Chapter Eleven
“You're distracted.”
The words weren't an accusation, but Florian winced all the same. Kade was standing next to him, showing him how to draw a bow. This was their first archery lesson, so he was carefully correcting Florian's posture and showing him how to correctly hold and draw the bow.
“Sorry,” Florian muttered, lowering his arms as Kade took a step away from him. Florian was beginning to understand Kade’s subtle looks, and he knew that the expression he wore now meant that Kade was curious, but hesitant to pry. “Just... My dad—er, Jerah—we were just talking about a lot of stuff in my magic lesson today. We think…”
He trailed off, unsure of how to bring up the possibility that he was being haunted by an old summer fae spirit—maybe he would hold off on that for now. “Well, he was saying we would be leaving soon to go find the first Arrow. Maybe in like two weeks, and it all just feels really fast.”
Slowly Kade nodded. “And you're nervous.”
“I guess,” Florian sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It sounds silly, but the thought of leaving the castle... Like, I've known all of this was real, of course, but it's making everything feelmorereal. More dangerous.”
Kade blinked, his head tilting just a fraction of a degree—subtle, but it was such a decidedly canine gesture that Florian had to fight a smile every time he saw it.
“Itisdangerous,” he pointed out. “That's why we've been doing nothing but training for weeks.”
“Iknowthat,” Florian insisted with a scowl. “I'm not stupid. I guess I'm just feeling stressed about it.”
He looked away, and Kade was silent for a long moment, before offering quietly, “Sorry. I wasn't trying to say you were foolish or anything. I understand.”
Florian let out a long breath, trying to let go of as much frustration as he could before looking back at Kade. “It's alright. I know you weren't saying that. Sorry.”
“Sounds like you need to blow off some steam,” Kade said, rolling his shoulders, and Florian could feel the heat rising in his face. He knew Kade wasn't going to suggest whathewas thinking of, but... “Want to go for a run?”
Florian thought of the pure endorphin rush that he had gotten every time they had chased after each other in wolf form. The thought was certainly appealing, especially after the strangely grim lesson that he'd had with Jerah, so he nodded in agreement.
“Is that okay?” he asked, holding up the bow. “I know you wanted to start archery lessons today.”
‘It's fine,” Kade said, taking the bow from him and propping it on the wooden weapons rack that also held their two practice swords. “We can just do it tomorrow. Let's go.” He had barely finished his sentence when he began to shift, the orange light surrounding him, so Florian followed quickly. It was easier each time, and now he barely felt the momentary discomfort of his bones and muscles morphing.
Now the familiar timber wolf, Kade stretched his legs for a moment, before trotting along the path that led out of the Moon Garden, Florian bounding eagerly behind him. He already felt a bit better—when he was a wolf, everything felt a bit simpler, somehow. It wasn't that his thoughts or understanding were less complex, only that the experience of his heightened senses of smell and hearing took up so much of his focus that it was hard to dwell on his confusion or fear.
Run?he thought as he followed Kade, who moved through the main gardens at an unhurried pace. Almost instantly he could smell the response from Kade—Be patient.
They cut through a part of the gardens that Florian hadn't visited before, eventually coming to a worn stone wall that must have been part of the castle perimeter. They trotted alongside it for a little while, then Kade stopped in front of a spot in the wall where there was a slight gap between two stones. Florian could see that a burrow had been dug out beneath the wall below the gap.
A hole?Florian thought in surprise, but as he inched forward to sniff the earth, he already knew Kade's answer. He could smell him all around it; still, the timber wolf's tongue lolled out in a not-quite-guilty grin.
I made it,Kade answered, and Florian sneezed as he ducked into a play bow, laughing in the only way he could. Without skipping a beat, Kade started to squeeze through the hole, his paws scrabbling for purchase in the dirt until he was able to push himself through and crawl out the other side. Florian followed, the scents of wet earth and old stone filling his nostrils, along with the animalistic scent that he'd started to associate with Kade whenever they were in close contact as wolves.
Run!he felt from Kade the moment he emerged on the other side of the wall; and he obeyed instinctually, catching sight of a gray blur that dashed away as he gave chase. Though their surroundings passed by in a rush, he could tell they were in some sort of field, running down the hill upon which the castle was built—they must have been on the western edge of it, far from the populated areas of the town, and he wondered if the field would lead them right into the forest.
The playful mad dash that Kade had broken into soon slowed slightly to a more relaxed run. As they loped through the tall grass, Florian followed Kade along a meandering trail that led down the hill. He could practically feel the contentment wafting off him, the same contentment he felt in his own chest as they ran. It was strange to think how confused he had been by Kade’s preference for his wolf form the first time they'd shifted together—now, it was starting to make sense.
Where?he thought, clearly enough that he could communicate the thought to Kade. His pace didn't slow, but the wolf's tangerine eyes flickered back to glance at him.
Just running,came the reply.Nowhere.
The answer took Florian by surprise, but that was fine. If they had stopped to look up at the stars again or something similar, he would have to stop. Running was good for now, so they kept at it—all the way down the hill at first, then Kade took a sharp right turn, following the perimeter of the wide hill until the grassy fields became barren dirt, at which point he made a big loop up the hill and went back the way they came, Florian following him all the while.
Eventually, though, they both began to visibly tire; eventually Kade slowed to a trot, then a walk, then stopped entirely. Florian mirrored his slowed movements and came to a stop alongside him. They looked at each other for a moment, breathing hard, then Kade tossed his head, indicating that they should take a break. Panting, Florian gratefully stretched out and laid down, feeling the cold air rapidly moving in and out of his lungs, and bringing with it the scents of dried grass and cool earth.
After a moment, Kade also laid down, curling up next to him protectively. If Florian could have blushed as a wolf, he would have, but luckily his dark fur did not betray his surprise. Though they were now of a similar size, Kade was still bigger than him even in wolf form, so his body was slightly curled around Florian's—if Florian curled up into a tight ball, he was sure Kade's tail could cover his feet, and his head would cover his snout. As it was, they were laying more side by side, and a sudden cold wetness in his ear told him that Kade was snuffling along his face affectionately. After a moment the cold sniffs became warm licks: a soft, tender sort of feeling radiated from the bigger wolf.
It was... sweet, somehow. He tried not to think too hard about the fact that it was still Kade, licking him, and instead enjoyed the affection for what it was. They hadn't done more than hold hands, which was fine for Florian, at least for now. But their canine bodies pressed against each other, and the soft sensation of Kade's tongue along his ears and the top of his head made him wonder if maybe Kade wanted more. He wouldn't be against that, either.
He had figured out enough about being shifted to know that Kade wouldn't know his thoughts unless he broadcasted them, so tentatively he thought,Shift back?Kade's tongue on his cheek paused as if he were thinking, then he pulled away slightly. Looking down at Florian, his expression was more curious than anything else, which he took for a good sign. So he pushed himself up into a sitting position and shifted back, squeezing his eyes shut until he felt his body rearrange into his usual form.
