I lick dry lips. “And what else is out here?”
“Boars can be quite territorial. Crowned deer. And wolves.”
“You are a wolf.”
“They won’t see me as one of their own.Weresare different. Larger. Magical. We smell differently. Act differently.”
“So you’re not at home with the wolves…”
“…or the other fae and humans. Don’t you envy my life?” He reaches for me with his now-mostly-clean hand, and I slide my hand against his rough palm. “Here we go.”
He pulls me up like I weigh nothing and then, when I sway on my feet, he hauls me closer to his tall, warm body. A scent of musk and warm amber winds around me, and I inhale deeply, my mouth watering and my body tingling everywhere.
He gazes down at me for long beats, then turns and pulls me after him. “Come on. The stone circle was good during the day, but for the night, I’d rather find something less magical and sturdier.”
“Like a cave?”
“That would be nice, although the wildcats favor them for their broods. A tree could be a suitable place to sleep in. Have you ever climbed a tree?”
“No.”
“Didn’t I say you’re coddled?”
“Can’t see what it has to do with it. However, I did climb on the roof of the manor to read a few times, against the rules.”
He slows down and shoots me a wink. “So naughty. Such a rebel.”
I shrug. “Skirts aren’t suited to tree climbing.”
“Then let’s hope we find a defensible, empty cave. Who knows? You may be luckier than I am.”
“Me? Have you seen my life?”
He laughs, and the sound does such weird things to me, tightening my belly and making me grin.
Why in the hells am I grinning? Even if this is ridiculous. More than that, it’s dangerous and treacherous. I haven’t figured Valen out yet, and I’m not sure about his motivations and goals, and my role in his plans.
“I made a deal, and I keep my promises.”
Can I trust him—at least, not to kill me?
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
ROSAMUND
A tree. He hadn’t been jesting. He leads us into a grove of whitesospentrees and peers up into the foliage of each until he finds what he considers an acceptable one.
“Is this… a good one?” I frown up at the silvery leaves and white bark. The hues remind me of his hair, the silvery grey and the white streak falling over his brow. “Does it have… good branches?”
He shoots me an incredulous look. “I’m checking whether it has any animals already taking shelter there.”
“Like… wildcats.”
“And darakins and snakes.”
“Oh. So this one is…” I wave a hand. “Vacant?”
His mouth twitches. “You really haven’t been out much, have you?”
