“It is evident I have nothing to lose,” she murmured and entered theportal.
The tower was made of heavy, square-cut stones, reminding Annelise of the Roman road that passed through Beauvoir. It was clear from the skill of the masonry that it had once been grand, if splendidly isolated. She wondered how old it was and what its purpose might havebeen.
Silence buffeted her ears as she stepped fully inside and, as her eyes adjusted, she made out the steps of a staircase. It must curve along the wall to the summit. With a wolf at her heels, Annelise climbed thestairs.
The single room at the top was round and possessed four small windows. Annelise was glad to see that the roof was intact. The dying light fanned through one window. The floor was illuminated with its golden gleam, and a sharp line was drawn between light and darkness. What Annelise could see of the room was unfurnished, save for a small lump of textiles beneath the west-facingwindow.
She crossed the room to examine the pile, lifting the first garment into the light. They were men’s chausses, made of a dark wool, and they looked vaguelyfamiliar.
Annelise knew well enough that she had only seen one man’s chausses of late. She flicked a glance at the wolf, who settled on his haunches in the doorway, and she shivered to find his gaze fixed upon her. The shadows had claimed that side of the room, and only the gleam of his eyes and teeth were clearlyvisible.
The hairs on the back of Annelise’s neck prickled. There was something about the weight of the wolf’s stare, something not canine in his expression, something that made it easy to believe he might be capable of awink.
He looked almost smug, as though he knew something she did not and dared her to discoverit.
Solitude was clearly making her fey. Annelise’s hands shook as she lifted a white linen shirt from the pile, then stopped mid-gesture at the scent that surroundedher.
It was the aroma of a man’s skin, of a particular man’s skin, and her heart skipped in recognition. Annelise would have recognized that scent anywhere inChristendom.
It was her spouse’s flesh shesmelled.
“Mother of God,” she whispered. Tears blurred her vision as she touched the boots resting beneath theshirt.
These were her husband’sclothes.
And he evidently had no need of them anylonger.
This wolf had devouredhim.
Annelise clutched his chemise to her chest and spun to face the wolf, even as her tears began tofall.
* * *
“Fiend!”Annelise cried infury.
She pulled her small eating knife and lunged for Rolfe in his wolf form. He could only admire her bravery, even as he evaded her blow. He bared his teeth and she was so startled that she dropped theknife.
He kicked it so that it clattered down the stairs. He would retrieve it later, but he had no desire to beinjured.
“If you mean to attack me, then do not make me wait,” Annelise said, her manner grim. She backed against the wall, staring at him inhorror.
The last finger of sunlight slipped below the horizon, and the room was suddenly plunged into evening shadows. Rolfe was glad that she would not have to witness his transformation, for he imagined it was as disconcerting to see as to feel. He sighed with relief as he changed to his human form, though his lady’s fear wastangible.
Then he stepped into the shaft of moonlight to reveal himself to her. “I shall attack you with pleasure, wife of mine, but not in the way you areimagining.”
She gasped and seemed overwhelmed. “You.You!”
“Yes,me.”
“But how? Where?” She looked between him and the portal where the wolf had been, her fear evident and her uncertainty clear. She seemed to be at a loss forwords.
“Do not tell me that you of all people are speechless, my Annelise?” Rolfe asked. “You will leave me doubting that you are my wife, afterall.”
She gripped his clothing, clearly still shocked. “But,sir...”
“Perhaps you are not glad to see me, afterall.”
The lady’s lips trembled. Rolfe knew he had compelled her to run quickly and far in the cold and did not doubt that she was exhausted. He crossed the small chamber and caught her close, feeling how she trembled. She leaned her cheek against his chest and gripped his shoulders as she began toweep.
