I’m not sure I understand fully what he means, but I try to act natural. “Oh, yes. I was, um, surprised by how little things changed.”
This seems like the right answer, because Kai looks placated and pauses to scold two of his children, who have begun a violent sword fight with their dinner knives.
Fox takes advantage of Kai’s distraction to shoot me a meaningful look that I can’t interpret. I raise my eyebrows in silent question, but he merely widens his eyes further.
This is hopeless.
Maybe it looks like we’re communicating, but I have no idea what he’s trying to say. Sooner or later—probably sooner—we’re going to get tripped up, and then what? Even if they wouldn’t try to kill me, I don’t want to be kicked out of the camp. Not when this is my best chance of getting to the palace.
Kai finishes speaking to his children and turns back to us, clapping Fox on the shoulder. “Are you glad to be back?”
Fox shrugs and makes a noncommittal sound that I can’t interpret. “Who else from the old camp is here?”
Kai grins. “Loads of people. You remember Elias?”
“‘Course,” Fox mumbles. “Is he still making those bone knives?”
“Yeah, ‘course he is. Lost two fingers last winter, but he’s got eight left.” He laughs and the corners of Fox’s lips tip up slightly. “Oh,” Kai continues. “And Nessa’s tent is the one with the red markings. She’s got three cubs now.” His voice drops. “But Torrin took a sword to the stomach up at the northern border.”
I glance at Fox. His jaw tightens as Kai mentions Torrin, and his fingers continue their methodical work of tearing his bread into smaller and smaller pieces. The crumbs gather in a neat pile beside his bowl, untouched. His eyes remain fixed on some distant point beyond the fire, pupils reflecting twin flames. “What about Luka?”
Kai’s eyes brighten. “Still breathing.” He gestures toward the northern tree line. “Three days out with a hunting party. Should’ve been back yesterday, but I’m not worried. He’ll howl when he sees you—thought you were dead.”
Fox nods, something like relief softening the hard line of his jaw.
“The twins, though...” Kai’s voice drops, his gaze shifting to the fire. He touches two fingers to his heart. “Winter raid. Quick, at least.”
Fox’s knuckles whiten around his spoon, but he gives no other outward sign that he’s bothered by this news at all.
“Oh, and Runa is still here too,” Kai adds, his eyes sliding sideways to study Fox’s face.
Fox’s spoon pauses midway to his mouth. The broth drips back into the bowl, breaking the silence with tiny splashes. “Is she?”
Kai shifts on the bench, the wood creaking beneath him. “Sharing a tent with Viktor now.” He scratches at his beard. “The beta.”
Fox’s eyebrows lift, and he glances around. “They’re not here.”
Kai grimaces, but whatever his answer is must be in his head because I don’t hear it, yet Fox reacts, a muscle in his jaw twitching. Interesting.
When the meal is over, my stomach leaps with nervous anticipation. I’ve been doing my best to ignore the fact that we’re going to have to sleep in the tent together, but I’m not going to be able to ignore it much longer.
I’m saved from immediate awkwardness, though, because someone pulls out a musical instrument and begins playing by the fire. A couple of the women join in singing a song I don’t know, and the wolves begin pouring more mead into their tankards.
I get the feeling that Fox doesn’t want to go back to the tent either, so we linger to watch the musicians. Kai and his sons stick around to watch too. One of Kai’s sons offers me a drink, and I shake my head. If that’s anything like the drinks that Kai gave Fox and I in his tent, it was so strong I don’t even want to smell it. Fox takes the offered drink instead. He’s smiling, his dimple showing, and I have no idea why.
“You have such a large family,” I say to Kai, finally unable to hold my questions in any longer.
Kai grins. “Thank you.”
I open my mouth again, trying to think of a tactful way to ask why there are so many children around, but Fox speaks over me. “Are they training yet?”
Kai’s attention shifts back to Fox. “Finan is twelve,” he says as if that means something.
It must, because Fox nods. “Sure. And the others?”
“All but the baby, but she’s walking now so it won’t be much longer.”
Fox’s shoulders stiffen, and I can tell without seeing his expression that he’s bothered by something. Over Fox’s shoulder, I see Kai give him a meaningful glance, his gaze darkening. I wonder if they’re talking in their heads, or just mutually understanding something that I don’t.
