Page 82 of Song of the Dark Wood

Rowan held up her hands. “That’s not a jab at you. You were right. I shouldn’t need you to protect me, and it’s certainly not your job. You didn’t create the world that put me in this place. I wasn’t even mad at you. I was frustrated with the whole situation. I’m tired of being powerless, and being at Wolf’s Keep is the one time that I’m actually in charge of something, at least a little bit.”

“Is your Wolf housebroken yet?” Cade taunted.

Rowan rolled her eyes. “He’s unpredictable, but I’m learning what he likes.”

Cade quirked an eyebrow. “And you’re one of those things?”

She narrowed her eyes. “You’re awfully curious all of a sudden.”

“I’m always curious. Do you expect you’ll soon be able to start wearing red dresses?” he pressed.

He was dancing right on the border of what she was willing to share with him. He might have been one of her closest friends, but it was strange to talk to him about romance.

“Cade, give it a rest! Are you so eager to see me devoured?” Rowan snapped.

Cade frowned. “What’s wrong?”

She rolled over in bed. “I don’t want to talk about it with you. It’s weird.”

“Whatever you say,” he sighed. “You should spend some time with Aeoife. She’s been very restless with you gone.”

“I’m sorry I was gone for so long. I just need to try to get through to the Wolf. If I can change into red dresses soon, it will get the elders off my back and give me some time to untangle this mess.”

“What mess?” Cade asked.

She’d said too much. “I just mean the mess with the elders.”

He nodded, but she could see that he didn’t buy her lie. He knew her too well, and years of friendship meant he knew every expression on her face just as she knew his.

“You know you can tell me anything. I don’t judge,” Cade sighed.

Rowan swallowed hard, tugging at a loose thread on the linen sheets. “I know. I’m just not ready yet.”

“I’ll be here when you are,” he whispered.

Rowan walkedinto the tower kitchen just as Aeoife exited her meditation and practice session.

“Rowie!” she shouted, throwing herself into Rowan’s waiting arms. “I was worried when you didn’t come home.”

Aeoife’s sweetness brought her to tears. “I’m sorry I was away for so long. I’m trying to make everything better for the two of us,” Rowan said.

Aeoife pulled back, reaching up to cup Rowan’s face in her small hands. “Someday, I want to be brave like you.”

Rowan swallowed hard. She didn’t feel brave. She felt lost. “I got to see Orla’s room at Wolf’s Keep, and guess what? She knew how to paint.”

Aeoife’s eyes went wide. “Landscapes?”

“Even better. She painted portraits, and she painted a beautiful one of you in a pretty pink dress. I promise I will bring it to you as soon as I figure out where we can hide it here, okay?”

Aeoife clapped her hands and jumped in delight before her face grew grave and her eyes went glassy.

Rowan knelt so she was at eye level with the girl. “What’s wrong?”

“Did he hurt you? I heard Mrs. Teverin talking, and she said that—” Aeoife cut herself off, unable to finish as her lower lip trembled.

Rowan sighed. “No, I’m perfectly fine. See, I’m even still wearing white,” she said, gesturing to her dress.

“Then why is your heart so sad?” Aeoife asked.

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