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This might be my only chance to fight a dire wolf. Am I really going to pass it up just because of my bound wrists and some fatigue? Rotating my wrists, I test the restraints. It’s a simple knot, relying more on the strength of the material than complexity.

Esme, oblivious to my thoughts and convinced of her own superiority, tries to press her position of power, not yet understanding I’ve decided I don’t give a fuck. “And you haven’t omitted things? You’re the one who chased me down in Edgehallow and kidnapped me after—” She slams her mouth shut, but I know what she was about to say. Her ears are growing red, and she’s more flustered than ever. “We can do this the easy way or the⁠—”

I grin, feeling feral and ready for battle. “The hard way. The way I like it.”

Esme gravitates closer despite the obvious fear radiating off her. “Are you sure about that? Because the wolf will be glad to persuade you otherwise.”

Esme may have picked the timing for her ambush, but she did it in the campsite I chose. Less than a dragon’s length away is an outcropping of loose shale. On top of that sits a boulder about my height. The shale will make perfect flying knives. The boulder will be easy to dodge, but the distraction would allow me to come at the wolf from below with the shale knives, shredding his hide to pieces, ripping those sharp teeth from his mouth, and gouging out his bright yellow eyes. And all the while, Esme would scream and quail, unable to do anything to stop me.

“Quit being so stubborn and let me blindfold you so we can head off to Veradin’s. The sooner I can give you over to him, the sooner I can get back to what really matters. Finding a cure for the Withering.”

For a moment, the thrill of the impending battle recedes enough for me to focus on a topic other than battle strategy.

Who exactly is this Veradin she’s protecting? He taught her to heal with golden light while causing her to believe she’s a failure. If it actually exists, what is the Everhand? What’s it really for? And why is it worth a small fortune? What kind of order are the Wardens that their trainees heal alicorns and sleep on silkworm-down pillows, then send a sole trainee on a mission to save the nation? Are they dumb or just incompetent? Or duplicitous? I’d bet on the latter.

If I attack, either one of us might die, and then I’d fail Lark and Sterling by never learning the answers Tirene needs.

I’m not bored anymore.

The notion hits me out of nowhere and crashes all my plans to a halt.

For the first time in months, I have my attention fully fixed on a problem and have no idea how things will end up. Or who the bad guys are. There hasn’t been a dull moment since I met Esme in the tavern. If you’d asked me last week or even last night where I’d be right now, I could not have come up with this situation.

All because of her.

I’ve buried more than my fair share of people, including everyone in my family except for my sister and niece. I’ve slaughtered more creatures, too, on more islands and nations than most people even visit.

If I see this through, go forward with this farcical captivity, Esme will deliver me to the place I want to go. To her mentor and the heart of her organization, where I'll finally be able to get some real answers.

Looking the big wolf in his yellow eyes, I nod. “Let’s go.” I hold my bound wrists out for the blindfold.

Esme blinks, wrinkling her brow like she didn’t expect me to acquiesce so quickly. “What?”

“You heard me. Stop wasting time and put the damn blindfold on.” I duck my head to make things easier for her to reach. “Unless you’ve changed your mind about taking me to see this mysterious mentor of yours. I have questions for him too.”

She edges forward with the blindfold before freezing, wariness evident in her tense posture. “I…you’re not going to fight?” Her eyes narrow with suspicion. “Or try to escape?”

“Why would I do that?” I keep my voice light, knowing it will piss off and confuse her. She’s offering me a guided tour to the one person who might actually understand what’s happening in this gods-forsaken kingdom. That’s a better lead than I found hiking through gray fields and witnessing people carve their names into their own flesh.

The wolf shifts restlessly, picking up on her uncertainty.

She studies me for a long moment, her mouth pinched. I remember the way she tasted, her hunger and desperation, and I lick my own lips. She shudders in response. Her hands tremble as she lifts the fabric and arranges the blindfold over my eyes, blocking out the meager firelight. Her fingers brush my hair as she struggles with the knot, catching and pulling strands. “Sorry. Sorry.” She repositions herself so she’s right behind me, leaning against my back to secure the blindfold with her shaky hands. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to⁠—“

As she fumbles to tie a knot behind my head, I’m left in a darkness that smells like Esme, floral perfume, and sweat from travel. While she battles the fabric, her breasts graze my back.

Despite being bound, blind, and at the mercy of a predator that could tear me apart, my body responds to her proximity in a very visceral way.

Drowning in her scent while trying to walk, talk, and think will be pure torture.

“There. That should…” Esme’s delicate hands graze my cheek as she adjusts the blindfold one final time. I suppress a shiver at her touch. “Now, I need to make sure you’re not hiding any weapons.”

She unhooks the belt from around my waist, confiscating my sword and dagger in the process.

I grin, wishing the blindfold didn’t mask my wink. “Right. Weapons. They’re in my pants. You should check carefully to ensure you find them all.”

“Can we please just…” Esme sounds mortified, and I wish I could see her face and how high her blush reaches, “go before this gets any worse.”

Oh, it’s going to get so much worse. For you.