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She deserves a name, but a name worthy of her.
Is that onealwayslike that?
Varin’s question catches me off guard.Who, Oliver?
If that is what you call him.
Such a temperamental demon.As far as I have witnessed, yes,I respond silently. Though I infuse my words with a laugh, I can’t help but wonder why they are in such a foul mood.
I never stopped to consider how Varin would feel once unchained and free of their cell. I suppose I expected joy or wonder or a dozen other emotions, not irritation. There’s no way to know for sure without asking. I can’t help but think, if I’d been a prisoner for that long, finally having my freedom in a sudden and unexpected way might be overwhelming.
Oliver gestures to his pack. A casual flick of his wrist summons the wolves to gather close, moving as if given a series of commands. They approach in groups of twos and threes, though a handful step up alone. The first two I recognize.
“You’ve already met my betas.” He arches a brow.
“Not formally.”
He cringes slightly, though by their reaction, they find his previous lack of etiquette more amusing than insulting. “This is Adalynd and Hunt, the betas of the Shade pack.”
Our introduction is brief. After that, a bevy of names and faces follow in a matter of moments. A race with the sun. Not a single member is treated as more or less important than another. And I like that.
Among all the new faces is the woman from the kitchens who collided with me. Her name turns out to be Calla, and she is among the group of younger warriors.
Is this what she meant bytelling me to be ready? She’d intentionally bumped into me, and I’d believed her act. At my recognition, Calla smirks and gives me a one-shouldered shrug. I am glad to see she made it out in one piece.
In between, Oliver explains the pack doesn’t usually travel with outsiders and knowing me will reduce the tensions among them all.
“Do not look so worried, Miss Valmont,” Oliver says, unable to keep that he knows precisely what he did from showing on his face. “We do not expect you to remember everyone… not today, anyway.”
The glower I give him is wiped away with his next gesture. The wolves surrounding Alaric drag him forward. His hands are chained behind his back and other than his clothes being in slight disarray, he appears to be well.
I’m quickly introduced to the guards.
“Pleased to meet you,” I murmur, barely paying them any attention because I can’t make myself look away from their vampire prisoner.
Alaric’s head snaps up at the sound of my voice, surprise quickly morphing into fury. “Was she right about you after all, little nightmare?”
I bite down on my tongue in case Varin gets the idea to respond.
Alaric sneers, showing just enough fang that no one could possibly mistake him for anything other than what he is. “How fitting,” he bites out. “A mare of night for a nightmare.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
CLARA
It turns out wolves—atleast these particular wolves—love animals. My stolen horse stands serenely between Adalynd and Hunt, as if she doesn’t have a care in the world while they argue over who gets to take charge. In the last several minutes, the two betas have gone from perfectly calm and rational to looking like they might brawl at any moment.
In that time, I’ve settled on a name for her. Nyx. It is everything she is. Short and sweet. Sharp and graceful. And made of the darkest night.
Oliver pinches the bridge of his nose and mutters something under his breath. He looks to me with a mildly embarrassed flush coloring the tips of his ears. “I can tell them to back off if you’d rather the horse stay with you.”
I shake my head. “That’s all right. They both seem… eager to care for her,” I say slowly.
“Marvelous idea, Miss Valmont,” Oliver says, and before I can ask what he’s talking about, he calls out to them, “Both of you will lead the horse or neither of you will.”
Adalynd and Hunt halt their bickering abruptly. They glare at each other a moment longer, then seem happy enough with the outcome.
Oliver issues a few short commands, and within minutes, the pack is organized and prepared to march. We begin the trek west.
