Page 187 of Bane of the Wild Hunt

And I could tell by the tension between Sage and his father there had undoubtedly been a discussion about it. Carrick’s mouth was pinched, and Sage had the look of a man who had been severely chastised. Sage did not typically leave his love marks in places that were quite so visible for this exact reason, but I supposed it would be different with hisanam. I had no doubt that he might even mark her more permanently as Ciaran had told me she’d already done to him before I sensed it myself.

“You are still unable to summon your own armour?” Ciaran retorted, feigning concern for the dryad who was once again dressed in Sage’s to keep her warm.

Of course, if she would just agree to be initiated fully into the Wild Hunt, then she would not need his armour. She would use our fire magic to warm herself.

“Oh, fuck off! When have I had time to even try?” demanded Ornella as she pulled herself into her saddle.

“It is not hard. You could try now,” Ciaran suggested, and she shot him a glare that almost took my breath away when it reminded me instantly of her brother.

I bet your father justlovedseeing those marks all over her neck,Ciaran teased Sage so the rest of us could hear.

Why don’t you try worrying less about my relationship with my mate?Sage retaliated.

I thought it was not romantic between you? What was it you said about how the bond—

“Are we ready?” asked Sage out loud, shooting a look of exasperation at Ciaran who smirked at him.

Ornella glared at them in suspicion, probably sensing that she was not privy to the whole conversation.

The sooner my riders were united, the better it would be for the Wild Hunt. I just hoped she was not going to resist until I was forced to become insistent with her.

Shaking my head, I turned to Nuala who was watching my riders with an expression of wistful curiosity.

“Tell me they eventually get along,” I beseeched her, tuning out more bickering between Ornella and Ciaran.

“They do,” Nuala assured me with a smile in her voice while I rearranged her skirt and cloak so I could swing myself up behind her without pulling on her.

“Thank the gods,” I muttered as I put one arm around her to hold her securely against me when Éadrom moved into position to take flight.

And I swore for a moment, her head tilted back briefly to rest against my chest.

I hope you are careful,Darragh warned me privately, ignoring the ongoing banter of our younger companions.Seers have been known to live their lives in worlds that never were. And to become upset when their expectations are not reflected in reality. She is valuable. But she was also locked in darkness and subjected to years of abuse with only her visions ofyoukeeping her alive.

Oh, I know,I reassured him as I paid attention to the way Nuala braced perfectly for flight as if she had ridden Éadrom a thousand times before.

It was on the tip of my tongue to tell the demidragon that she was immune to my magic, see what he made of it, but I could not seem to bring myself to say it. I was not sure whether it was because I was reluctant to vilify her, or if I was merely embarrassed to have been thwarted by a little witch of all creatures.

And I knew I should tell him about how unsettlingly confident and familiar she seemed to feel with me and my life, but I couldnot seem to form the words in my mind. Although at least I knew why I was hesitant about that.

I was beginning to think Nuala might think she could become more to me than just my Seer.

Chapter fifty

TWO BODIES WITH ONE SOUL

Ornella

As promised, Aes Mirr was ready when the Wild Hunt returned to begin moving them through two large portals to where the Aes Suri were camped.

Carrick had come with us this time, riding with his son on a disgruntled Serafin, and Asha joined us through the portal to help organize. Her smile and gentle pat on my cheek never failed to make me feel warm and light. Although she betrayed a moment of concern when she caught sight of the hickey on my jaw, only to quickly realize what it really was, and raised her brows at me. Embarrassing as it was to face her with the evidence of my tryst with Sage, I could better understand his intent in leaving the bruises on me. They signalled a change in our relationship and were a physical depiction of his claim.

And I would be lying if I tried to say there was not a part of me that was rather proud of the statement it made. Even if Carrick had glared at his son, and Ciaran had not bothered to hide it when he rolled his eyes.

Darragh was somewhere high above us on a ledge on the mountain, staying away from the common folk and watchingover everything. Nuala called him “Guardian” earlier, and I could not help wondering if that was a clue to his past or if it was just part of his identity. Rian and Ciaran had opened the portals, making both of them wide enough that the Aes Mirr villagers could pass through two carts at a time. Sage and I helped along the lines where we could, but this relocation was going much more smoothly than it had with Sage’s village. The Aes Mirr were fully packed and ready when we arrived, and they’d had the time to make sure their elderly and young were ready to be transported. They also did not have dozens of injured fey who could not walk unassisted.

So mostly we both just patrolled either side of the line with our vargr, although sometimes I would catch Sage admiring me from across a cart. And it would bring me to a sudden stop, my heart abruptly galloping through my chest and flooding my body with a flush of awareness. Just catching his eyes on me, unexpectedly, was enough to send me into a full-blown internal meltdown. And he knewexactlywhat he was doing to me too, I could tell by the cocky grin he gave me before he and Serafin turned to continue walking down their side of the line.

Leaving me to stare after him, brimming with sudden, flustered heat, and unsure how to deal with it in public. Especially when it made Pyrope growl in agitation.

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