I glanced back toward the figure and still saw him motionless, watching.
“In the dream, he said he didn’t want to draw her attention to the Ward.”
“The Priestess,” Keegan muttered, not taking his gaze away from the hooded figure.
“Yes, the Priestess,” I whispered.
My skin prickled, and I let out a deep breath.
“He told me she’s hunting him and he can’t stay in one place too long.”
Keegan nodded and brought his gaze back to mine.
I heard Caleb exhale slowly, and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit it rattled me.
But he wasn’t panicking. Caleb was merely thinking aloud. Wolves did that. They let fear exist without letting it steer them, and I’d learned to trust it, mostly.
“If that’s him, then he’s either desperate or reckless.” Caleb straightened and looked at Keegan.
My stomach clenched just as the figure shifted, and my birthmark warmed.
“It has to be him,” I said, touching my hip.
Keegan nodded. “You’re sure?”
“As sure as I can be.”
Keegan nodded once, not pleased, but accepting that my instincts mattered here.
“I need to see,” I said, and the words came out before I could soften them.
“Maeve.”
“I know.” I shook my head. “I know what you’re going to say. That it could be reflective magic. That it could be a lure.”
Caleb’s eyes narrowed slightly, but I didn’t know if it was out of annoyance or awe.
“If he’s here, then there’s a reason, and it must be big or at least important.”
“I recognize that look in your eyes.” Keegan studied me, and I nodded.
Caleb’s voice was calm, but there was steel beneath it. “If you go to him, we go too.”
Keegan’s nod came immediately. “We’ll be close behind.”
Relief surged through me, and I didn’t realize how worried I was about going out there alone. I would have done it, but having them by my side made things more…secure.
“Thank you, but let’s all remember what he did for us with the orcs. I know there’s a lot of history, but I don’t want him to bolt. Maybe, he’ll know something about my mom.”
Twobble cleared his throat. “If I may, I don’t think this is a swell idea.”
My gaze fell to Twobble’s shoulder. “Twobble, where’s Cindy?”
He froze. “What do you mean?” His hand slipped up to his shoulder in an instant to feel the empty space. Sparkly slime attached to his fingers as panic pulsed through him.
“Cindy. Where are you?” He started crawling on the floor. “Do you see any sparkle trails?”
Keegan traded a glance with me, and I had to bite my tongue to stop from laughing.
