Page 113 of Oath of Revenge

He hadn’t had a chance to ask other turned Growlers if all their memories had returned or if some parts were still hazy. Another bucket of water poured over him, and he closed his eyes as the heat began to soak into his sore muscles. The healing process was almost complete, thank the gods.

“Grandma said to expect a visitor, but I wasn’t expecting a Growler,” the dragon said as Leopol led a servant in with their packs and another with stacks of clothes.

Leopol waved to the neatly folded pile as it was set on a chair. “You may wear your own clothes, of course, but I brought these just in case. They should fit, but let me know if they’re not comfortable.”

“Are they his?” Wulfric nodded to the dragon, who smirked.

“Doubtful,” said Knox.

“No,” Leopol said. “They belong to Knox’s second in command. The gargoyle from outside? They’re his, from before he was cursed. They’re clean, if dusty.”

“Six months ago when Scarlet was cursed? He was cursed too?”

Knox crossed his arms and ankles and leaned back in the seat. “Hundreds of people were cursed, but she was the only one who got a double portion. But that’s a story for after you explain yourself.”

Wulfric stood and toweled off, not turning his back on the dragon or the ghost. “When you came to get the druid at the cottage, I was there.”

Wulfric nodded as he tugged on the pants that were laid out for him. They were a little loose, but that was preferable to too tight.

The dragon ran a hand over the back of his neck. “I see we have much to talk about. Your men can eat in the kitchens when they’re done here. Would you join me in my office?”

Chapter 36

The dragon led him to an office library and waved to a chair in front of a large oak desk. “Have a seat. Leopol will bring something to eat soon. What led you to the cottage?”

He told the dragon about the illegal alpha challenge, his injury, and how it led him to the druid’s cottage.

“The druid wasn’t there, but Scarlet arrived and patched me up before I bled out.”

The dragon’s brows rose. “That’s surprising. She’d as soon gut you as fix you.”

He smiled and leaned back in the chair, spreading his legs and trying to get comfortable. “Aye, she’s a gem, isn’t she? But my natural healing wasn’t working as fast as it needed to, so she stitched me up, put on salve, made some type of disgusting potion and forced it down my throat.” His voice trailed off but his smile remained.

Knox scowled. “That doesn’t sound like Scarlet.”

Wulfric’s smile widened. “Well, at first, she almost ended me with her daggers even though I was barely conscious.”

Knox relaxed and chuckled. “Ah, that sounds more like her.”

Wulfric explained about the druid arriving, the glocken berry, and the bond that kept him and Scarlet together for days.

Knox frowned and rubbed the back of his neck. “Grandma was meddling again.”

Wulfric just nodded and opened his mouth to continue the story when a knock interrupted.

An old woman poked her head around the corner, and his brows rose. Knox stood, his eyes wide. “Lailaint, is Scarlet going to be alright?”

The woman came into the room, leaning heavily on a gnarled walking staff. “Of course she’ll be fine. Are you questioning my healing abilities?”

Knox rubbed his forehead. “Of course not. I apologize. It’s been an exhausting week.”

She chuckled as she sank into the chair by the fire. “Just wait until the egg hatches. Then you’ll reach new levels of exhaustion that you didn’t even know existed.”

Knox groaned, but the woman’s eyes flashed white. It was so quick, Wulfric blinked, not even sure what he’d seen had been real or just a flash of the light.

Her eyes narrowed. “Do you recognize me?”

He shook his head and frowned. How would he know her when he’d been a Growler for ten years?

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