“Yes, it is.”
We split around a tree. “No,” he argued when we rejoined. “I know when to relinquish control. I delegate to Ana, Cal, and North all the time.”
“Only when you know they’ll do exactly what you would do.”
He shook his head, opened his mouth to argue, then shook his head again before deciding, “I’m Princeps. Not only have I earned the right to control, but it’s gotten me to where I am now.”
Oh, this was too fun. “So you admit it, then. Everything needs to be done your way, or it’s wrong.”
“And why is that such a bad thing?”
I shrugged. “Not bad. Just…overbearing sometimes.”
“Overbearing,” he scoffed, frowning as he mulled that over.
I watched as his frown suddenly morphed into a cocky grin.
“What?” I asked warily.
“Your critique is selective.” Lowering his pitch so only I could hear him, he said, “You don’t seem to mind my beingoverbearingwhen I tell you to share those beautiful sounds you make, or to relax while I taste you, or to keep your eyes on mine while—”
I poked his horse’s flank with my foot, and the animal sidestepped, cutting him off. He easily righted his course and opened his mouth, no doubt to tease me more, when Aric came to a sudden stop ahead.
“Shit,” Aric cursed, drawing his sword.
Harthon immediately did the same, edging his animal in front of mine. The zing of metal behind me indicated Stefano, Joris, and Conrad followed suit.
My heart stuttered. We were still on Sixth’s side of the mountains. It was too soon to come across adversaries.
A wolf silently wove through the dead trees ahead, its filthy white coat shifting over bones and shriveled muscles, silver scarsslashed across its body. But its eyes, the color of molten gold, glowed with life, so vibrant I could see them from where I sat.
I’d only encountered wolves once, with Harthon. It had been a battle to the death.
Aric’s horse whined, hooves shuffling in agitation, as the predator silently slinked forward. Intelligent eyes danced over us, razor sharp teeth peeking through an open maw. Harthon urged his reluctant horse beside Aric and Conrad, putting three beasts and three men before the lone wolf. It paused, one paw curled in the air.
Its gaze stopped on me.
Harthon inched forward, but the animal didn’t retreat—didn’t even spare him a look. It just watched me like that seabird had, like it could see within me to the warmth behind my ribs.
It was a crazy thought.
Absolutely insane.
This was ananimal.One we should be killing to eat. Or killing beforeitateus.
But before I knew the path, there had been no butterflies landing on my lap, no birds perched in front of me like I was their friend, no wolves facing a pack of humans and horses just to stare at me.
Harthon palmed a dagger.
“Don’t,” I blurted.
The wolf’s ear twitched. Harthon didn’t release the blade, but didn’t sheathe it either. “Why?” he asked.
“I don’t…I don’t think it’s here to kill us.”
“You do realize that we are food, and that saliva is dripping from its mouth,” Aric deadpanned.
He said it like I was daft. Maybe I was. But it didn’tfeellike the animal was here to hurt us, and to take its life when so much death surrounded us—the thought made the back of my throat thick.
