Chapter 52
Fifty-Two
Peridot
My fingers meet soft, plush fur as I run my hands along the top of Dog’s head.
“Incredible,” Graylen murmurs, awe filling his voice.
I crouch down to pet Dog, tears welling in my eyes even as the metallic stench of blood wafts off of his breath. Graylen bends down too as the guards rush past us to help Michael, who’s still either out cold or dead.
“What do you mean?” I ask Graylen, turning to meet his gaze.
The corners of his mouth kick up. “Do you know this creature?” he asks instead of answering my question. “It certainly knows you.”
I huff a laugh, my hand ruffling Dog’s head. Other than Opal and Linnick, he was all I had. When Opal wanted to sleep in rather than train, Dog was there. On the evenings rain would pour from the sky, and I knew Opal wouldn’t join me in the ring, Dog was there.
Right by my side. Always.
“He was in the camp with me. He was supposed to be one of the war dogs, but he never listened to anyone enough to train,” I whisper. “How did you find me, big guy?”
Graylen reaches out to smooth his palm down Dog’s back, drawing a small rumble of contentment from his chest.
“That’s because he isn’t a dog.” Graylen laughs, voice low to stop the others from overhearing. Though they seem to be quite preoccupied with tending to their fallen comrade. “He’s a dreadwolf.” A pause as he looks in wonder at Dog before adding, “And you, my friend, are supposed to be extinct.”
My head snaps to Graylen, eyes widening as I take his words in. “He’s a what?” I half-shout.
The left side of Graylen’s mouth slants up. “Dreadwolves have been extinct for centuries, the kind of creatures that roamed the realm before humans even existed. They were familiars to the Talven fae, but died off not long after the Talven…disappeared.”
Dog whimpers, and my eyes drift back to him, his too-aware gaze set on Graylen as if listening to every word.
“And to have one still exist at all, let alone in Crea…” Graylen whispers. “The Divine gave you him to keep you safe.” He shakes his head, gaze bright as he looks over at me. “He found you, Lunaria.”
Dog inches closer to us and sits—so tall that I have to look up at him from where I’m squatting. It always felt like there was something different about him. He was bigger than all the other dogs. Smarter.
His awareness is one of the reasons I considered him a friend and not a pet. He chose to wait on my porch each morning, chose to run with me while he ignored everyone else.
“His name is Soren,” Graylen whispers.
I blink. “What makes you say that?”
The corner of Graylen’s mouth quirks up. “He told me.”
My muscles tense, freezing me to my spot. “What do you mean—”
“This is Dog, I take it?” Adrian’s voice causes me to jump, forgetting there were others here.
I swallow. Adrian remembers the stories I told him about Dog—back when we were getting to know each other beside the sea. Before he was Adrian, King of Crea, and I was Lunaria, Princess of Penyth.
It’s hard to remember who Adrian used to be, but more and more, I’m seeing there are still pieces of that kind boy dwelling within him.
I clear my throat and nod, my gaze flying to where Dog—Soren—attacked the guard. Some of the other men are still gathered around him, while the rest have noticed Adrian joined us and start to slink closer.
“Michael?” I ask, voicing the fear that Soren killed the man.
Because if he killed Michael, then there goes any chance of bringing Soren to the castle with us.
Adrian shoves his hands in his pockets. “He’ll live. Probably.”
Good enough for me.
“He’s coming with us.” I look up at Adrian. “To the castle.”
A muscle tenses in Adrian’s jaw, and he drags a hand down his face. “That isn’t going to be easy,” he whispers. “The other soldiers aren’t going to let that happen without putting up a fight.”
My nostrils flare, and I slowly stand. Adrenaline still courses through me, my protectiveness of Dog—of Soren—kicking up a notch.
“You’re their king,” I hiss, clenching my fingers into a fist to try and quell my anger. “Make them listen.”
Adrian rolls his lips into a thin line and gives me a short nod. As he turns, he pauses to say, “I know how much Dog means to you. I’ll find a way to make sure he goes where you go.”
“Soren,” I correct. “His name is Soren.”
A satisfied whine comes from beside me, and I feel Soren press into my hip.
Graylen angles himself to face me, his back to the others.
“That’s not a bad idea,” he whispers, low enough that no one can hear.
“I’d feel better if Soren went with you everywhere while your magic is gone.
Dreadwolves aren’t like other wolves; they have…
abilities. Ones that this one may or may not still have.
But he’ll have your back regardless. He needs to come with us. ”
Graylen’s right.
My thoughts are still reeling with this new information about dreadwolves and Talven fae, but Soren has always been on my side.
“Not like he’d give anyone much of a choice,” I whisper back. “Soren does what he wants, when he wants.”
The corner of Graylen’s mouth ticks up a little. “Like someone else I know.”
A grin tugs at my mouth. I’ve missed this—missed our easy conversations.
Adrian has walked back to his men, and from the sounds of it, he just told them Soren is coming to the castle with us.
“You can’t be fucking serious,” one of them snaps.
“That’s not a house pet—it’s a beast,” another adds.
Graylen chuckles under his breath and leans over to say, “Technically, it would be a castle pet.”
I fight a smile, knowing that laughing probably wouldn’t help the situation much. I can’t wait to see what Zeph thinks of Soren.
Any amusement sparking in my chest dies at the thought. If we can get back to Zeph.
The men talk over each other, protesting Soren joining us. If the situation were reversed, I would feel the same way. I’d be furious if the animal that just tried to kill my friend was being rewarded and invited to tag along.
But the situation isn’t reversed. Soren was protecting me. So, I don’t care what these soldiers have to say—Soren comes with us.
“The monster should be put down instead of given shelter,” the guard whom Graylen had by the throat calls out.
Rage pours into my chest like boiling water. I’d like to see him try.
I unsheathe my dagger and step around Soren, positioning myself in front of him. “I’m getting pretty fucking tired of you,” I snarl.
If only I had access to my Essence right now. My shadows would’ve already wrapped around his neck, cutting off his airway to stop him from spewing any more vile words.
The man’s nostrils flare, and he opens his mouth.
“Enough,” Adrian shouts, cutting him off.
Betrayal twists in my stomach. But Adrian’s gaze is set on the soldier, his hands clenched into fists and his chest heaving.
Silence falls around us. Once Adrian realizes he has their attention, he continues.
“The animal is Amira’s,” he says slowly.
My old name rolls off his tongue as smoothly as silk. No hesitation. It reminds me how much he still sees me as that girl.
“Where she goes, he goes,” Adrian adds. “You’ve already seen what trying to harm her will do. Keep your hands to yourself and you won’t have a problem.”
Michael groans, finally rousing and drawing our attention to where he’s sprawled on the ground—blood still leaking from his throat.
“He can’t travel like this.” Adrian sighs. “Clarence, run back to Wisebech and send for a healer.” He nods to two men crouched down beside Michael. “Tristan and Ben, stay with Michael until he gets back.”
“And the rest of us?” the one I’d like to run through with my dagger asks.
Adrian turns to me, Graylen, and Soren as he says, “We go to the castle.”