He howled, and I bit my lip to prevent returning his call. He was the only concession I’d ever allowed. I not only relied on him as my instinctive guide when my sight wasn’t enough, but as my only companion. The thought of ever losing him contorted my heart. He’d chosen to stay after I found him, a tiny whimpering bundle, desperately suckling from his mother’s still form. The rest of the litter lay unmoving next to her, the rotting corpse of a diafol a few paces away. Despite how my skin prickled, despite how everything within me screamed to leave him, something about the tiny bundle called to me. Cradling the barely alive cub next to my heart, I sneaked him into the library and nursed him to health.
When he was about five or six months old, I sent him into the woods, worried he’d turn diafol after his exposure to the poisoned milk. I’d ached for him, but believed I’d made the right choice. For three months I’d been more alone than ever, even after Matthias’s abandonment. Then one day, when the first flurries of snow softly fell around the library, I’d jumped at a snarl. Pablo stalked from the trees, a bloody rabbit held in his maw. His fur was smooth, eyes clear. I huffed a breath. The few drops of Vyrium hadn’t turned him. As I learned later, it appeared to protect him. I’d barely moved a muscle as he strode towards me, placing the mauled rabbit down. He’d tipped his head, that wise amber gaze locked on mine as the rabbit’s eyes fluttered open. A back leg twitched and we tore through the snow, back to the library. That was four years ago and we hadn’t been apart since.
We dismounted before rolling sand dunes. Towering blades of sharp grass swayed in the brisk wind as we made our way to the beach. The sun dipped behind us and for a moment it was analmost perfect place. Gulls called above, wings trembling as they battled the currents. I took a deep breath of the salty breeze and sent a plea for the birds to quieten. A satisfied smile lit up my face as the beach silenced.
Matthias looked up, halting for a moment, then turned, shielding his eyes from the burning glow of the fading sun.
‘Was that you?’ he asked, with a quirked brow, his hand reaching for mine.
I smiled and nodded. ‘I thought they might announce our arrival to anyone hiding.’
‘And Glesni told me your gift was only useful for ridding the castle of mice!’
He gave my hand a squeeze, and my heart warmed at the tender touch. Perhaps we could come back here, another day, when all of this was over. Me, him…and Pablo.
I was lost in thought and didn’t spot how the dunes dipped. The sand gave way beneath me and I slipped.
‘Damn,’ I hissed. Pablo turned his face to mine as Matthias moved his grip from my hand to my elbow. The wolf snorted and, shaking his head, set off again, his ears above the pale swaying grass.
The soothing waves lapping the shoreline distracted me. I’d only ever seen the dismal rocky coast of Drufaera. I’d listened enviously to Matthias’s tales of running barefoot through soft golden sand and splashing in the warm waters of the Asmaran coastline. My heartbeat wrenched as the grass thinned out and the sand lay firmer beneath my feet.
‘I want to see this beach of yours.’
The dune before us sloped away, and the others sped down, clouds of sand rising as they tore towards the large brown blotch marring the seamless beach.
‘We’ll come back,’ he said, tugging me closer and whispering into my ear, ‘I swear to you. I’ve dreamt of it, the picnic we’ll have.’
‘Will there be cheese?’ I asked as we followed the others, my breath hitching as the unfamiliar ground gave way slightly. The sky blended in with the lapping water, so calm and still, unlike the ferocious waves pounding the rocks of Drufaera.
His laugh ignited a spark within. I almost forgot we were approaching an enemy ship when he nudged my shoulder. My lips still carried the ghost of our kiss. I wondered where we’d be now if it hadn’t been for the clanging bell, the warm blood tracking down my face. I glowered at the clouds, cursing Evella. She truly had it in for us.
‘There’ll be at least four different types…and buttered bread and wine.’
Pablo pulled away from me, racing towards the boat. The others stood around the shattered hull, giving Pab a wide berth as with nose to the ground, he snuffled the debris before sneezing and making Ifan leap.
The wreck came into focus. Broken shards of wood lay across the sand, some barrels and a few broken chests.
Asher kicked some damp wood back towards the boat. It lay on its side, the tattered purple flag of Carush rippling at an odd angle. Asher had said it wasn’t big, but it was easily sixty foot long. A silent gull landed on a broken post, possibly the mast, and cocked his head, watching us closely.
‘No footprints in the sand,’ Ifan said, crossing his hands across his broad chest, staring around.
‘Only ours,’ Asher agreed. ‘So whoever was on board probably drowned before the ship washed up.’
Matthias narrowed his eyes against the glare reflecting from the sea. ‘Or they’re still out there, clinging to flotsam, ready to get washed up.’
‘We’ll place extra guards along the coast,’ Ifan said, bending down and peering at a broken barrel. ‘Leave it to me. I could head back now. Get orders in place.’
‘What’s that?’ Skye asked, approaching her brother as he bent over.
He hastily stood, yanking his black tunic back down. ‘Nothing.’
Skye stood next to Matthias. ‘You’ve got tattoos.’ She sounded amused. ‘On your back. When did you get them?’
I brushed the hair from my eyes as Ifan’s cheeks heated under the unwanted attention. His brows furrowed, and once again I was struck with the strangeness of Ifan being the youngest of the three siblings. He was almost twice the width of Matthias; his clothes bulged across his muscles as though they were ready to fall apart at the seams if he inhaled too sharply.
His nostrils flared, his body taut. ‘I got some tattoos a few months ago. I’d say the eerie unmanned enemy ship we’ve discovered is slightly more pressing than what I’ve done.’
Skye inhaled sharply. ‘I didn’t mean anything. Damn, Ifan. I was only making conversation. I don’t get what your issue is lately.’
