Chapter 21
The next morning, all I can think about is if last night changed things between me and Fox.
It’s not so much that he made me come—we’ve certainly crossed larger physical boundaries before—it’s that he evidently thinks I belong to him.
I assume he didn’t really mean it and only said it in the heat of the moment. Not that he’s typically the type to speak without thinking, but still. He’s the one who didn’t want more…whatever “more” even means.
Maybe he realized how his comment sounded, and that’s why he didn’t try anything else after I’d recovered from possibly the most intense orgasm of my entire life. Perhaps he doesn’t want to hurt my feelings, or accidentally make them stronger.
I’m still not sure what I want, so neither of us mentions what happened, and the morning starts out the same as usual, with Fox and I heading to breakfast.
When we arrive, the center of the camp is full of soldiers.
I don’t seem to be getting as many dirty looks as usual.
In fact, a few people even smile at me. I turn to Fox to ask what’s going on, but find he’s not paying attention.
He has that faraway look on his face, like he’s talking to someone in his head.
He frowns, blinks twice, then finally his eyes come back into focus and he looks down at me. “I need to go talk to Kai.”
“Go ahead,” I reply lightly.
He doesn’t elaborate further and looks annoyed as he walks away.
When Fox returns thirty minutes later, he looks even more irritated, jerking his head for me to follow him back to the tent. Letting my curiosity get the better of me, I follow without comment.
Inside the tent, Fox makes a direct beeline for the table where we keep our notes and bends to scribble a quick message on the already nearly full scroll of parchment.
I have to leave.
I stare at the words, my stomach dropping. “What?” I blurt out.
On a hunt. It will probably go overnight.
I exhale, my shoulders dropping. For a second there, I thought he meant he was leaving for good, going back to Vernallis without me. But as the relief washes through me, something else follows—a hollow feeling in my chest.
I don’t want him gone, even for a night. Not without me.
Not that I’m going to tell him that, especially after last night. He’s going to think I took his comment about “belonging to him” seriously, and then he’ll probably think he has to reject me again. Absolutely not, that is not happening.
What are you hunting?
The last wyvern.
I don’t bother asking if I can come. Kai was already clear that outsiders can’t join the hunts, and Fox will probably take it as a sign I’m obsessed with him or something equally pathetic and mortifying.
Trying to keep things casual, I reply:
Will you be back in time to go to the palace?
Yes.
Alright. Good luck.
Fox jerks his head, as if to say: “thanks,” but I don’t need it.
He turns away, still frowning deeply, and I can’t stop myself from whipping a hand out to grasp his arm. He stops and looks back at me, raising a curious eyebrow.
What’s wrong?
His eyebrows raise even higher and scribbles several question marks in a row.
***
You look upset.
I gesture toward my own face and frown dramatically, trying to mime what he looks like. The corners of his mouth turn up slightly, but he still looks frustrated.
Kai is staying here. Viktor will be leading this hunt.
The one you said should be alpha?
I said he is an alpha, not that he should be.
What’s the difference?
Fox sighs, looking irritated again, then writes.
He’s an alpha so he should be in charge. If he’s not, there must be a reason.
Did you ask Kai?
He shakes his head.
Don’t want to bring up the alpha issue.
I frown now, not sure I’m following.
What issue?
Too complicated. I have to go.
He writes something else then crosses it out before I can read it, then writes:
Sorry.
He hands me the quill back but I don’t know what to say. I don’t know whether I should be worried about him or not. I am worried, but perhaps that’s irrational. He can take care of himself and I don’t have any real claim on him, not like a soul-bond or a real mate would.
I finally just write two words:
Be careful.
He takes the quill and hesitates for a second, looking conflicted. For the second time, he starts to write something, then crosses it out vigorously, before writing two words of his own:
You too.
Idon’t have as much interest in going down to the training field now that Fox is gone, but it does seem like the ideal opportunity to return to the hot springs for a bath. Hopefully there won’t be anyone there, since the wolves will all be out on their hunts or at the training field.
I listen carefully as I approach, though I realize it’s pointless—anyone there would likely be silent, anyway.
Sure enough, I step out of the trees and pause. I’m not alone.
Three women occupy the hot spring—one is submerged to her shoulders in the steaming water, while two others perch on the rocks with just their feet dangling in.
Those two are wrapped in towels and chatting silently.
One is blonde and from her swollen belly I can only assume is nearing the end of her pregnancy.
The other is a red-headed woman I recognize immediately as Inga, Kai’s mate.
Or, his wife? I’m not sure what their relationship is, as I’ve only heard him refer to her as the mother of his children, and he hasn’t introduced us.
All three women immediately turn to look at me without speaking. I can’t tell whether they’re trying to be rude, or they are trying to speak but forgot I can’t hear them.
“Hi,” I say out loud, hoping it will remind them they have to actually speak to me. “Sorry, I didn’t think anyone would be here.”
The woman in the water glowers at me and immediately climbs out of the water and strides over to a bag that I assume contains her clothes. Rather than bothering to redress, she shifts into a wolf, takes the bag in her mouth, and trots away into the trees without a backward glance.
I sigh. I’ve never seen that woman before, but her reaction is exactly what I’ve gotten used to since arriving at camp. Apparently the smiles I received this morning are not shared by everyone.
I turn back around to find the pregnant woman and Inga exchanging a loaded glance. Inga’s mouth quirks up at one corner, then she turns to me. “It’s alright, anyone can use the springs.”
I offer her a small smile. “Thanks. You’re Inga, right?”
“Yes, sorry, can you remind me of your name?”
I clear my throat. “Aurelia, I’m, er—” I break off.
I was about to say, “I’m Fox’s mate,” but the word “mate” sticks in my throat.
It sounds strange on my tongue. Fae don’t say “mate”—we say “soul-bond,” but that feels like an equally strange word coming out of my mouth.
“—I’m in desperate need of a bath,” I finish instead.
“Well we’re certainly not going to stop you,” Inga says, gesturing for me to carry on.
“Er, right. Thank you.”
I hurry over to the opposite side of the spring, suddenly feeling vulnerable. I’m not shy and I never have been, but I don’t make a habit of getting naked with strangers either. Deciding there’s no better option, I quickly undress and get into the water as fast as possible.
Just like last time, the water feels so good; it instantly relaxes all my sore muscles. Unlike last time, I can actually float here for a while without being suffocated by the tension.
“I heard you fought well yesterday,” Inga calls over to me.
I flip over and move closer, treading water. “Thank you.”
“You fight?” the pregnant woman asks, her blonde eyebrows arching in surprise.
“She does,” Inga answers for me. “She beat Runa.”
“No, really?” The blonde again looks startled and gives what little she can see of me through the water an appraising look. “But you don’t look like a fighter. I bet Runa was furious.”
“She was,” Inga says, her eyes glinting with good-natured amusement.
“How did you learn to fight like that?” the blonde asks, her voice carrying a note of genuine curiosity rather than mockery.
Again, Inga answers for me before I can get a word out. “She’s Fox’s mate.”
“Oh, of course, that makes sense. Sorry, I’ve been missing all the gossip lately.” She gestures meaningfully toward her belly. “I’m Liv by the way.”
I’m not sure why it “makes sense” as Liv put it that Fox would train me, but now that the women seem more relaxed, I don’t want to put them off by asking too many questions.
“Nice to meet you,” I say instead, and I’m relieved when the mood in the group instantly becomes lighter.
I get the feeling that my being able to fight was a large part of why the wolves are warming up to me—some of them, anyway. Perhaps they assume that if I can use a sword I don’t have any magic after all, but I hope it’s just that now we have a common interest.
I chat to the women for a while, and it’s nice to be able to talk to someone other than Fox again. It makes me realize that I miss Alix and Odessa. I wonder what they’re doing now?
Alix is still on her honeymoon, and Odessa and Kastian probably went back to their ship by now. That must mean Jett and Connell are trapped there together alone. I hope they don’t kill each other.
Liv leans forward, her eyes bright with interest. “If you’re still here in a few months, after the baby comes, I’d love to spar with you.”
“Me too,” Inga adds, nodding. “It’s been ages since I’ve had a good fight with someone new.”
I glance at Inga, who doesn’t look pregnant at all. Before I can ask, she catches my look and smiles faintly. “It’s recent,” she explains, one hand drifting to her still-flat stomach.
“Congratulations,” I say, genuinely happy for her. Then I remember what Fox mentioned about Kai getting hurt. “How’s Kai feeling? I know he was injured the other day.”
Inga’s eyebrows lift slightly, and Liv’s mouth forms a small ‘o’ of surprise.
“We call him Alpha,” Inga says, her tone gentle but firm.
“Oh, sorry.” Heat rises to my cheeks. “I thought you were together.”