Page 85 of White Raven

He blinked at me.

“I promise.” I tried to coax him out. “Come here.” I laid my palm out for the one-armed creature. It burrowed in further, making Fluffy huff and shake his head in irritation. “I won’t let anything happen to you.” I had no idea if he understood me or not, but slowly he lifted his head up, creeping toward me, a tiny peep mewing from him. “It’s all right.”

Gradually he inched to my hand, keeping low as though a predator would swoop down and get him. Cupping him in my hand, I cradled him close to my chest, and he inched himself to peek over my fingers, blinking up at the huge light in the sky.

“See?” I spoke softly. “It’s just like a giant torch hanging up there.”

Munch blinked at the massive sphere, the tips of his fangs protruding from his mouth, growling at it, but slowly he stood up fully, mesmerized by the glowing circle. It might be strange, but I was reassured by Munch as much as he was by me. It was comforting to have someone else experiencing all of this with me. To not feel so alone.

Up ahead, I spotted Brynn, Sven, and Bjørn dismounting their horses in front of a soft yellow building, a sign declaring it an inn.

“Ren?” Onyx asked as we rode up.

“Where do you think he is?” Brynn motioned down the street to a long muted green structure, loud voices and cheers spilling from inside the building.

“Sven.” Onyx swung his leg over, getting off the horse. “Check us in. Gustav hopefully will have rooms for us.” Onyx ordered the youngest as he absently reached for me, his hands gripping my waist, lowering me from Fluffy, while I still cupped Munch to my chest. Brynn’s sharp gaze locked on to where Onyx’s hands held me, a familiarity that probably shouldn’t exist between abductor and abductee. “Feed and water the horses then join us at Kamphall.” He nodded down the street, his fingers still on my hips, like touching me was so inherent now he didn’t even notice it.

“Yes, Hersir.” Sven dipped his head, scampering off inside the pretty facade. I stared after Sven, longing to follow. All I wanted was to bathe the filth off my skin and sleep in a comfy bed for days. It felt like such a long time since I had properly done either.

“Ready?” Onyx dropped his hands away.

“Do I have a choice?” I replied sharply.

A hint of a smile inched up his mouth. “You should leave him here.” He nodded to Munch. “Kamphall isn’t a place for him.”

“Then it sounds like it’s not a place for me either.”

“Probably not,” he mused, leaning in closer. “Though I think you are more ruthless and bloodthirsty than you let on.”

“Hersir?” Brynn’s voice cut to us, pulling his focus with a snap. Her gaze darted between us, like a warning to Onyx. “We should probably go before Ren does something stupid.”

“Too late for that.” Bjørn chuckled.

Onyx put space between us, his shoulders going back, a wall coming down. His head nodded, turning with them as they headed for the structure.

He took a few steps and he realized I wasn’t following, his brow curving up. Knowing I couldn’t get out of this, there was no possibility he would let me out of his sight, I let out a long exhale.

“Stay with Fluffy, okay?” I spoke to Munch, big eyes wide on me. “Don’t get into too much trouble.”

The horse lifted his lips, showing off his teeth when I placed Munch on his back.

“You behave too, Fluffy. No fighting.” I wiggled my finger at the horse. “And no trying to eat him. Okay?”

Fluffy neighed, trying to nip at the groundling as it ran up his back to the top of his head, perching itself between his ears, patting him on the head with a happy twitter.

“Aww . . . see, look at you two getting along.”

The horse huffed out, its sharp teeth chomping down for me. Onyx yanked me back by the hood, the horse’s sharp fangs missing me by a hair.

“Hey!” I scowled at the draugrhest.

“Come on.” Onyx pulled me, dragging me away.

“That was not nice,” I yelled back at Fluffy, and I swear I could hear it snicker.

“Drittsekk,” I muttered.

“Maybe if you stopped calling him a shit bag,” Onyx said, his large steps taking me two or three to keep up.