“Throw them in my pack for now. Considering we don’t know what’s out there, I’d rather take my chances angering Seth than run into another skinwraith while you’re unable to run.”
Fair enough.
She grabbed a leather knife bandolier and tossed it to me. “Take anything you like from there. I’ll see about getting you a sword later.”
“Your sister said she’d help with that.”
She slipped a sword holster over her shoulders with a grimace. Her ribs still hurt.
“Ready?”
“Yeah.” The thought of Seth’s men watching me wander without iron nagged me, but Seren was right. And the walk to her mother’s tent was short.
Lucia was nowhere in sight as we entered, but Tara waited inside, drinking a cup of mulled morning wine. The scent of cloves hit me as it simmered on the stove, making my mouth water. I was hungrier than I realized. Seren poured us each a cup before settling beside her sister on the floor. The hint of purple under Tara’s eyes hinted at a long night of little sleep.
“Well?” Seren asked her.
“I found Giulia’s head and turned it over to the Vangar so that her mother would know she’s dead. Then I went hunting for skinwraiths.” Tara sipped her wine. “I didn’t find any or any sign that our encampment had been breached.”
“Did you tell the Vangar about the skinwraith?” I asked.
Tara rolled her shoulders back, her expression darkening. “No. Silence might be wiser. For both of your sakes.”
I swallowed a gulp of wine. “I had that same thought.”
Seren shook her head. “But I don’t understand. I killed the skinwraith.”
“One of our own is dead, Seren. You’re the only one who saw the skinwraith. The tribe won’t believe it unless there’s proof, and if they don’t believe it, they’ll need someone to blame for Giulia’s death. We can’t risk them thinking it was a certain mysterious Lirien.”
“But her body …”
Her body had vanished. All that remained was a severed head—just as dead as it would have been if she hadn’t been turned. Seren must have come to the same conclusion, her face paling.
“Thank you,” I said quietly. I drained my cup and placed it beside the stove.
Tara stood, her stance protective, wary. “I didn’t do it for you. Frankly, I don’t know who the fuck you are, Rykr. You show up, and suddenly a vuk attacks, my sister makes a blood oath, and a skinwraith wanders into our territory? Who’s to say that it’s not you? For all I know, you bewitched Seren.”
Seren’s eyes widened.
“How have I never considered that?”
Her thoughts traveled down our bond, loud in my head.
I scowled at her. “You don’t believe that, do you?”
“You just thanked me for saving your life.” I sent the thought the same way it had come to me.
The doubt in her face only increased.
A bitter chuckle left my lips. “Fantastic. Not even you believe in me. Ironic, considering you’re the daughter of a murderer and traitor.”
Tara’s expression grew frosty. “Don’t you dare speak badly of my father in his own home.”
“Unlike your people, who take no issue with liars and criminals in their midst, I hold myself to a different standard, Tara. I won’t shy away from the truth just to make you feel better about your origins.”
Tara set her cup down. She took a menacing step toward me. “Say that again, you hagspawn.”
I had to admire her. She wasn’t afraid to threaten a man nearly a foot taller than her, someone she had to know was far better trained than she’d ever be.
