Sorry if updates become a little bit slow; I'm trying to rewrite/edit Rebellion so I can get that published in the next four months or so.
Yup, soon you'll be able to have Shylah's book as a paperback! Or ebook if that's more your style.
Don't forget to vote and comment!
Chapter 5
Speaking with my parents had left me in a foul mood, but when I found my feet leading me to the healer's quarters instead of Ingrid's, I knew what I had to do. Mother would show up to support me and Hati's mating, and father hopefully would too despite his misgivings, but there was one other I thought should be there.
Eirny's domain felt much like my odd dreams. The air was thick with smoke from burning sage and other sweet aromas that always melted away tension. Magic tingled along my skin too as I swept across the stone floor, causing the air on exposed skin to stand on end. But the door to her small workroom were empty, and instead I heard voices coming from the room for the sick.
"I told you all, I feel fine. It was a moment of dizziness. I did run the length of the territory twice last night, and I've been up for two days."
The door was slightly ajar, and through the gap, I could see a slither of the scene playing out. Farrin was sat on one of the beds, and a rustle of skirts came with a waft of earthy herbs. Eirny moved around him, even while one of his wrists was clasped in her hand, two fingers pressed to his pulsepoint.
"You also had your fire blown out by a god and lay unconscious in the snow for hours," Hati stated firmly, though I couldn't see him. "You're not one of us, Farrin. No mortal body can withstand the touch of divine magic for long. You've not seen what I've seen. It can drive people mad. Beyond mad; they become husks of their formal selves as it eats away at them. Or they become slaves to the one who used magic on them."
Farrin paled at that, but he straightened when a female whimper came from somewhere in the room.
"But it could be as he says, that he's just tried, if there is no trace of magic left."
Astrid.
"Yes. It could be as he says. Those bags under his eyes certainly come from a lack of sleep." Eirny's tone held a scolding edge that made the tips of Farrin's ears go red as he averted his eyes. . .directly at me.
His lips twitched after a moment of surprise, blonde hair falling across green eyes as he cocked his head. "How long have you been there?"
Eirny didn't even bother to turn around as I pushed the door open. Perhaps she'd known I was there all along, as Hati always seemed to know, only he too stared at me with a glimmer of surprise as Farrin had.
"You are getting quiet, Little Alpha."
"And you are meant to be in bed," I said, trying to keep my voice stern despite the genuine pleasure I felt at having managed to sneak up just this once. "Perhaps if you had rested properly, you would have your wits about you."
He narrowed his eyes playfully. "I'm sure I warned you to stop listening in. I shouldn't have to keep an ear out for you behind every door."
My cheeks heated. They were almost the very words I'd said to my little sister. Too often did Niamh hear adult conversations she shouldn't for it to be accidental. Perhaps she'd learned from me after all.
Turning to Farrin on the bed, my eyes raked over him. His tunic lay beside him, and I could see no physical injury anywhere on his bares chest, but he didn't quite look himself. Normally oaken skin shimmered with a sheen of sweat, and his head wasn't held as tall as I'd come to expect from one of the pack's warriors. But he'd looked fine this morning, tired perhaps, but energetic enough that he and Astrid had abandoned me to mate in the forest.
My friend paced the end of the bed, blonde hair sticking out from her hastily done braid no matter how many times she ran a hand over to tame it. She wore woollen trouser and a fitted tunic in place of her dress, the material swishing with each impatient step.
"Are you unwell?" I asked Farrin.
"He needs to rest," Eirny answered for him, releasing his wrist. "I don't sense any imprint of magic left, but that doesn't mean it's not what caused the dizziness, and it doesn't mean Vali won't have some remaining link he might be able to use."
A shudder went up my spine as I met Farrin's gaze. "Vali knew when you woke up. He knew when you arrived back here too."
Hati and Eirny shared a look while Astrid froze on the spot. Her brows pulled low before a protective growl tore from her throat. It was the first time I sensed the power of the Vargr in her, her eyes flashing an eerie ice blue; almost as cold and pale as Sköll's. I took an unintentional step back and immediately her gaze darted to me. Hati issued his own growl when she refused to look away, and though I knew she'd settle if I submitted in some small way, I couldn't when there was accusation in her expression.
"There was nothing I could do," I placated gently. "Vali promised Farrin would be safe, and I don't think he liked the idea of hurting him. We knew the risks."
"Knew the risks?" she snapped, striding forward. "What do you know of any of this? You're not one of us. You're not one of the skinshifters. We don't know what you are! You put my mate in danger."
And that was the only reason I held my temper. Her mate was unwell, whatever the cause, and there was no cure to speak of if rest wouldn't help. With no tangible threat, I supposed I was an easy target. It wasn't like she could run off to direct her anger at Vali; though he would be sure to get mine when I saw him again. I vowed that.
All I could offer was a pathetic, "I'm sorry."
That made her pause before Hati thought to step between us. His jaw clenched and golden eyes watched his cousin for the slightest twitch. But Astrid had stumbled to a stop with slumped shoulders and eyes softening to their usual summer sky blue. "It's not your fault. I'm sorry. I. . .I don't know what to do. I want to hunt the bastard down whether he has harmful intentions or not. Farrin is my mate. He's broken custom thinking he can stake a claim with some foul magic."
Farrin's nose scrunched at her assessment, but unfortunately, I couldn't deny Vali had done so. He had seemed to take a strange shining to Farrin. And the once god, now damned wolf, certainly didn't have a good grasp on his sanity from what I'd seen.
"Lets not get ahead of ourselves. The territory is warded, and the castle even more so. No magic can break through, not even our own." Even as Eirny spoke, violet eyes flicked to me. She chuckled at the look on my face. "You are something else all together. Wards and veils seem to mean little to you."
I had the urge to apologise again but I couldn't get any words past my lips. My throat went dry. No wonder the Vargr didn't believe me about hearing the dead if no acts of magic could be done within the wards.
"We can do simple things," Hati explained when I looked to him for answers. "Getting messages to other realms is fiddly but doable. Healing is a rooted magic that wards don't seem to affect much, and it doesn't stop those with prophetic dreams or the ability to scry. However, I do think it puts some limitations on you as well." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "That's maybe why your powers appear so sporadic and without control, and why you could only open a doorway to the outer territory when we escaped."
Perhaps that was why Vali refused to cross the boundary line too. "How did Vali manage to knock out Farrin? He wasn't within the wards but we were."
"That's something I'm having investigated. Sköll shouldn't have been able to appear to you as he did at the river either. If there's cracks in the wards somehow, a small magic - like forcing someone to sleep for example - would be easy to slip through."
Cracks in the ward?
My heart lurched in my chest. Eirny quickly set about finishing making a sweet-smelling tonic for Farrin, and Astrid sat at his side, taking his hand between her own. No one would look at me
"Its me, isn't it? I'm the crack in the ward." When Hati said nothing, amber eyes shimmering with sympathy, I knew. How had I not put it together already? "Sköll only appeared to me, and Vali waited for me to come closer before Farrin fell."
Hati took a deep breath, and I could sense the denial on his lips, but he thought better of it. Sighing, he nodded slowly and folded his arms across the broad expanse of his chest. "It's a possibility. Either way, if the wards need strengthening, we can do that. We have Vargr adept enough with their magic, and I can call in for help if need be."
I might have been curious about this help if I wasn't so rattled by yet another danger I brought the pack. Hopefully strengthening the wards would help. In fact, I hoped it would limit my power all together. Maybe I would have peaceful dreams once more instead of the parade of dead faces and strange wolves running under a strange sky.
While Farrin took the herbal remedy Eirny had made, I crept to Hati' side. His arm slide around me, warm and comforting, his hand heavy on the curve of my hip.
"I thought you were going to see your parents, and Ingrid and Linnea," he murmured. "What brings you down here?"
I debated telling him about my father's reaction, because he could tell something was wrong as a low rumble vibrated from his chest to settle me. Now didn't seem like an appropriate time though, so I looked up with a smile, steering the conversation my way. "Have you told them yet?"
"Told us what?" Astrid chirped, sitting up on the bed. I should have known a secret would bring a smile back to her face as her eyes flicked between us.
"Eabha asked me to be her mate." Hati grinned, his arm tightening around my waist. "In fact, it was perhaps more of a demand - oof!" He grunted as I whacked his chest, but it didn't lesson the grin on his face as he finished, "I accepted her bargain of course, less I doom us all."
Farrin chuckled, and Eirny turned slowly with her hands on her hip. "I'm sure that's exactly how it happened."
If only they knew that his description wasn't entirely wrong. However, I was certain had I not added a promise of bowing to the demands of gods, he still would have accepted me. I hoped. Other than that, I had used our mating as a bargaining chip, but any guilt I might have felt was washed away by the look of delight on his face. And the utter disbelief on Astrid's. She was the only one that hadn't so much as made a sound at our news.
"It isn't official yet, we have to speak to the council and there are customs I want to keep from home. One of which is for a mated pair to acknowledge the union, which I've asked my parents to do." I paused to smile up at Hati who stared down at me curiously as if he could sense I was up to something. Instead of addressing him, I addressed his aunt. "I think you should be there too, Eirny. Come to the council meeting and stand with my parents."
Eirny became uncharacteristically flustered, her mouth opening and closing like a gasping fish. Her hands rubbed together as she composed herself. "I got to see my daughter mated; let your parents have this moment for their own."
But I could see the glimmer in darkening violet eyes, and I knew what my asking meant to her.
"My parents will no doubt get to do so again with Niamh and Anndra one day. You should have the chance to do this for your only male."
Her eyes brimmed with unshed tears as they flicked to Hati, and I knew I'd done the right thing when his own eyes filled with emotion. He released me to approach her, bowing his head low in respect to the female who'd raised him as a mother-wolf, before stooping to brush his cheek to hers.
"My father will not get the chance," he said, his voice husky as he clasped her hands in his. "I may one day know who my mother is, but she too will never get the chance. I would be honoured if you would be there."
She flung her arms around his towering frame as best she could in answer, and the alarm in Hati's expression was adorable. How long had it been since he'd been held by someone other than me? A while, if the sudden desperation with which he quickly hugged her back was anything to go by.
Voice muffled against his chest, she said, "I'm glad you haven't forgotten who raised you, pup."
"How could I forget when you're still so quick to put me in my place?" He smirked at me over her head, but the older female knew him well and slapped his arm as if she could sense it.
"Such cheek I have to put up with." She pulled back waved a cloth at us. "Out with you all, this isn't a meeting room, it's a place for wolves to rest." She whipped around as soon as Farrin made to stand up, and growled. "Not you. You're staying here to sleep where I can keep an eye on you. You can leave when everyone is ready to gather in the hall."
He looked set to argue with her but threw himself back on the bed and kicked his feet up. Astrid took his extended hand and climbed on to curl against his side. Worry still creased her brow, but Farrin was already falling asleep with his other arm thrown over his eyes. Knackered. He was out before his mate had nestled close.
Hati guided me towards the door, but I managed to share a quick look with Eirny who's smile was bright with gratitude. I left feeling a lot lighter than I'd entered.
"I couldn't find sleep without you," Hati murmured as we ambled down the hallway at a lazy pace. My skin warmed as I shyly glanced up at him to find firelit eyes already watching. As always. "Astrid says you have a dress that would be appropriate to wear tonight, and that you'd know which one if I told you the uncomfortable one. Tonight is a celebration as much as it is a farewell for Bruadar, everyone will be wearing their best."
My nose scrunched. I found the dress I wore now too uncomfortable, never mind the monstrosity of heavy fabric that was far more fitted in the top than anything I'd ever seen. Restricted movement wasn't something I yearned for like Ingrid seemed to. I knew why he asked though. A future Alpha Female needed to look the part did she not? Whether or not it was common knowledge she would take that title.
"From my cousin's description, I most definitely want to see you in this dress," he purred. The croon in his voice nearly made me shudder. His steps slowed and suddenly I found myself being back against the wall. "Maybe I should come with you. I can help you put it on."
He was distracting me, I realised. Though he hadn't asked, he must have known the talk with my parents hadn't gone as well as I'd liked, and his endeavour to keep my thoughts from spinning was appreciated. I enjoyed this game too. It used to terrify me, that daring look that glinted mischievously in his eyes that burned with a desire to devour.
"I think I can figure out how to put a dress on myself by now, thank you." I sniffed. "Besides, you probably have much to attend to if you've deemed sleep unneeded. Have you decided what you're going to tell the council?"
The grin left his lips at the topic, and he lowered his voice. "Everything. We have no choice now, and no need to try and keep the spy from knowing that we know about them. If Sköll hadn't told them he'd openly admitted to us they were here, then Bruadar's murder, along with the message from Sköll, would have told us enough."
"And what will you tell the pack tonight?"
He looked torn for a moment, his fingers drumming over my hip. "There's already panic brewing, and the pack is one disaster, one misstep, away from crumbling. Who can say what would be a better story to tell? Lie and say that an attacker managed to sneak in, kill, and leave again; putting doubt in the security of our borders and those who patrol it? Or the truth, that the killer is yet amongst us; possibly with support also from within? The latter could start an all out witch hunt, Eabha, and. . ."
"And what?"
"I know it wasn't you. . ."
Once again, the world flipped on me. I slumped against the wall.
"But I'm an easy target. I'm not from here. I've caused a stir. I was the one who stumbled across a dead body in the forest. I'm the one who appeared with Blood Drinkers on my trail, with rumours of dark magic. . .the timing of my arrival. . ." I sighed wearily but for some reason I felt my lips tug into a smile. "If I was the pack, I would suspect me too."
His grip tightened on me, and I hated the uneasiness in his expression. "I'll figure it out. All will be well."
All will be well.
But his voice held as much belief in that statement as my heart did. Changing tactic again, he lowered his head to nuzzle at my throat. The scruff of his beard tickled my skin, and the nip of his teeth sent a bolt of heat straight to the spot between my thighs. Half lidded eyes made the torches lining the walls blur of smudged gold, and gasp slipping past my lips echoed all around us.
"I left something for you in your room. It's on the table, keep an eye out for it."
"What is it?"
I felt him smile against my skin before he straightened to his towering height once more and tucked a runaway curl behind my ear. "I had Brokkr pick something up from the port for you, something from your homeland; a piece of it you can keep with you. Caldar mentioned you missed it. When this is all over, you will have to take me there, to Alba, and show me the places you loved so I might love them too."