Sage about fell out of her seat. She never thought she’d live to see the day avodand avoxengot along.
Canyon grinned. “You saved our lives; we owe you.”
“That was some fucking monster in that hole,” Timber said. “It almost ate us.”
Rhogun motioned to the bandages peeking out from Timber’s sleeve. “I see that. Now you’re an honoraryfoxen, you know?”
Timber roared laughter and clasped hands with Rhogun. “You hear that, Canyon? I’m an honoraryfoxen.”
They quieted and Rhogun looked at Canyon, then at Sage. “Hi,vixie,” he said. “You’ve got a good male here.”
Sage smiled weakly. She was overwhelmed and didn’t know how to respond.
Canyon looked at Timber and said, “What say we let them talk.” They left the truck and shut the doors.
Sage sat on the forward edge of the seat, seeing Rhogun’s mark peeking out above his undershirt. She touched his shoulder softly. “Rhogun, I'm sorry.”
He smiled gently. “You didn't have anything to do with it.”
“Does it hurt?”
He held up the handcuffs. “Not with these on, but it hurts without them, when I'm defying orders.”
Sage gripped the back of the seat. “You defied him?”
“A group of us did. They escaped but I… couldn’t. Thevodgot me.”
“Oh, oh,” Sage said. “What can I do to help? Can I get a message to Dred?”
Rhogun shook his head. “Not you,vixie, that’s not your job.”
“Not my job?”
“Thevixieof sign 742 isnota messenger,” he said, his voice and manner serious.
Tingles marched up and down Sage’s arms and back. Her hands fluttered to her mouth, and she searched Rhogun’s face for signs that he knew what he was talking about.
“Me?”
He nodded. “Your only job is to form a bond with your mate. Your destiny will find you, and you will bow before it. Your mate will help you be strong.” Rhogun looked out the window at the males outside with their backs to the truck. “Your mate and his brother—there's a reason it's these two,vixie. They're strong together, and they hold no contempt forfoxen. They're influential and connected. They're well-liked, smart, and mavericks. They don't care what the boss says. They care what their wolf says, and their wolves are solid. Their wolves are committed to truth and the uniting offoxenandwolven.”
Sage grasped her throat, wanting to believe. “How do you know?”
Rhogun lifted his eyepatch. Sage saw his withered eye for the first time ever.
“This eye isn't dead like we always thought,” he said. “It just sees differently… when there’s something different to see.” He took a moment to breathe and smile. “It sees youvixie, shimmering in minty green magic, and it knows your full power has not even reached you yet.”
Rhogun dropped the eyepatch.
“What does it mean?” Sage breathed.
“No idea, but I'm feeling a bit of awe in your presence.”
Sage grabbed his hand. “No elder. I’m in awe of you. Me, I'm no one. Im not—”
He lifted a hand to stop her. “Enough.You are enough and you areall of us. You are the product of centuries of defiance of the demon.” He pointed at her. “This did not start with you, Sage Serenity White, and you are not alone in it.” He pointedat himself. “You and I, we’re witnessing prophecy come to life. We’re witnessingdivine help come to dissolve our burdens.”
Sage squeezed his hand, tears coming to her eyes. She wanted it to be trueso much.
