Page 51 of Sanctuary

Wow. She’d pulled out all the stops.

The goddess nodded at Andora and turned to the boy.

“WELCOME, FINN,” Morena said.

The kid gaped.

A wolf the size of a horse trotted out of the woods, all pale fur and teeth. He lay on the ground in front of Finn.

“THIS IS BURAN. HE WILL GIVE YOU A TOUR OF MY HOME. WAIT FOR ME THERE.”

Finn blinked at Buran.

“She means for you to ride the wolf,” Roman told him.

“I’ve ridden him before,” Andora said. “He’s nice.”

Roman almost choked on empty air. The first time he’d seen Buran, he was up North in the human world, near the Great Lakes. It had been a quiet winter day, soft and fuzzy. Light powdery snowflakes sifted down. Suddenly, fat chunks of snow rained from the sky. Wind howled, the snow-covered field mixed with the snow-smudged sky, and the world vanished into a blinding blizzard. And then, as he’d held his arm up to try to shield his face, a giant form emerged from the raging storm, locked his teeth on Roman’s arm, and yanked him straight into Nav, because Morena had wanted a word.

Buran turned his shaggy head and looked at Finn.

Finn’s eyes widened. He climbed onto the beast, and the wolf took off like a bullet across the bridge. The swan leaped off Morena’s arm, turning back into a shepherd in a blink, and chased Finn and the wolf.

Morena leveled her gaze at Roman. “Such a simple lesson, and it took you so long.”

“Five times,” he said. “I’m slow, but I can be taught.”

The goddess smiled. "Foolish boy. If there is one thing I cannot stand, it is to see a man enslaved. Especially by his own guilt.”

He knew.

“You are my gift to my husband on this Koliada. Now you can be all he wishes you to be.”

“I’m honored,” Roman said.

“Well, he deserves it. He loves me so.”

Morena reached into her wide sleeve and withdrew a delicate ice fruit. The Winter Apple, glowing softly with blue and white. A kiss from a goddess, a blank check for a single wish.

“You’ve done well bringing the boy to me.”

She dropped the apple into Roman’s palm.

Any boon he wanted.

Roman studied the apple.

Any boon within her ability to grant.

He glanced at Morena.

“Are you sure? You know I don’t hand many of these out.”

“I’m sure,” he said.

Morena shook her head. “The softest heart aches the hardest, Roman.”

“I promise to harden mine after this.”

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