“I... I don’t even know what to say, Theron. Thank you. That’s... also very thoughtful.”
She takes the blanket from my arms and puts it over her shoulders. Then, she takes a handkerchief from her pocket and ties it at the front so it stays on her. Resourceful, so resourceful.
“Let’s get moving,” I say, standing and offering her a paw. “Ávera awaits.”
She nods.
“It will be faster if you ride on my back,”
Noël furrows her brows. “Ride on your back?”
“Yes,” I reply, getting on all fours. “I can run much faster this way. It will save us time.”
She hesitates. “But what if I fall?”
“I won’t let you fall. Hold on tightly, and I’ll make sure you’re secure.”
Her light touch sends a shiver down my back as she climbs onto me. Her fingers weave into my mane, and I wrap my tail around her waist, pulling her closer. Once she is secure, I rise.
She brushes her hand over my tail. A thrill zips through my veins.
“Noël,” I warn.
She chuckles. “Don’t tell me you’re ticklish here!” I can hear the smirk in her voice. She leans down to my ear and whispers, “Now I’ve got a weapon, just in case.”
My little dove is so innocent. “Yes, very ticklish,” I say, trying to calm myself.
Not now, Theron, not now.
I have never before wished for the ability to hide my cock. Thank the goddesses I’m on all fours, and Noël is on my back and cannot see it.
With a powerful stride, I set off, the wind rushing past us as we head toward Ávera. Noël holds on to my mane and the support of my tail, and she yelps in delight as I run. She reminds me of the pups frolicking about.
It’s been more than a day since I left my warriors, since I took that leap into the unknown to find her. Ávera is open. For the first time in centuries, my warriors can leave. The world beyond the border is no longer a myth, no longer a dream we prayed to see. They will be tempted. And I can’t let that happen.
The forest blurs around us, the distance to Ávera shrinking with each stride.
Running with a hard cock will be a challenge.
18
A DEAL IN THE DARKNESS
“Don’t worry about me, brother. I’ll be just fine. As long as I wear this necklace, the gods will keep me safe.”
—Linnéa Fenrówe, the night before Gregor left for Tárnov
Gregor
The morning light is my only hope that I’ll get out of here. Out of this chaos I got myself into. I walk along the dusty road, my legs aching. For some reason, I couldn’t find the carriage Arnold and I left by the edge of the forest. And no sign of the horses either. I’ve been walking for hours, driven by fear and a desperate need to find my way back to Tárnov. I’ve never been anywhere near here. Where do I even go?
The events of yesterday play over and over in my mind: Arnold’s violent end, those inhuman beings, and the terrifying power of the vólkin. I shiver despite walking so much and sweating like a tired dog.
I knew that dealing with Noël would end up a mess. She always comes out on top, is always a few steps ahead of anyone I know. The moment Arnold told me there was a job, I jumpedat the opportunity. It was good pay for something so easy. Little did I know we were going to smuggle Noël out of the village and leave her to the vólkins. All Arnold told me was that we were delivering something outside of Tárnov, and he needed someone with him in case we had to spend the night in the forest. Arnold was one of my friends. Well... I don’t know what friends are, really. Would someone who bullies you for months but is nice sometimes be considered a friend? I don’t know. Arnold always berated me, always looked down on me...
He also helped me many times. But still.
Funny how life works. Arnold was the one to die at a vólkin’s hand instead of Noël.
