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Shadows fell across my mates’ features.
“They won’t,” Nikkos said, squeezing my hand.
I thought about begging them to fly us away from here. “How do you know?”
Blaze’s eyes lit with fire. “Because we’ll incinerate anyone who tries.”
I held my breath when the heavy doors rattled, and I heard the distinct sound of metal clanking and a bolt sliding across wood.
I didn’t know what I’d been expecting. What I wasn’t expecting was an ancient crone with shockingly white hair and a hunched back to come out, slowly hobbling up to us while leaning on her cane. Two young, broad-shouldered men followed behind her, their noses flattened and brown fur sprouted along the sides of their faces and neck. They were mid-shift. Tari had told me that her mates could suspend their shifts so that they looked halfway between man and beast. If the objective was to frighten, they certainly succeeded. My bones quaked with fear at the lethal looks in their eyes, and my bladder nearly emptied itself onto my legs.
As the woman drew closer, I recoiled at the angry, puckered skin on one side of her face and her one white, foggy eye surrounded by a sea of red scar tissue. I knew without a doubt those were dragon fire scars.
I could distinctly hear the echo of my heartbeat pounding in my ears as she finally made her way up to us, standing just an arm’s length away.
She looked at the girls hanging in the sling, and they looked back at her, their eyes wide and curious.
Finally, she cleared her throat. “These children are the offspring of Asher and Finnian Lykaios.”
I breathed out the breath I’d been holding. “They are.”
When she looked at me with that one good eye, I fought the urge to crawl out of my skin. “You’re their mother’s twin.”
“I am.”
“I’m Helena.” She splayed a hand across her heart and bowed. “I was the chief elderwoman of Lupine.” She motioned toward the fortress behind her. “I’m the warden of Ulula.”
“Nice to meet you,” I said. “I’m Shirina.” I waved to my handsome mages. “These are my mates, Nikkos and Blaze.”
Helena didn’t even acknowledge my mates. Her nostrils flared as she continued to stare at me. “Your magic smells strong.”
I laughed off the compliment. “Not as strong as Tari’s.”
“Different than your sister’s, but don’t underestimate the power of the magic that flows through your veins.” Her eyes narrowed as she looked me over with her one good wolf eye. “Why are you here?”
“We’re taking them to our estate in southern Delfi,” Blaze cut in. “We were hoping for a place to stay for the night. We would’ve slept in a mountain cave, but we smelled troll dung.”
“Yes.” She waved her cane toward the shadowy forest behind us. “A large group of trolls was spotted two days ago. Our trackers said they went back up the mountains, but they have never come this close to our fortress, which is why we’re on high alert.”
Tremors coursed through me. “Do you think they’ll come here?”
“It would be suicide if they did.” She pointed to the huge ballistae aimed at the sky. “But trolls aren’t known to be the smartest creatures. If they do show, it will be nice to have a few fire mages on our side.” She eyed my mates and then me with that one good eye. “You’re welcome here tonight. Our tavern has rooms and good food.”
“That sounds wonderful.” My shoulders sagged in relief. “Thank you.”
The girls squealed in delight, and Nikkos helped them out of their sling. Blaze rolled his shoulders and neck, then shook out his arms as the girls ran circles around his legs.
“Just a warning, though,” Helena said with a grimace, “Adrean Lykaios frequents the tavern.”
All moisture evaporated from my mouth. I’d been afraid we’d come across him.
Blaze arched a brow. “The Lycan king?”
Helena scowled. “He’s a king no more.”
Ember tugged on my skirt. “Isn’t he our other pappo?”
“Yes.” I cupped her cheek. “He’s your fathers’ father. He survived the bad king’s attack, but he was badly scarred.” I swallowed as my gaze flitted to Helena. When the surviving shifters had first discovered my sister, most of them had refused to let her heal their scars. Tari had told me shifters viewed war scars as badges of honor.
