“At least take this,” Father says, discreetly pressing a pouch of gold into Auren’s palm. “For the journey.”
Auren barely glances at it before handing it back. “We don’t need it.”
Father begins to tuck it away, but I snatch it the moment Auren turns his back.
My brother stifles another laugh but quickly clears his throat to cover it.
He and I argue every now and then, and perhaps I’m a bit trying, but he’s my brother. Surely, he realizes this entire thing is ridiculous.
While Auren is talking to Father, I grab Aldric’s arm. “Meet me at the edge of town,” I whisper urgently in his ear. “I don’t need a marriage. We can hide at the summer home until my birthday passes. If the Goblin King can’t find me, the bargain will be broken, and I’ll be done with this nonsense.”
Instead of answering, he remains silent, which I take as a yes. A faint smile crests my lips.
Father may think he’s won, but he has no idea I have Aldric on my side.
Auren, none the wiser, turns back to me. “Do you have travel boots?”
I blink. “Aladydoesnotwear boots.”
He gives me a look that tells me he disagrees, but he wisely chooses to remain silent.
When we step outside, my heart stops. A massive Dire wolf stands in the center of the courtyard. It’s taller than any horse I’ve ever seen, with thick, silver-white fur, and fangs nearly as long as my forearm.
Its golden eyes lock onto mine, and I immediately get behind Auren.
“It’s alright, Vivienne,” he says calmly. “This is Vaelen—my wolf. He will not harm you.”
I’ve heard the Elves ride Dire wolves, but I’ll admit that part of me always believed this was mere rumor. A sinking feeling settles in the pit of my stomach, but I force it back down and tip up my chin, feigning a bravery I do not entirely feel right now. “Where is the carriage?”
At least once I’m inside, I can close the curtains and pretend there aren’t wolves all around me.
Auren frowns. “There is no carriage.” He gestures at the Dire wolf. “We’ll be riding on—”
“You cannot possibly expect me to ride that,” I snap.
“Vivienne,” he says calmly. “You have nothing to fear.” He glances at the wolf and makes a low whistling sound.
I press myself into Auren’s side as the beast lopes toward us on silent paws, each one nearly the size of my head.
Auren wraps an arm around my waist. “Vivienne, meet Vaelen.”
Gods save me.
The wolf’s sharp golden eyes meet mine with an unsettling awareness.
“I am not riding a wolf,” I whisper, my fingers curling involuntarily into the fabric of Auren’s tunic.
His hand immediately covers mine where it grips him, holding it there instead of pulling it away. “You ride horses, don’t you?” Auren asks. When I nod, he adds, “Riding a wolf is much the same.”
“I very much doubt that,” I reply tartly. “For one thing, horses don’t have fangs the size of daggers.”
Auren doesn’t argue. Instead, he takes my hand in his warm, steady grasp and slowly brings it forward.
I stiffen. “What are you doing?”
“Vaelen needs to learn your scent,” he murmurs, his voice a soothing contrast to the thunderous panic in my chest. “He will never harm you, but he needs to recognize you as mine.”
Mine.The word settles strangely in my chest. Not like a command, but like something already decided. Warmth coils deep within, unsettling and… entirely inappropriate.
