“And to have one still existat all, let alone in Crea…” Graylen whispers. “The Divine gave you him to keep you safe.” He shakes his head, gaze bright as he looks over at me. “He found you, Lunaria.”
Dog inches closer to us and sits—so tall that I have to look up at him from where I’m squatting. It always felt like there was something different about him. He was bigger than all the other dogs. Smarter.
His awareness is one of the reasons I considered him afriendand not a pet. He chose to wait on my porch each morning, chose to run with me while he ignored everyone else.
“His name is Soren,” Graylen whispers.
I blink. “What makesyou say that?”
The corner of Graylen’s mouth quirks up. “He told me.”
My muscles tense, freezing me to my spot. “What do you mean?—”
“This is Dog, I take it?” Adrian’s voice causes me to jump, forgetting there were others here.
I swallow. Adrian remembers the stories I told him about Dog—back when we were getting to know each other beside the sea. Before he was Adrian, King of Crea, and I was Lunaria, Princess of Penyth.
It’s hard to remember who Adrian used to be, but more and more, I’m seeing there are still pieces of that kind boy dwelling within him.
I clear my throat and nod, my gaze flying to where Dog—Soren—attacked the guard. Some of the other men are still gathered around him, while the rest have noticed Adrian joined us and start to slink closer.
“Michael?” I ask, voicing the fear that Soren killed the man.
Because if he killed Michael, then there goes any chance of bringing Soren to the castle with us.
Adrian shoves his hands in his pockets. “He’ll live. Probably.”
Good enough for me.
“He’s coming with us.” I look up at Adrian. “To the castle.”
A muscle tenses in Adrian’s jaw, and he drags a hand down his face. “That isn’t going to be easy,” he whispers. “The other soldiers aren’t going to let that happen without putting up a fight.”
My nostrils flare, and I slowly stand. Adrenaline still courses through me, my protectiveness of Dog—ofSoren—kicking up a notch.
“You’re their king,” I hiss, clenching my fingers into a fist to try and quell my anger. “Makethem listen.”
Adrian rolls his lips into a thin line and gives me a shortnod. As he turns, he pauses to say, “I know how much Dog means to you. I’ll find a way to make sure he goes where you go.”
“Soren,” I correct. “His name is Soren.”
A satisfied whine comes from beside me, and I feel Soren press into my hip.
Graylen angles himself to face me, his back to the others. “That’s not a bad idea,” he whispers, low enough that no one can hear. “I’d feel better if Soren went with you everywhere while your magic is gone. Dreadwolves aren’t like other wolves; they have…abilities. Ones that this one may or may not still have. But he’ll have your back regardless. He needs to come with us.”
Graylen’s right.
My thoughts are still reeling with this new information about dreadwolves and Talven fae, but Soren has always been on my side.
“Not like he’d give anyone much of a choice,” I whisper back. “Soren does what he wants, when he wants.”
The corner of Graylen’s mouth ticks up a little. “Like someone else I know.”
A grin tugs at my mouth. I’ve missed this—missed our easy conversations.
Adrian has walked back to his men, and from the sounds of it, he just told them Soren is coming to the castle with us.
“You can’t be fuckingserious,” one of them snaps.
