Page 89 of Destiny of a King

She knew silence. It was her companion since she’d been born.

Hadn’t it?

Or was silence all she could remember?

Adira did not have time to question the thought further.

The change in the king came first. His body tightened behind her, his arm drawing more firmly around her waist—not enough to hurt, but enough that she felt the shift from concern to alertness.

She hurried to look at the others. The others had changed as well.

Seger was no longer watching the path ahead. His attention moved slowly from one side of the forest to the other, his hand resting near his sword. The warriors around them had become still, their relaxed posture gone.

Even Fiora was quiet.

That alone caught Adira’s attention. The tiny fairy hovered near them, her usual amusement gone as she looked toward the trees.

“What is it?” Dravic asked, hearing an odd sound rumbling through the forest.

Fiora did not answer immediately. Her gaze remained fixed where all attention was fixed, on the forest.

“Wolfin territory.”

Seger’s head turned sharply. “Wolfin?”

Adira looked between them, watching the reaction on their faces… fear.

Fiora slowly nodded. “Aye, and it is not a place anyone enters willingly. The witches even avoid it.”

“Explain,” Dravic commanded.

The fairy looked at him, then back toward the trees. “The Wolfin are not ordinary creatures. They have their own land, their own rules, and they do not tolerate those who trespass.”

Seger’s expression hardened. “And you failed to mention this before?”

Fiora gave him an offended look. “Ernach planned the route.”

“And I was careful,” Ernach said, joining them to ride alongside Seger. “We are not on their territory.”

Fiora turned wide eyes on him. “They are off land? Why?”

“How bad are these creatures?” Seger asked.

“They can tear a man apart with only two bites,” Fiora said.

Seger stared at her. “They can?”

“Aye,” Ernach confirmed, shuddering. “And I have no idea why the Wolfin are here.”

The sound grew louder in Adira’s head. Whatever worried them was getting closer.

She pressed herself closer against the king, her hand slipping beneath his cloak to rest low on his chest.

He glanced down at her. There was no fear in his eyes, but there was worry.

He turned his head quickly and her attention followed, as did everyone else’s, to the forest just ahead of them.

Dravic brought his horse to a sudden halt, and Seger immediately followed, turning in his saddle to issue a command to the men behind them.