Page 40 of Song of the Dark Wood

“Yes?” Conor asked.

“An old tradition during which the elders attempt to make me more worthy of your devouring that sounds rather—” She searched for the word for it, but nothing felt quite right.Repulsive? Harrowing? Needlessly mysterious?“Unpleasant.”

Conor waited for her to say more, but she met him with the same stoic silence he gave her when she showed interest in a topic. She held his gaze, allowing the robe to slide down her shoulder. Conor tracked the movement with predatory interest. She closed her eyes, trying to sense a magical melody around him, but still only found a pleasant silence.

He looked out the window. “You should probably go back soon, Rowan. It’s late, and it will only be colder as the night drags on.”

Panic surged through her body. She shuddered as she remembered Elder Garrett’s hands on her. She could not fail again.

“You’re right. Someone will be waiting for me.”

Conor frowned, but he didn’t take the bait. Maybe he was immune to jealousy.

She jumped to her feet, trying to think of any excuse to spend more time with him and find out if he’d given any more consideration to changing his bargain with the Mother. The oversized robe slipped off her shoulders, pooling on the floor.

He’d seen it before, but he assessed the dress as if he hadn’t. It took an eternity for him to drink her in, from her boots all the way up the slit in the leg to the plunging neckline. Finally, he met her eyes and goosebumps broke out on her skin.

“I need more cider,” she said tightly. She didn’t know how else to buy herself time.

He offered her a lupine smile. “No need to panic, lass. I’m happy to get you more.” He stood and left the room.

A moment later, Charlie materialized in the doorway between one blink and the next.

“There now, lass, I only have a moment before he’s back,” the reaper whispered. “I couldn’t help but overhear you try instilling jealousy in the Wolf. Be careful what you tell him. He is quitepossessive, and you wouldn’t want one of your little friends to get hurt.”

Rowan bit her lip and nodded. Though she’d conjured an image of Finn waiting for her in her mind, the warning didn’t make her think of him first. Instead, she thought of Elder Garrett. Perhaps she could tell Conor about him, as Cade had suggested.

A smirk tugged on her lips as she imagined allowing the Wolf to rip Elder Garrett to shreds. Perhaps the Crone was right and there was darkness in her, but instead of feeling satisfaction, the idea filled her with dread. She didn’t need to be in debt to a god.

“I’m afraid of whatever thought made you look so devious,” Charlie said with a wink.

Conor came back into the room, cider in hand, and Charlie excused himself with a nod to the Wolf.

“I need to give you something,” Conor said as he handed her the steaming mug.

Rowan stared at him in surprise. She’d never really owned anything. She’d worn hand-me-downs her whole life as the youngest of five children and then as a Red Maiden. Only the delicate silk gowns made to send her to the Wolf were her own. Outside of her inherited dresses, she was permitted no personal belongings or finery. The elders felt possessions led to greed and vanity and would chip away at her purity.

She held out her hand to Conor.

“It’s not that type of gift. I want to give you my favor so that I can track you on your journey,” Conor said.

“Okay. What do I do?” she asked.

He leaned close. Rowan trembled, nearly dropping her mug of cider. Conor licked his lips as he took the mug from her hand and set it on the table next to her chair.

He turned his attention back to her. She forced herself to hold perfectly still as he stepped so close that the fine velvetof his tunic nearly brushed against her dress. He bent low, his cheek almost brushing hers.

Conor hesitated a moment before kissing the place where her neck met her shoulder. Her skin beneath his lips tingled pleasantly. He trailed his nose up her neck, sending a shiver through her body.

He pulled back and met her eyes, both of them breathless and utterly still.

“How does it work?” Rowan rasped.

“It gives me a stronger sense of your location. I’ll be able to find you wherever you are.”

She swallowed hard and nodded as she brushed her fingers over the place where her skin still prickled from his kiss.

“You should head out now,” Conor said.

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