We enter through an archway into a large, central hall. In the center is a firepit, burning happily with individuals I recognize as other alphas lounging at its edges. They all look our way when we enter, but Conri waves off their formalities.
He leads us off to the side and into a tunnel that stretches deeper into the hillside. I quickly realize that the cave system that makes up the innards of this structure was naturally formed and merely polished by mortal hands. The adornments of carved pillars embellished with engravings of running wolves and the phases of the moon were certainly not naturally formed.
Led by the faint glow of torches, we plunge deeper into the hillside. In the distance, I think I see a speck of white light that suggests another entrance, but we stop well before reaching it. Conri leads us under an archway—one of the few branches off this hall.
It opens into a modest cavern. A fire crackles in a hearth on the opposite wall with blankets and pillows laid out in a divot in the floor before it, the sunken area no doubt catching the warmth of the flames to fight against the chill of the caves. To the right and left of the hearth are two other archways, their openings obscured by curtains, rather than doors. On one curtain is the embroidered visage of a wolf, a full moon on the other.
Conri explains the obvious. “The chambers of the king are to the left, the moon spirit on the right. So there will be no concerns about you having ample time with Aurora.”
I glance in her direction. She emphasized that I needed to find time with her, despite knowing this setup of rooms. It underscores what is already clear—this place is not safe, or private.
Aurora confirms my suspicions. “I would like to spend the night in the grove.”
“The grove? Is your weakness truly so bad?” Conri seems concerned, but not upset, which I take as a good sign.
“It is not grave, but my weariness is significant enough that I feel it’d be for the best. One night and I shall be as strong as I have always been,” Aurora says without hesitation.
“And of course I will need to stay with her there,” I add so there’s no doubt.
Conri’s frown deepens. “But we were just united, my darling. This evening I had planned to take you to bed.”
His fake display of compassion truly disgusts me. “I know, and we will have days and days together, a lifetime. But I amweary, and so is Aurora—we should have some time to rejoin her powers,” I say delicately. He does not seem to be easing his disapproval. I shift tactics. “What about this: We merely spend the day in the grove and then I make my way to your bed before dawn?”
The wolf king considers this.
“I could escort them both, my king. That way you can get the rest you so deserve, or attend to other necessary matters, until your bride and spirit are ready,” Evander offers.
My insides tighten. Would Evander have offered to escort us before? Does his outright asking give away too much?
“That should be fine.” Conri finally relents and I bite the insides of my cheeks to keep myself from exhaling an all too obvious sigh of relief. “In fact, take them there now, will you? You are right in that I have important matters to discuss with the other alphas.”
Important matters like planning the details of killing your future wife…
“Yes, my king.” Evander bows his head.
Conri grabs my wrist and leans in. “I’m looking forward to seeing you later,” he whispers, and leaves. I manage to hold back my shudder until he’s gone.
“Faelyn—” Evander moves for me.
“We need to get to the grove,” I interrupt him and wrap my arm around Aurora’s waist, positioning hers around my shoulders. She slumps into me with a sigh. Evander’s eyes widen slightly as he grasps the severity of the situation.
“This way.” Evander leads us back into the passage.
Conri had turned left, no doubt going back to the main cavern we first entered into. Instead, Evander turns right and guides us down the hall to the speck of light I saw earlier. Sure enough, my suspicions about it being another exit were correct.
We emerge into a dense copse of the silvery trees of Den. A well-worn path slopes down between them to a large, grassy clearing. At the far edge of the clearing is a large boulder, nearly the size of a small cliff. It is as tall as the hut I grew up in, and twice as wide. At the center of the clearing is another, flat rock. This one large enough for the three of us to stand on together.
Aurora sinks onto the stone the second we step onto it. I ease her down all the way into a laying position when it becomes clear that’s what she desires. Shifting, I place her head in my lap. Her eyes are already closed.
“What is it?” Worry is apparent in Evander’s tone.
“She’s just tired,” I answer on Aurora’s behalf. Her breathing has become slow and steady—she’s already in a deep slumber. “She’ll be all right.” I hope. “She just needs to rest.”
“I’ve never seen her like this before.” Evander steps off the central stone, glancing back up the pathway to make sure no one has followed us.
“She’s never had her power split before.” Our discussion doesn’t seem to disturb Aurora. I rest my hands lightly around her face, fingertips brushing against her cheeks, neck, and shoulders. “And she had to help me to summon Volst. He was too weak to come otherwise, since I’d summoned him so recently.”
“I suspected.”
