Page 64 of The Wolf and Her Shadows

She lifts a brow, but whatever it was she’d been about to say is abandoned when we notice our partners walking back toward us, their expressions unreadable. Meeting my gaze, Vannaria nods once before veering off in the direction of the horses.

Stephan, on the other hand, retakes his original seat and says, “Don’t worry, Mariane, your lover was just expressing her concerns about your homecoming. Rest assured, anyone sympathetic to your father and the horrible things he’s responsible for were exiled years ago.” He leans forward, a grin tugging at one corner of his mouth. “Your mother held the blades to their throats herself. Each and every one given the warning that if they should ever step foot back in our forest, they’d be killed on sight.”

My eyes widen. I hadn’t even considered what might’ve happened if anyone in our village had still been loyal to my father. Or if news of the bounty he put on me might’ve gotten this far. Darting a glance towards Vannaria, I ask, “And what about her? Will she be safe as well? Or should I ask her to–”

“She’ll be safe,” Kali says, placing a hand on my arm. “We won’t let anything happen to her, I promise.”

I nod, continuing to watch the elf as she feeds each horse a handful of grain. “Good. Because if anyone so much as looks at her wrong, I fear I might be inclined to put a blade in their bellies myself. Might put a slight damper on what should be a happy reunion.”

Both my friends begin to laugh, yet they trail off when I fail to join in, letting them know I was serious about what I’d said.

Stephan clears his throat, slapping his hands on his bare thighs as he rises back to his feet. “Well, on that note. We should probably head out now. If we hurry, we stand a chance of making it back by nightfall. Assuming your horses can handle a bit of rough terrain.”

“I’d ask if you wanted to shift into your fursuit and join us, but I doubt you’ll want to leave your elf all by her lonesome,” Kali says, a smirk twisting at her lips as she also stands.

I shake my head, accepting the outstretched hand Stephan offers to help me up. “As much as I’d love to shift and join you guys, you’re right. I already stayed in my wolf form for half a day yesterday and I want the chance to talk to her before we make it back to the village.” I briefly bite the inside of my cheek before quietly admitting, “That, and my father locked away my magic. Up until yesterday, when Aren figured out a way to help me, every time I’ve shifted in the last seven years has been excruciatingly painful.”

When they both let out near identical gasps, I clench my eyes shut to avoid having to see the pity written all over their faces. Then I fight back tears as Kali’s arms wrap around me, followed by Stephan’s less than a breath later. I’m thankful that neither of them say a word, simply holding me for a moment before slowly letting go.

Giving them each a nod of gratitude, I quickly rush over to Vannaria. Ignoring the look of concern on her face, I take the swords she holds out to me. While I slip the scabbard's straps over my shoulders, she crouches next to me, lacing her fingers together. Offering her a soft smile, I place my foot into her hands and allow her to give me a boost up onto Obsidian’s back.

Giving me a smile in return, Vannaria gently pats my knee before mounting Adaman as well. By the time we turn the horses around, both Stephan and Kal have shifted back into their four-legged forms and are patiently waiting at the edge of our small campsite, ready to lead us back to the village.

To home.

Taking a deep breath, I nudge Obsidian with my heels, urging him to follow the massive beasts, my friends, as they begin weaving their way through the trees.

After several hours of travel, and quite a bit of casual conversation, Vannaria asks, “Are there more shifters in your village as large as your friends? Or are they special in some way?”

Hearing a bit of apprehension in her tone, I slowly shake my head, giving her a look of concern. “No, Stephan and Kal are the only ones, as far as I know. Not long before I…left, they were able to convince our elders to give them the runes that allowed them to grow three times the size of a normal beast. Similar to the ones you have, actually, but theirs don’t affect their human forms.”

Seemingly contemplating my words, she stays silent for a moment, then nods. “Blood-Rune magic, then. The same magic that was outlawed twenty years ago.”

“Yes. My people don’t have a need to follow the king’s laws. This forest isn’t part of his kingdom.”

“Hmm. Is that so?” She tips her head back, looking up at the sky. “I wish I’d known that. We might would’ve come here sooner, if I had.”

Pain radiates out from my chest at the thought of what that could’ve meant for the two of us. If she’d been here all this time, would we have ever met? Or could we have met sooner? Before…

“No.” Shaking her head, Vannaria lowers her gaze back to mine. “My apologies for voicing such a foolish thought, Your Majesty. As much as it pains me to say, I wouldn’t change a thing about my past. Not if it would mean I’d risk never meeting you.”

Hit with the full weight of her words, my breath catches in my lungs as my eyes well up with tears. She can’t possibly mean that, can she? Would I truthfully be able to say the same? That everything I’d gone through while living under my father’s roof had been worth enduring since it led me to her?

Yes.

My own answer somehow shocks me even more than Vannaria’s confession, and without conscious thought I hear myself whisper, “I wouldn’t either.”

Eyes shining with tears, she smiles softly, guiding Adaman close enough that she can kiss me. Or, well, close enough that I can lean down and kiss her. What she’d intended to be a quick peck, quickly becomes more when I cup her cheek and attempt to deepen the kiss. She seems about to let me, but then Adaman whinnies, causing us to break apart in surprise.

Closing her eyes, Vannaria tips her head, pointing a long ear in the direction we’re headed in. Her lips slowly curl into a bright smile. I’m about to question her, but then the faint sound of children’s laughter hits my own ears, and I have to choke back a mix between a sob and a gasp.

As her eyes slowly reopen, she whispers, “Welcome home, Mariane.”

A sudden wave of anxiety washes over me, causing my breathing to grow ragged as I pull Obsidian to a stop. Vannaria stops Adaman as well, her brows furrowing in concern as she places a hand on my knee.

It takes me shaking my head a few times before I’m able to mumble, “I’m alright, I just need a moment.”

Realizing we’ve stopped, Stephan and Kali glance over their shoulders before walking over to a nearby tree. While I’m taking deep breaths in an attempt to compose myself, they both shift back into their human forms, quickly putting on clothes they’d apparently left at the base of the tree. A common practice for all shifters. When it’s possible at least.