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Since we’d arrived at suppertime, I’d hoped to make it to the keep unnoticed.
We didn’t.
Doors and windows opened, and there were smiles and waves. A small horde of children followed our progress, smiling up at us. Poppy gave a short, jerky wave, bringing a grin to my face.
She leaned back into me and whispered, “This is a little odd.”
“I don’t think they get a lot of visitors,” I said, squeezing her waist.
“This is an exciting day for them,” Kieran commented drolly, knowing damn well they recognized us. Me.
“Is it?” I eyed Kieran.
“They behave as if royalty is among them,” Poppy murmured.
“Then they truly must not get many visitors,” I replied.
Kieran gave me a long, sideways glance.
“Have you been here before?” Poppy asked.
“Only briefly,” I told her, smiling at the young girl with dark braids and deep brown skin waving from one of the second-floor windows of a golden-doored home.
Poppy turned to Kieran. “You?”
“I’ve passed through a time or two.”
More like a time or two dozen, but luckily the greenish-gray stone of the two-story Haven Keep appeared ahead, framed by the heavy woods that separated the town from Whitebridge. The structure was old, built before the War of Two Kings, and it looked it.
Snow began falling as we crossed into the keep’s yard, and I spotted several guards in black. To Poppy, they likely looked like normal Rise Guards. They weren’t.
I relaxed a little at seeing a few familiar faces as I led Setti toward the stables. Once inside the lamplit barn, I swung down, giving the horse a quick pat before lifting my arms to help Poppy.
She looked at my hands, arched a brow, and then slid off the other side of the saddle.
I sighed, and Poppy grinned as she rubbed Setti’s neck, who was busy sniffing the straw.
Grabbing the saddlebag, I draped it over my shoulder and went to where she stood. “Stay close to me.”
“Of course.”
My eyes narrowed on her. That was a far-too-quick agreement. She clasped her hands together, fixing what she likely thought was an innocent look on her face, but it only made her appear impish.
Kieran and the others joined us as we left Setti’s stall, where he’d found fresh hay in the racks. Outside the stables, the snow was coming down harder. We’d made it just in time. Poppy tugged her cloak around her as we crossed the yard. Catching the eyes of several of my men, I nodded. Their expressions were a mixture of relief and anticipation.
I felt the same.
But didn’t.
The doors of the keep opened, and godsdamn, it was good to see the tall, blond wolven in the entryway. It had been far too long since I’d last seen Delano Amicu.
“It’s good to see you.” Delano clasped Kieran’s hand as he glanced at me, then at Poppy. His gaze lingered a second or so on her and then returned to Kieran. “It’s good to see all of you.”
“Same, Delano,” Kieran answered as I placed my hand on Poppy’s lower back. “It’s been too long.”
“Not long enough.”
I cracked a grin at the deep voice booming from inside the keep. A second later, the massive, bearded, dark-haired Elijah Payne strode out, hand resting on the short sword strapped to his side. Not that the mountain of a man needed it. I’d seen the half-Atlantian pick up a Craven and throw it like it was nothing more than a sack of potatoes.
Kieran smiled, and I saw Poppy do a double-take. “Elijah,” he drawled. “You missed me more than anyone else.”
Elijah proved just how strong the fucker was, capturing Kieran in a hug. He lifted the heavy-ass wolven off his feet as his golden-brown gaze landed on Poppy and me.
A half grin appeared on Elijah’s face as he dropped Kieran. He strode forward, giving Kieran only a heartbeat to move out of the way. “What do we have here?” Elijah asked.
“We’re in need of shelter for the night,” I said.
Elijah threw back his head, laughing. I stifled a sigh as he said, “We have plenty of shelter.”
“Good to hear.” I sent Elijah a look of warning as I guided Poppy into the keep’s foyer.
The space was packed. I kept my hand on Poppy’s back, knowing the looks of distrust coming from some of them were simply because they didn’t recognize Poppy or the guards who traveled with us, but it made me tense. I needed to make sure none of them would be a problem, especially if any happened to figure out who Poppy was. She kept looking around, and I bet she searched for the Lord or Lady in charge of the city.
She would not find either.
“We do have a lot of…catching up to do.” Elijah clapped Kieran on the shoulder, causing him to stumble again. Elijah’s grin spread. The fucker loved to mess with the wolven like a child who kept poking a sleeping bear.
