He didn’t explain further. The next notes spoke of weather patterns and hunting schedules.
Victoria leaned over my shoulder to read it herself.
“Continuity with themselves,” she said. “Not continuityofthemselves.With. Like there’s a separation that needs to be actively maintained.”
“Between wolf and human,” I said.
“Or between body and soul and the wolf that connects them.” She was quiet for a moment. “Duskburst could be a literal binding agent between the magical landscape and shifter nature. Not only anchoring the seal but anchoring the soul-wolf connection itself.”
“Remove or corrupt the plants, and over time the wolves begin to drift from themselves.” I finished the thought she’d started.
“We need more information. We need to discover if Bastian is doing anything and examine the northern seal sites again. Cross-reference what we’re seeing here with what’s happening there. The theory is sound, but the evidence is still incomplete.”
“We’ll stop at the seal sites on the way to Bastian’s territory tomorrow and get samples,” I said. “Document everything.”
She nodded.
I set the journal down on the table in front of us.
The quiet that followed wasn’t heavy, just the particular quiet of two people who’d thought through something terrible together and were still here.
“I don’t know what I did to deserve someone who walks into a wolf’s den and starts solving everything he can’t fix alone,” I said. “But I’m not questioning it.”
Victoria stilled. Her eyes went soft and uncertain in a way I’d never seen before.
From the windowsill, Acorn stirred. He made a sound that was half-chirp, half-sigh.
Victoria’s mouth twitched despite the seriousness of the moment. “He’s doing it again.”
“Let me guess.”
“The wolf who carries witches up a hundred steps and four, and picks her flowers fresh, finally admits he’d like to do it evermore.” She met my eyes, vulnerability showing through. “He’s feeling very smug about it.”
“The squirrel isn’t wrong.”
Her breathing stopped, and her expression shifted, breaking open in a way that made my throat tighten and my wolf rumble with satisfaction.
She climbed into my lap. Her arms went around my neck, her fingers gliding into my hair. Her weight settled against me like it belonged there. I took in the curve of her face in the firelight, and the way she studied me like I was worth looking at.
I stood, holding her tighter in my arms. Her gasp turned into a laugh.
“Bedroom,” I growled.
“Agreed.”
I headed for the door. My wolf surged forward, pleased and possessive.
The door closed behind us with a solid click.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
VICTORIA
Iemerged from our tree at dawn to find Feral already speaking with Robin near the edge of the clearing. My mop was in one hand, my field kit and a bag of clothing slung over my shoulders. Acorn trotted along beside me with his own tiny bag strapped to his back.
Feral’s gaze caught mine and tracked to the mop. His expression went through several stages I’d learned to recognize, including irritation and resignation. The tightness around his eyes meant he was about to argue.
“No,” he said when I joined him.
