Page 115 of Oath of Revenge

“Why don’t you feed and shelter them, then?” Wulfric asked, eyes meeting Knox’s without shame. If the man had a problem with him holding his sister, well, he better get used to it because Wulfric wasn’t going to stop.

All three of the others looked at him with surprised expressions, and he squirmed.

“What?” he asked.

Knox stroked his chin. “Maybe… Eirwyn has had people raising baby eagles to domesticate them from a young age, but perhaps it’s not too late to train the older ones.”

The druid looked at Knox with a smile. “See? He’s a keeper. If Growlers can be tamed, then so can the eagles.”

Wulfric stiffened. “I wouldn’t say tamed exactly—“

Scarlet laughed, and the knot in his stomach dissolved at the sound. She rarely laughed, and it was like sunshine after a rainstorm. It lit him from inside, spreading warmth wherever it touched.

Knox grinned and said, “Now, about this treaty…”

Hours later, after a fight with Knox about Wulfric being allowed upstairs, Scarlet led him to her room. When the door finally closed behind her, she leaned against it. He didn’t take his eyes off her, smelling the apprehension on her as they’d gotten closer to the room.

“What is it?” he asked, taking her hands in his. “Are you tired? Hurting?”

She shook her head and stood straighter. “Help me take this bandage off. I feel fine now, and it’s too confining.”

He nodded, and found the edge. Slowly, he began to unwrap her like a present. “Are you sure that’s all? You seem nervous.”

She looked to the side, avoiding his gaze. “So, um, Grandma said that either the mate bond or the Elder’s spell made me into a full druid now. I’ll need to train with them, go to the annual meetings, and other druid things that I’m sure I don’t remember.”

Wulfric’s hands paused and he looked at her. “How do you feel about that?”

She looked at him, her gaze guarded. “How do you feel about that? I mean, the Growlers have been afraid of the druids for years.”

Wulfric kept unwrapping her bandages. “I’m not afraid of you, Scarlet. I’m proud of you. You’re an amazing fighter, fierce and determined. You’re going to make a great druid, just like you’ll make a great Growler.”

Her breath hitched and her eyes widened. “You—still want me to go back to the tribe with you?”

He arched a brow and tossed the bandages aside. “As if it’s even a question. Of course I do. I want to be where you are. Think they’ll let me tag along to those druid meetings? Because I’m not so keen on being apart from you.”

She blinked, then snorted and walked around him toward the settee. “Now don’t go thinking this means I agree to live with the Growlers. But I’m glad you’re alright with me being a druid. Now come help me take these boots off. I’m tired.”

He prowled to her, the scent of her desire and relief flooding his senses. “Well, if it’ll get you naked in that big bed, consider me at your service, my lady.”

She chuckled, and the sound sent a shiver up his spine. He wanted her to always be happy and relaxed, and he’d do everything in his power to make it so, even tag along to mysterious druid gatherings.

Chapter 37

Wulfric lay on the soft sheets of the oversized bed and cradled his head with his hands. The deep green of the bedding complimented the gold and red trim, the red damask walls, and ivory furniture. The plush green carpet reminded him of the softest grass. He’d run his toes through it for several minutes when Scarlet had led him up to her room two days ago after the grueling interview with Knox.

The way she’d argued with Knox over him not being allowed upstairs had been adorable, and they’d fucked for hours last night in this enormous bed. More memories of his past had teased him in the early morning light of dawn, and he’d slipped downstairs to shift and run a path along the helrose hedge that encircled the castle.

They’d spent the past two days talking alternately with Knox, Olive, Ashur, and Leopol, who knew a surprising amount of details about the Growlers. They’d worked out the details of the treaty, but Knox kept running upstairs with the latest draft to show to his wife, whom Wulfric still had not met. Yesterday they’d finally settled on a version that suited them all. Tonight, he and Knox would propose the treaty to the Confederation leaders at a fancy dinner tonight. Tomorrow he’d send two Growler messengers with an update.

While waiting for the dinner—and to get Scarlet’s mind off of it—they had talked more with Olive, who had tried to get him to call her Grandma. They’d discussed the prophecy and the events surrounding Scarlet’s mother’s death.

Between remembering her mother’s death and the upcoming meeting with the confederation, Scarlet had been on edge all day. He’d tried to distract her with more fucking, but she was still too jittery. He’d woken up from a post-sex nap to find her pacing a path on the floor.

She turned once more in front of the fireplace, and he sighed, “I don’t see that we have a choice, bunny.”

She waved her arms to the side. “I know, but it’s fucked up, and Knox knows it. Neither of them have ever asked me to attend a formal dinner before. There’s so many rules and—“

“Etiquette be damned,” Wulfric said, sitting up on the bed and swinging his legs to the side. Bare feet sank into the carpet as he walked to her side and took her hands in his.

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