Chapter 34
Anya Delemond
Fish. Fish, fish, fish, fish, fish, fish, fish.
Anya’s senses were overloaded with fish guts, decaying plant matter, and dank water. The river rushed through the squirming net, trying its best to drag the fish back into its clutches.
“Let’s do it on three,” Roderick said, breathing hard. Anya nodded and took the leather strap on the net into her jaws.
“One.”
“Two.”
“Three!”
Anya growled and tugged on the leather strap attached to the fish net. It was fun at first, like a game of tug of war. But after sixteen nets, she was over it. In tandem, they heaved the net with ease, dragging the wriggling mass of trout onto the dock.
“Fantastik,” their employer called. Juniper, an Elven sailor, hopped down from her perch on the side of the boat.
“Now I do not have to get dirty for my date tonight. You two may be odd, but you really saved my hide.” She dropped a handful of copper coins into Roderick’s palm.
The woman had spent half the time grilling them about their strange accents.
Roderick nodded. “We appreciate the work. Say, do you know of a good inn around here?”
Juniper’s mouth twisted as she thought, scratching her ram-like horns. “Nay. The Ole Ridgetop is closed for remodeling. Though the outfitter’s open, since a lot of folk travel to see family this time of year. What with the pass opening up and all.”
“The pass?” Roderick repeated, shoving the coins in his pocket.
“The one that leads to Solenergi.” Juniper squinted at them. Anya stared back.
“Solenergi?” Juniper waved her hands around, drawing a castle in the air with a thin stream of blue magic.
Is that a castle? Anya cocked her head.
“Solenergi? The capital! Oi, do you two live under a rock?”
“Something like that,” Roderick said. “We should be going. Which way to the outfitter?”
“Go north two streets, then take a right. Though you two should take a bath before seein’ Dagmar. He doesn’t take kindly to folks dripping on his wares. There’s a hot spring bath at the northern edge of town.”
Solenergi, huh? Anya padded alongside Roderick as they weaved around the crowds of Elves and Weres. Her damp paws squished unnervingly with each step. At least we know where we need to go now. After that bath.
“Clothes first, Anya. Not all of us have fresh fur to walk around in after a bath.”
Anya picked out a simple, comfortable-looking dress from the first shop they stopped at. After a few more, Roderick finally found a cotton collared shirt, red vest, brown trousers, and belt acceptable to him. For once, he was the picky princess.
They came to the mouth of a cave, with steam wafting out of it like someone who took a bite of too-hot stew. A Were with dark braids reminiscent of Ornella’s sat in a simple wooden booth marked “The Kiln of Karanaan.”
The Were looked up at them and blinked slowly, radiating calm. “Hello. I am Nora. Welcome to the Kiln.” Her nose crinkled. “You are here for a bath, yes?”
Is it that obvious? Anya chuffed.
“It is one copper for one hour. The bath is stocked with sage soap and wool towels. Any questions?”
“Can we have separate baths?” Roderick asked.
“I only have one open,” Nora said, looking between them. “Is that all right?”
“Sure, that will be fine,” Roderick said, setting the coin on the counter. He looked down at Anya. “We’ll take turns.”
She followed Roderick into the steaming maw of the cave. A canvas curtain was drawn across the bath on one side. They walked over to the open one and pulled the curtain shut.
Dim orbs of magic glowed on the natural limestone wall, perfectly mimicking the sun’s heat. Every muscle in Anya’s body relaxed. Moisture in the air clung to her fur. The scent of sage and stone filled her senses. Finally. Something besides fish.
“You go first,” Roderick said, keeping his eyes up as he sat on a stone bench facing away from the bath. “I’ll wait over here.”
Anya shifted and slid into the warm water. It held a pleasant smell of salt and minerals, undoubtedly perfect for sore muscles, of which she had plenty.
“Ahh.” She sighed and closed her eyes. After a minute of soaking, she peeked over at Roderick, who was practically white knuckling his hands over his eyes.
The corners of her mouth turned up in a smirk. He was tense—and she wanted to unravel this lord, this gentleman knight, and see exactly what he could be like when no one was watching.
“Roderick,” she called, resting her forearms on the limestone edge.
He flinched but didn’t remove his hands. “Yes?”
“Come in.”
He abruptly stood, shielding his eyes as he hurried past. “I’ll wait outside.”
Anya sank back into the water, feeling thoroughly dejected. The surface lapped beneath her chin as she stared at her reflection, into the two gleaming, wolfish eyes that greeted her every day of her life.
A wolf.
That’s all I am to him now.
“Damn it!” She shoved the water in front of her and growled to herself, but the wolfish sound only made her feel worse.
Letting him see that side of her was a mistake.
She’d written over any romantic feelings he had for her with every stupid bark, howl, and pant.
Even her mere invitation disgusted him now.
She’d bore her soul to him, shown him the worst of her in the dead of night—and he held her, soothed her, kept her warm in his arms until the sun came up. And in the daylight, she finally, finally believed he cared for her.
Perhaps even loved her.
But who she was wasn’t enough. Or maybe too much. Too wolf, too animal, too wild for the lauded beast-taming knight of Valeria.
He said nothing would change his feelings for her—but what did that mean? What were his feelings for her? Friendship? Loyalty?
The emotions spilled out of her like rain bubbling from the contours of a flower.
Mother Moon, I love him. I love him. I love him.
I want him to love me. All of me. But how could he?
How could he ever love a wolf? He needs his own kind, someone who doesn’t growl and writhe in their sleep every full moon.
He needs a mate.
Not a monster.