Godric stopped mid-step, then grinned wide. “If she were still alive, she would be wrinkly, too.”
Lightness fluttered through Valkaryn, a joy I rarely felt from her.
“She can see me?” he asked.
“I think she can see what I see.”
‘That is right,’Val confirmed.
“I miss her,” Godric said. His eyes grew misty, but he blinked them back. “You must be special if she chose you to wield her.”
“She misses you, too,” I spoke quietly. “And I am not special at all.”
Godric shook his head. “That is what special people say.”
I gave a small laugh.
We entered a town larger than Hildreth. The streets were crowded, wolfkin in both human and wolf form moving quickly. Colorful buildings rose three stories high, tight along the roads. There were fewer trees here. The pace felt rushed, tense. The clothes were duller, worn thin.
Godric stopped my horse and opened my saddlebags to hand me my cloak.
“I would like you to cover her while in crowds,” he said, glancing at Valkaryn.
I nodded and slipped the cloak over my shoulders. He leaned close, speaking so softly I barely heard him.
“I also do not want anyone knowing you are the alpha’s mate. I know. Kaelric knows. No one else, not even his inner circle. Keep it to yourself until I say otherwise.”
My mouth fell open.
“Why?”
His gaze was uneasy. “Kaelric tasked me with keeping you alive. I take my job seriously.”
A cold knot formed in my stomach. Would his wolves kill me if they knew?
‘Listen to my brother,’Val said.‘He is good at what he does. Kaelric only trusts family. Look at my husband. Killed in his sleep by a friend he trusted.’
A dark feeling settled over me. Leaving home had felt like stepping toward war. Now I was certain of it.
We slept at an inn with red shutters and dusty floors. The air inside smelled faintly of mildew and old bread that had been left out too long. Godric told the innkeeper I was his niece. The innkeeper looked me over, probably noticing right away that I was human, but he didn’t ask questions and handed us a key.
The room had two narrow beds. Godric dragged his mattress to the door and propped it there, his back to it like he intended to sleep upright. The act made me think he might be paranoid, but then again, maybe I was not paranoid enough.
After a hot bath that felt like heaven on tired muscles, I slipped into bed. The blankets were scratchy but warm. I fell asleep quickly.
That night, I dreamed of fire.
Not the Dregs.
Somewhere new.
A city I had never seen, burning fiercely. High walls rose around it, made from a black stone that swallowed light. Flames poured from the windows. Screams tore across the streets. People ran for the open gates, smoke clinging to their clothes. The fire crawled up the walls like it was alive, hunting.
I woke with a sharp inhale.
The next morning, we continued riding. As the landscape changed, so did the people. The closer we drew to Loroc, the more military presence crowded the roads. Wolfkin with steel at their hips marched in pairs. Wolves ran alongside them, silent and watchful.
At the first checkpoint, armed guards stepped forward but halted when they saw Godric. They bowed their heads deeply and let us pass without question.
