“Not much.” He shrugged, scratching the side of his neck. “She says the Lupin Pack survived.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful!”
“And I am invited to visit them inLángshan.”
Dyna’s smile grew wider, and he couldn’t help being glad to see it. “Then shedidconfess.”
He scoffed. “You’re having a laugh. I don’t know why you’re assuming there’s anything of the sort between us.”
“Zev, I saw the way you looked at her.”
He walked faster to hide how red his face felt. “What you saw was fascination at discovering there were others like me.”
“I know what I saw,” Dyna said. “As I know, you didn’t see the way she looked at you when you weren’t looking.”
He stopped in place. A tangled mess of emotions wrangled in his chest. Surprise. Confusion. Hope. All overshadowed by denial and resignation. “It doesn’t matter. I’m not going to Lángshan.”
“What? Why?” Dyna came around to face him, frowning incredulously.
“You know why.”
She shook her head. “Because of the Other? For that very reason you should go. They can help you.”
“I will not put her at risk, Dyna. It’s too late.” Because Zev knew that’s what Wayland had attempted to say. It was possible to control the Other—ifhe had been taught as a pup. But his Other had been untamed for years, grown too wild and too strong.
During their stay in Skelling, Zev had tried to connect with his Other. He thought perhaps he could teach himself how to control it. But when Zev did, he felt it rush to the surface and almost take over him. He inwardly shuddered now at the thought. It easily could have been released in the town and torn into any prey that crossed its path.
It had come out on its own once, when he had been cornered by the Lykos Pack. It must have been the instinct to survive that set it free.
But if he called on his Other again, what if he couldn’t call it back?
The full moon was near, and he sensed it there beneath his skin. Eager to be released.
Goosebumps scattered over his arms. “There is no controlling it, Dyna.”
Zev tried to move on, but she moved in his way. “No, I don’t believe that. It’s never too late, and I refuse to let you say so. We are going to Lángshan someday. Whether it be on this journey or thereafter. Because you promised to learn how to fight for yourself, too, remember?” Her eyes lowered to the thick scars on his wrists. “A life bound in chains is not living.”
Her words reminded him of the last dream he had of his father.I never taught you to give up.
To do so would make the Madness return. That wasn’t what he wanted. He was finally free, and he had to put in the effort to stay that way.
Sighing, Zev mussed her hair. “You’re right.” As the wind brushed against him, he caught that bitter herbal scent again. It had been following them around since before the city, so he had assumed it was some plant in the region, but he still smelled it. Zev subtly sniffed Dyna and reared his head back, wrinkling his nose.
“What is it?”
“You smell … odd.”
She pulled away from him, giving him a strange look. “What do you mean?”
His nose twitched. “What is that scent? Are you taking a tonic? Are you ill?” He attempted to check her forehead, but she dodged him.
“I’m fine. You’re smelling the balm I used last night.” Dyna continued, and her pace picked up. “Let’s go find the others.”
Frowning, Zev followed, but he wasn’t going to let her change the subject that easily. “Your balms usually smell of honey and eucalyptus. This new one smells of rank weeds.”
“Well, that happens when it’s made with a sedge flower that grows in these parts. It has a bitter scent instead of floral, but I find it works quite well.”
His brow furrowed. “What is it for?”
