been playful and caring.
That part of her broke when she’d seen the state of the woman on the pole. When she’d learned of the inescapable reality they’d stumbled into.
It dawned on me why she’d shot that arrow. Not just for a perfect plan to infiltrate the outpost and display dominance to a group who only spoke a language of strength, but for mercy.
I limped until reaching my raggedy tent. Nothing more than a bedroll and tattered cloth draped overhead. I’d set it up earlier in the day before setting out to hunt, never in my wildest dreams imagining I’d be offering it to a beguiling new arrival. It was tucked away from the others, giving us some semblance of privacy, but I didn’t dare say anything that would incriminate her. “You can sleep here.”
“Get that leg treated, I don’t want you slowing me down tomorrow.” With that loud and harsh authoritative order, she crawled onto the bedroll and turned over, effectively dismissing me.
I swallowed, equally worried and impressed over the situation we now found ourselves in. When I hobbled to the campfire, Harlson chuckled again, having overheard Ro’s biting order.
