I didn’t know a lot about troll magic, they were so secretive about it, but I knew they could manipulate metals and were master blacksmiths. “Marmal, can you … open the locks of the cages without touching them?”Like with your magic, I wanted to say but didn’t.
She suddenly became very shy, cheeks reddening as she looked down at her hands. It was super taboo in their culture to talk about their magic. I had no idea why. Something about they would lose it or something if I remembered my troll history and culture correctly.
“Because if you could…” I added, “we could freeallof the animals, not just Pearl, and it would create the distraction we’d need to get Pearl out.”
She swallowed hard and then nodded once. I was going to take that as a yes.
Those bastards were going to pay for what they were doing to these defenseless animals. I’d make sure of it.
The next morningI awoke with a desperate fever to get to Sawyer. I hadn’t heard from him no matter how many times I’d reached out, and because we were in the middle of Dark Fey Territory, we had no access to a radio or anything for me to know what was going on in Light Fey City, where the jail was. Marmal had crept out of the tent early this morning for her daily shift at Trip’s barn. Sage and I would go in a few minutes and steal a cart and buggy to tie our horses up to. Then we’d start a fire at the back door to create the distraction she’d need to work her untold magic and open those cages. It was a solid plan, assuming nothing went wrong.
‘How’s the pack?’I did a quick check in with Rab. He’d been keeping me abreast with little comments here and there through our connection, but it didn’t work in Troll Village, so I could only talk to him here in the fey lands.
‘Good. Had an issue with the water tank. It’s cracked, but we got it fixed and morale is high. Everyone loves being outdoors.’
That was a huge relief. I wasn’t sure what I would do if he told me there was a big problem and I had to come home.
‘How’s my mom doing with Creek?’I tried not to think about my baby, but it was hard, I missed him so damn much it hurt. I felt emotional whenever I thought about him too much, so I just tried to push him from my mind.
‘Great, Willow is helping her, and Creek and Daisy have become best friends.’
I smiled, a tear slipping down my cheek at that.
‘Hunting going okay?’I switched gears. Twenty thousand people was a lot to feed. We’d brought what dwindling provisions they had from the bunker, but it wouldn’t last long. My magic seemed to have healed the land, but I wasn’t sure how that translated into actual food to feed that many people.
‘We are already smoking elk meat in excess,’he replied.‘The blueberry fields are ripe with fruit.’
Another relief.
‘Astra? Is she okay?’
‘Alpha, everything is fine here. Astra is well and walking among the people again. Don’t worry. I’ll contact you if we have a problem. You just focus on bringing your mate back.’
I sighed in relief again.‘You’re the best. Thank you.’
After that, I met up with Sage and helped her break down the tent. A tent was a luxury compared to what we’d gone through in the Dark Woods. Water treatment tablets, freeze dried food, all the stuff she’d packed was way more than we needed out there.
“Thinking about our time in the woods?” she asked as she shoved the tent into the saddlebag on the horse.
I nodded. “Do you miss it?”
She chuckled. “I do. Is that weird? I mean the woods were constantly trying to kill me, and before I met up with you I was starving half the time, and scared, but then … there was a peace there, ya know? Our little cabin by the creek.”
I bobbed my head. “I know.”
“But let’s notevergo back there.” Sage scrunched her face and I laughed.
A pang of sadness struck through my chest at that: never see the cabin where I birthed Creek again? I guess not, huh? Why would I ever go back there?
“But we could build you and Sawyer a little cabin on the creek in Paladin Village,” Sage offered, probably noticing my sadness.
I beamed. I hadn’t really gotten to explore Paladin Village as much as I’d liked to. I knew there was a creek and so much farmland to explore. I was alpha of a place I hadn’t really spent much time in.
“I’d like that,” I told her, my bottom lip trembling as I suddenly became emotional.
“Hey.” Sage gripped my shoulders. “We’re going to get Sawyer back. I promise.”
I nodded, wiping my cheek. Now that I’d envisioned a house on the creek with Sawyer and our son, I didn’t want to give that future up.
