My hand went to my throat as I whimpered.
“The village is beautiful. Do you have running water?” Sage asked quickly, noticing my discomfort and changing the subject, for which I was grateful.
Astra nodded. “Of course.” She pointed off in the distance. “The men fill the gravity fed water tower once a month from the lake, and we have an electric pump fed by solar. We are completely off-grid here, as you might call it in the city.” I followed her line of sight and thought I saw the outline of something, but it was too hard to tell in this light.
Guilt gnawed at my gut, and I could tell from Sage’s pained face it got her thinking as well.
City life in essence was … frivolous and definitely not off-grid.
“Here we are!” Astra bounced up and down in front of an adorable little redbrick cottage with a bright blue door. “I’ve been filling the pantry all day with the freeze-dried food you gave us, and got some blankets in there too. I knew you would come home.” She threw herself forward and wrapped her arms around me again, squeezing me tightly, and I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore. Maybe it was our connection, maybe I was just tired, or turning into a total wuss, but Astra had the most innocent soul and I couldn’t take it anymore. When she pulled back, I wiped my eyes quickly and had to swallow my sob.
“Astra… thank you. This is very kind. Where do you sleep?”
She pointed to a building directly across from my guest house. “In there, obviously.”
My gaze ran the length of the giant building. It was the size of ten of the little cottages. Dark red brick ran the length of the large rectangular building; the clay tiled roof shot high up into the sky. There was no cross or anything like that on top, but it looked like a church.
It had the pointed top like the ones I saw in Spokane, near Delphi.
Sage and I shared a look but said nothing. Did Astra … hold church services here? Were the Paladins a religious people? They sure talked about God a lot. Was a priestess in the Paladin culture like a pastor? I was so fascinated.
“Well, I’m exhausted.” Sage yawned and I concurred, pulling myself from my thoughts. We bid Astra goodnight and stepped inside the small guest home.
It was adorable and simple, and absolutely perfect. Everything was handcrafted with expert care. The couch was a wrought iron bench with huge plush padding that had been dyed a bright yellow. The coffee table was wrought iron as well with blown glass. It had little bubbles and swirls, which gave it a rich artistry.
“So you’re staying?” Sage turned and looked at me. She emptied her face of emotion, but I could hear the disappointment in her voice.
I just didn’t have the energy for this right now. Especially knowing I had to also have this fight with Sawyer.
I sighed. “Let’s talk in the morning. I’m beat.”
She nodded, yawning again. “Fine. All of the guys are insanely hot here. I know what I’ll be dreaming about tonight.”
I chuckled. “What about Walsh?”
“Who?” she joked, before disappearing into a room with a wink. I heard the oofh of breath leave her as she seemingly leapt into a bed, then I went in search of another room. Down the hall, past a bathroom, I found a light blue blanket draped over a wrought iron four-poster bed. I collapsed onto the thick cotton mattress, kicking off my shoes.
Rolling onto my back, I stared up at the plaster ceiling. It had been dyed a light yellow and I wondered where they got the dye from. Turmeric? Or did they barter for paint? It was incredible to see a self-sufficient place like this…
I was stalling by thinking of other things rather than mind texting Sawyer.
I had to get this over with. Taking in a deep breath, I sent him a message.‘The Paladins will help.’
Relief coursed through our bond from him and seeped into me.
‘Oh, thank fuck, Demi. Now get back here before I go insane.’I felt his anxiety and also grief, probably over his father.
Silent tears rolled down my cheeks and onto the pillow.‘Sawyer … I … told them I would stay and help in exchange for—’
‘Don’t fuck with me like that. I’m too fragile right now,’ he interrupted, and I winced.
This was going to be harder than I thought.
‘I’m serious. They won’t help us unless I step up to the plate and claim my alpha heritage.’
‘Demi, I will cut off my own foot, remove this ankle bracelet, hobble into the woods, and drag you back here if you tell me you are serious again.’
I gulped.‘I’m … serious.’I thought of the plant death.‘Sawyer, their land is dying. They aren’t like the city wolves. Their power is—’
