Page 93 of House of Crimson Cloak and Silver Teeth

“I’m not going anywhere,” I say flatly.

He finally looks at me. “What are you saying?”

“I’m telling you that whatever you decide to do next, you’re not doing it alone.” I’ve made my choice.

Silence holds between us.

“You’d help me?” he asks quietly. “Go after the Aeonians? After beings who’ve ruled Aelfheim for thousands of years?”

“Yes. Probably.”

“This could take years. It could take my whole life and it might never end.” His voice drops. “It’ll probably kill us both.”

“I know that.” The answer feels heavier once spoken aloud.

“Then why?” He sounds desperate to understand.

I don’t have a good answer or the words for what’s happening in my chest and the certainty settling into my bones. So I just say, “Because someone should stop them.”

We walk back to where we left the Noctrals in silence. The creatures greet us with soft nickers, unconcerned with the blood on our clothes. We settle them for the night, then collapse in the same sheltered spot we used before.

Garrett is quiet as we prepare a small fire. Darkness falls as we eat rations. The temperature drops and stars begin to emerge overhead. I’m cleaning blood off steel when he speaks.

“Thank you,” he whispers.

I pause in my work. Look at him across the fire. His face is drawn, exhausted, haunted by what he’s learned.

“For seeing the worst of me and staying anyway,” he says after a long stretch of quiet.

“We’ve both seen each other’s worst now,” I point out. “Seems only fair we stick together.”

He almost smiles at that.

We settle into our bedrolls and like last night, Garrett pulls his close to mine. This time I don’t turn away or put my back to him. I let him curl against me and press his forehead to my shoulder. His grip tightens, pulling me closer.

I hold him back.

“Wolf,” Garrett breathes faintly, still dreaming.

My name falls from his lips quiet and vulnerable in the dark.

I realize then I’m never going to survive this contract. Not because I will fail or someone might kill Garrett. But because by the end of it, I might not want to leave.

Chapter Thirteen

The abandoned house rests against the border of the Thornwood several miles from the city walls. It’s close enough to reach the city quickly, far enough that no one asks questions about who comes and goes in the night.

I arrive first, checking the perimeter. No fresh tracks except mine. The windows are boarded but intact and the door still hangs crooked on its hinges. I slip inside and settle against the wall near the window, where I can watch both the door and the forest beyond. The floorboards creak under my weight. Dust motes dance in the moonlight filtering through cracks in the boards.

This place is one of Kitty’s safe houses, borrowed from a contact who owes her favors. She sent word yesterday that she and Shade wanted to meet up. Typical that they’re late.

The silence pulls me backward in time, to the day I first met Shade and Kitty.

Back to the guild.

I am ten when they bring me there. The Sylverin clan has just been slaughtered and I am newly orphaned, desperate enough to believe the guild has to be better than freezing in alleys.

I learn the truth quickly.