Page 7 of The Wolf and Her Shadows

She nods, hands now fisting the fabric of her skirt. “Yes, we have so many stories and legends about people like you back–” She abruptly cuts herself off, gaze darting away from mine.

“Back home in Cyrel?”

At my assumption, her eyes pierce into mine again, a faint yellowish tint to them. “That is not my home,” she spits, then shakes herself and mutters, “Not willingly at least.”

“Where is your home, then?” I ask, my brows pinching together further.

Mariane sighs wistfully, her eyes returning to their original shade of gold. “Farwen Forest. That’s where I lived before…” Once again, she trails off without finishing the thought. This time, I don’t have the information she’s leaving out.

I find it…irritating.

Tamping down my annoyance, I steer her back to the previous topic by asking, “What sort of stories?”

She blinks. “Pardon?”

Holding back a sigh of my own, I clarify, “These so-called Fragmented Souls. What kind of stories are told about them? I’ve never heard the term before and I find myself…curious.”

“Of course you do.” She snorts, lips curling into a coy grin. “I’ll gladly tell them to you, for a price.”

My eyes narrow in suspicion. “What price?”

“Take me home, to Farwen Forest.”

Barking a laugh, I shake my head. “Nice try, Princess, but that’s not happening.” I pat my chest above where the bounty notice is tucked away. “I have a better–” The words die in my throat when the sound of numerous pairs of boots hitting packed dirt hits our ears. Cursing under my breath, I reach out and grasp Mariane’s wrist. “We’ve got incoming company, I apologize in advance.”

Without giving her time to respond, I jerk her towards me and slam my palm into the center of her back, effectively launching her onto the back of the horse.

She lets out a shriek, desperately clutching its mane to keep from face-planting in the dirt. I’m about to follow, but a glint of metal in my periphery has me hesitating. Realizing it’s the hilt of one of Mariane’s swords, I quickly scramble into the back of the cart to retrieve them. While I’m slinging the straps of the scabbards over my shoulder, an arrow lodges itself into the wood less than a foot from their former resting place.

“Shit!”

Leaping down out of the cart, I withdraw one of Rayne’s daggers and hurry over to the horse. The blade cuts cleanly through the straps attaching the beast to the cart, and I dart around to the other side to do the same as more arrows begin raining down on us. Mariane’s startled gasp is accompanied by an equally startled whinny. After cutting through the last tether, I clutch onto the harness still around the horse’s neck and swing up onto its back behind Mariane.

Darting one last glance behind us, I slice off the excess reins and gather them in one hand, my other wrapping around Mariane’s waist. In her ear, I whisper, “Hold on tight.” And then, I jab my heels into the horse’s sides.

Its front legs leave the ground for a brief moment before it launches itself into the trees in front of us, and away from the archer’s arrows. As we begin weaving through the trees at a furious pace, Mariane lets out another adorable shriek. Myself? I let out an excited “whoop” followed by loud laughter. Oh, how I’ve missed this.

*Perhaps save the excitement for after we’ve successfully evaded them, hmm?*

Ah, yes. Aren does make a fair point. Still grinning like a madwoman, I tighten my grip on Mariane’s waist and focus on helping steer the horse through the trees.

Sweat begins dampening our mount’s dappled grey neck and its heavy breaths fog the air in front of us as we make our way deeper and deeper into the dense forest. After several moments, the shouted curses behind us fade away, replaced by the sounds of a bubbling brook a short distance ahead. Slowing the horse to a gentle canter, I guide it in a westerly direction.

Briefly glancing at me over her shoulder, Mariane asks, “Will you tell me now where you’re taking me?”

My lips twist into a mischievous smirk. “Not unless you agree to tell me a story.”

“One story.”

Pulling back on the reins, I bring our trusty steed a halt. “Deal.”

She lets out a sigh of relief. “Can we also get down first? It’s been quite some time since I’ve ridden a horse, and my ass is beginning to bruise.”

Chuckling, I withdraw my arm from around her waist and use it to steady myself as I dismount. “Of course, Your Highness. Anything the princess wishes.”

Mariane scoffs. “I assure you, I am no princess.”

Still grinning, I reach up to help her down as well. “Well, your beauty certainly rivals one.”