“Ah. Just a baby.”
She raised a brow. “And how old are you?”
“About thirty years older.”
“Thirty years older than I, yet you are the silly one, no?”
Raine let out a loud laugh. “That’s a fair assessment. I apologize if my wit offends you.”
“I never said that.”
Raine watched her closely, unable to tear his eyes away.
“Anyway.” She cleared her throat. “Tell me about your animals.”
“What would you like to know?”
“How do you get paired with one?” Her eyes drifted to Sabriel.
“They choose us. Usually when we’re fairly young. As children or teenagers. They’re a gift from the Earth Mother. Helpers for the most powerful high fae of our kingdom.”
“Not everyone has one?”
“No.”
“I’d like to hear the story of how your wolf chose you.”
Sabriel perked up, opening an eye as if she wanted to listen.
Raine continued to stroke her head. “Well, I was five years old. My father is a farmer, and one evening he was inside cooking dinner. I’d been playing in the yard near our pond, catching frogs. It was one of my favorite things to do as a child. My sister, Fanya—who was ten at the time—was supposed to be watching me, but you know how siblings are.” He waved a hand. “There was a bright pink frog I was determined to catch. I’d never seen anything like it. It was beautiful…and I chased it for a while, but every time I got close, it hopped out of my grasp. Before I knew it, I was lost in the woods. I couldn’t find my way back, and had no idea where the house was.”
“You were so young. That must have been terrifying.”
“It was. I crawled beneath the roots of a tree and cried. I was afraid some creature would eat me, or I’d be lost forever.” Sabriel raised her head and licked Raine’s face. He scratched behind her ears as he continued. “After a while, I felt something tugging on my pants. It pulled me from my hiding spot and when I opened my eyes, there she was. She was just a puppy.”
“How did you know she was your companion?”
“She told me. Her childlike voice spoke in my head. It startled me at first, but when I realized she was mine, I was elated.”
“What did she say?”
“She said, ‘Come, little boy. I know the way back to your house.’ I asked how she knew, and she told me she’d been watching me. She knew my name and said she was choosing to bond with me. And that was that.” Sabriel gave a small yip.
“Do they live immortal lifespans like the fae?”
“Yes. But only the bonded animals.”
Maeryn leaned forward, her chin in her hand as her elbow rested on her knee, her eyes twinkling with fascination. “So Aro won’t let anyone else touch him besides the general and the princess. What about Sabriel?”
“She lets Ava pet her. And me. That’s about it.”
Maeryn may touch me.
“Really?”
Yes. I like her.
Raine smirked, his gaze lifting to Maeryn. “Apparently, you can touch her. She said she likes you.”
