When we got to my door, he didn’t release me immediately. Instead, his hand slid from my arm to my waist as he turned to face me. His hazel eyes were soft as they searched my face. He brushed astrand of hair out of my face, tucking it behind my ear, his hand achingly gentle as it lingered. “Stay safe.” His voice was low, tender even.
“Youstay safe.” In contrast, my voice was hard, trying not to let the worry seep through. “And find me as soon as you’re back.”
“I will.” With one final long look, he took his leave.
Chapter
Fourteen
I was going to tell Thom today, but then he came in and I don’t know if I’ve ever seen him smile like that. He’s met a healer. The way he described her… I think he just found his mate. I didn’t have the heart to tell him what I learned. The news will keep. For now.
—From the journal of Violet Andrever
Iclosed the door behind me, leaning against it and pressing a hand to my heart where it threatened to leave my chest. I listened to the sound of his footsteps echoing across the stone, taking him away from me, before drawing myself a bath, where I may have dozed off for a bit. After waking up once more, I made myself get ready to go meet Finn, even though I was still dragging.
As I walked toward the library, I noticed the additional guards once again stationed throughout the hallways—courtesy of my Champion. Just as before, I was both touched that he had spared a thought to worry about my safety while he was gone and frustrated by their presence. Although, with my attacker at large and this mysterious faction with unknown motives, I probably shouldn’t complain.
I was doing my best to squash my worries about Griff when Andrei approached me. I hadn’t seen him, except from a distance,since that first night, but I remembered how nice he had been to me. I also remembered how much of a mess I had been that night.
“Good afternoon,” he said with a sunny smile. “Lord Finnegan is busy with your grandfather, so I told him I’d keep track of you. I was hoping we could spend some time together.”
“I’d like that,” I said shyly.
“Excellent! How much of the castle have you seen? I thought I could offer you a tour while we talked. And maybe we could work on your body channel a bit along the way.”
We set off through the halls, walking slowly to accommodate my soreness.
“How are you adjusting to life here?” he asked pleasantly.
“It’s certainly… different.”
He smiled widely. “I’m sure it is. Are you looking forward to Ignistar?”
“I honestly don’t really know what to expect. I’m sure the winter solstice is celebrated very differently here than back home.”
“It’s mostly a large party, dedicated to the god of fire, Ignis. There will be a presentation, introducing you to the court.” At my look of dismay, he patted my arm. “It’ll be brief, if that’s any consolation.”
It wasn’t, but I appreciated him trying.
“I believe Lord Narvene will be escorting you.”
“The massive Narvene or the scholar Narvene?”
He chuckled. “The massive one.”
I didn’t let myself think too deeply about the pleasure that coursed through me. Instead, I concentrated on the fact that he just needed to get himself back here in one piece first.
Andrei led me through a door off to the side of the main corridor, into a hallway I’d never been in before, filled with tapestries of Serentyn’s history. I slowed my already-sluggish steps, taking in the detailed artwork. I was drawn to one of the mountains, where wolves and men existed side by side, human children playing alongside wolf puppies. It was… honestly,cutewas the only word I could come up with. The puppies were adorably rendered in thread.
Andrei noticed I had become distracted and stopped next to me. “I’ve always liked that one too. The wulfkin were some of my favorite stories when I was younger.”
“Wulfkin?”
“Shapeshifters who take on the form of a wolf. Legend has it that they used to live alongside us, but decided to remove themselves to the mountains around the same time that the Veil was created.”
“I wonder why.”
His voice was sad. “No one knows.”
