Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Lucian
“Why are we in a human town?” Astra asks as we walk down the cobblestone street, her green eyes taking in the bustling marketplace around us. “The forest would be a more direct way to the capital.”
I adjust the bag on my shoulder, eyeing her carefully. She has been like this for days—wary, distant, always looking for the catch. “I don’t want you sleeping on the ground anymore.”
Her eyebrows furrow. “I can handle sleeping rough.”
“Not anymore.” I stop walking and turn to face her fully. “Besides, this is the first time you’ve left your pack settlement. You should see what the world is like.”
She opens her mouth to argue, but curiosity wins over stubbornness. Her gaze drifts to a street performer juggling fire, then to merchants hawking wares she has never seen before. There’s a hunger in her expression—not for food, but for experiences beyond the confines of her isolated upbringing.
Through the mating bond, I feel her emotions like echoes in my chest—grief, hurt, and underneath it all, a desperate longing for something she can’t name.
It’s why I chose this route instead of the faster path through the woods.
My mate needs to heal, and she can’t do that surrounded by trees that remind her of everything she has lost.
“Come on,” I say, placing my hand on the small of her back. She stiffens at the contact but doesn’t pull away. Progress.
The town square is alive with activity. I guide Astra toward a clothing stall, noting the way even the new garments I acquired for her hang loose on her frame. The fabric is already showing wear from days on the road, and there are small tears from branches we have pushed through.
“Pick something,” I tell her, gesturing to the display of dresses and tunics.
“What?” She follows my gaze to the clothes, then looks down at herself. “These are fine.”
“They’re getting worn out.”
“They’re perfectly functional.” Her chin lifts in that stubborn way I’m learning to recognize. “I don’t need new clothes.”
I study her defensive posture, how she crosses her arms over her chest. She doesn’t want anything from me, but I’m not going to let her get her way on this.
“Stay here,” I tell her before I turn to the merchant. “Show me something that won’t fall apart after a few days of travel. In blue or green.”
The merchant nods eagerly and begins pulling out various garments.
I have no idea what I’m looking for—clothing has always been selected for me by palace staff—but I know I want something that won’t tear the first time Astra brushes against a branch.
More than that, I want to select clothes for my mate.
I want her to wear what I have chosen for her.
“This fabric is sturdy,” the merchant says, holding up a soft blue tunic. “Good for traveling, but comfortable against the skin.”
I nod, though I’m essentially guessing. “That one, then. And matching—”
I turn around to show Astra the tunic, but she’s gone.
My jaw clenches as I scan the crowded marketplace. Where the hell has she wandered off to?
“Keep this aside,” I tell the merchant curtly, then stride into the square. It’s not hard to track her down; I simply follow her scent.
I spot Astra inside a small bookstore, and I watch her through the window. She’s holding what appears to be a gardening book and reading with complete absorption, her fingers tracing something on the page.
I stay outside, observing her fascination with the book. Through the bond, I feel her pure contentment—the first genuine happiness I’ve sensed from her in days.
The elderly shopkeeper approaches her, spectacles perched on his nose, and everything changes.
“That’s an excellent choice, miss,” he says. “Very comprehensive guide to medicinal horticulture. Would you like to purchase it?”
Through the bond, I feel her emotions shift violently—from contentment to panic. Her face flushes red as she quickly closes the book and clumsily tries to fit it back on the shelf.
“No, no,” she says in a flustered manner. “I was just looking.”
“Ah, but it’s such a wonderful book,” the shopkeeper persists kindly. “I could sell it to you at a discount—”
“I don’t have any money,” she says, her voice barely audible even to my enhanced hearing. The shame in her tone hits me like a physical blow through our connection. Fury burns through my veins. She could buy the whole fucking bookshop if she wanted to. She never has to worry about money again.
But I can’t tell her that—not yet, and not without revealing my identity. She already doesn’t trust me. If she finds out I have been lying to her for weeks, she will despise me.
I wait a moment longer, watching as she carefully finishes putting the book back in its place and starts moving toward the exit with obvious reluctance.
I push open the door and step inside casually. “Find something you like?”
She startles, her face flushing deeper. “No. Nothing interesting.” She’s already halfway past me, clearly wanting to escape before I can ask more questions.
“Are you sure?” I take her hand and lead her back to the shelf where she was browsing, easily spotting the gardening book she was absorbed in. I pull it out before she can stop me. “This looks good. We’ll take it,” I tell the shopkeeper.
“Lucian, no.” Astra’s voice is strained. “I don’t need it.”
I ignore her completely, pulling out a gold coin and placing it on the counter. The man’s eyes widen at the sight of it. “That should cover it,” I say.
“Oh yes, sir! More than enough!” He moves quickly, wrapping the book with understandable excitement at the generous payment.
“Lucian, please,” Astra tries again, but I pay no regard to her protests.
The shopkeeper presents me with the wrapped book, and I immediately press it into Astra’s hands. Her fingers close around it involuntarily, even as she continues to look conflicted.
“You wanted it,” I say simply. “If you want something, I’m going to make sure you get it.”
I open the door for her, and she walks out silently, clutching the book to her chest like a lifeline. As we head back into the square, she finally speaks.
“Thanks.” The word comes out grudgingly, like it’s being pulled from her throat. “For the book.”
“Anything you want, just get it. Let me worry about the money.”
“This is the first book I’ve ever bought.” Her voice is quiet. “The pack bookstore wouldn’t sell to me.”
My hands clench into fists by my side but my voice is carefully neutral. “Is that so? Maybe we should swing by your old pack. I’ll pluck their eyes out. If they wouldn’t let you read, they shouldn’t be able to, either.”
“Wh–what?” Astra’s shocked voice has me pausing, and I glance down at her.
“What?”
“That’s—” She struggles to find the right word, so I cut her off.
“Cruel? Monstrous?” I ask casually. “That is what I am. You should get used to it.”
I expect her to look a little fearful. Instead, she narrows her eyes and mutters, “I know you’re a jerk most of the time. Don’t know about the other two things.”
“Jerk?” I give her an offended look. “I hunt for you every day. I cook for you. I even let your feline use me as a scratching post.”
She blinks, and to my surprise, color floods her cheeks. “Yeah, well…”
Luna, who has been on my shoulder the entire time, purrs contentedly.
“Yeah, well?” I tug at Astra’s hair lightly. “That’s all you have to say?”
She bats my hands away. “Fine. I’m sorry. You’re not a jerk.”
“Good.” Looking at her red face, I can’t help but feel satisfied.
I pull out a small leather pouch and hand it to her. The weight of the gold coins inside makes her eyes widen in shock.
“My money is yours to spend as you wish,” I tell her.
“Lucian, I can’t—” she starts, but I don’t let her finish.
“Come.” I usher her toward the clothing stall before she can protest further.
When we get there, the merchant holds up the blue tunic I selected. “Will this work, sir?”
I gesture to Astra. “She’ll need matching pants, as well.”
“I can pick out my own clothes,” Astra insists.
“You had your chance. You wandered off instead.”
She looks like she wants to argue, but the merchant is already wrapping up her new outfit. Once he’s finished, I look at Astra expectantly.
When she only stares back at me, I glance at the pouch in her hands. She holds it out to me, but I shake my head.
“You’re going to manage my money from now on,” I inform her. “Pay the vendor.”
She blinks at me in confusion, then carefully counts out the appropriate coins to the merchant, who accepts them with a grateful nod.
After we leave, she asks me mischievously, “What if I run off with your gold?”
“I’ll follow you wherever you go.”
As we get close to a food stall, the smell of roasted meat and fresh bread fills the air.
“Two meat pies,” I tell the vendor.
“I’m not hungry,” Astra says, but her stomach chooses that moment to growl loudly. I raise an eyebrow, and she flushes red. “Fine. Maybe I am a little hungry.”
We find a bench near a fountain and sit down to eat.
Astra takes a careful bite, and her eyes widen in delight.
We finish our meat pies in comfortable silence, watching the fountain spray water in lazy arcs.
Astra licks her fingers clean, completely unselfconscious about it, and I find myself staring at her mouth longer than I should.
“We should find a place to stay,” I tell her, standing up and brushing crumbs off my shirt.
She nods, gathering up the empty wrappings. “Somewhere cheap.”
“Somewhere clean,” I correct her, offering my hand to help her up.
She takes it without hesitation this time—another small victory—and lets me pull her to her feet. Luna stretches lazily on the ground before jumping back into her preferred position on Astra’s shoulder.
The inn is easy enough to find. The building is modest but well-maintained, with flower boxes under the windows and a sign that reads “The Copper Crown Inn” in faded paint.