Page 94 of Song of the Dark Wood

Instead, Rowan tipped her head back and sighed heavily. Before, she was their sacrifice, and now, she was their savior, but she still wasn’t someone they’d listen to.

Cade strolled into the room as if summoned by the chaos. He whistled, tapping his foot in a blood puddle. “I’m impressed. I take it Wolfie wasn’t a fan of whatever deviant plans the elders dreamed up for this hall of nightmares?”

Rowan said nothing, pinning him with a glare.

“Mother’s tits! This is a mess! I wonder what the Mother thinks of this. I suppose he kept the blood out of her house, at least. She seems to like a tidy space,” he joked.

Rowan bit back a laugh. She didn’t realize how tense she was until Cade teased her.

She turned her attention back to the elders. “Fine. I’ll select several journals to go with me, but I expect every single one of the rest of them to be in my room when I return before the ceremony in a week,” Rowan said. “I’m counting them now, and if any are missing, I will know.”

Elder Falon nodded emphatically.

She walked back to the altar. The stillness in the room grew heavy as she paused in front of Elder Garrett’s body. She felt nothing for him—no pity or empathy, just relief. She looked forward to Conor receiving his soul, though she hoped she wouldn’t have to ferry it herself.

She crossed the room and paused in the doorway. “I want this room sealed up permanently. There won’t be any ritualsagain or any talk of them. You’ll wipe the records of such a thing from our history and never even think of suggesting one again.” She paused. “The Wolf will know if you don’t follow through. And—more importantly—Iwill know.”

Rowan didn’t even need to turn to sense their agreement. She climbed the stairs, walked through the temple, and back out into the cold air with Cade on her heels.

“That was so badass!” he laughed. “‘I will know.’ You’re scary when you want to be, Row.”

“Good,” she whispered.

She didn’t know if she should be as worried that she didn’t feel pity for the dead elder or fear of the Wolf. She felt oddly light, like she was coming back to life, or maybe just living for the first time.

There was a large crowd gathered in the temple courtyard. Huntsmen shouted over the group, trying to get them to disperse. Clearly, word of Conor’s display of violence had already spread through town. It had done nothing to settle the tension in Ballybrine.

Rowan pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to rub away the beginnings of a headache.

Cade ducked back inside the temple and reemerged a moment later holding a leather satchel filled with journals. He offered it to her. Rowan slung it over her shoulder, turned, and started toward the Dark Wood trail.

“Rowan,” Finn said.

A cold gust of wind ruffled her cloak as she paused at the edge of the trail.

“I promise I’ll get you out of this. I promised I’d save you, and I still will,” he continued.

“It’s a little late for saving now, Finn.”

She walked swiftly back to Wolf’s Keep. The Dark Wood was strangely still, as if recovering from the Wolf’s explosive violence.

Cade was just as quiet beside her.

“I need you to keep an eye on Aeoife. The frenzy in town makes me nervous,” Rowan said.

“What about you?”

“I can take care of myself,” she replied.

Cade sighed heavily but nodded and turned back toward Maiden’s Tower.

A few moments later, she climbed the stone staircase and pushed through the heavy wooden door of Wolf’s Keep.

Charlie stood in the foyer. “Surprised to see you so soon, lass.”

“I’d love a word with him,” she said.

Charlie offered her a grim smile. “I don’t know if that’s the best idea. He’s a bit wound up from the bloodlust.”

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