Page 32 of When the Moon Met the Sun

I took a deep breath and nodded, loosening the breath again a moment later, willing my racing heartbeat to calm down. “Thanks,” I murmured in Nolvym, too anxious to be outright in my appreciation.

I caught his surprised look out of the corner of my eye, but thought nothing of it when he failed to carry on the conversation.

After a few more minutes of walking through the mostly empty castle—I imagined not many were awake this early in the morning, for it was just shortly after dawn—we stepped outside into one ofthe side gardens. Just beyond it was the rest of the Valwain, three horses, and some unexpected visitors.

Even from where I paused on the castle steps, I could clearly see thegiantwolves huddled with the rest of the Valwain. From the looks of it, they were the same two from when I was brought to the South—one almost entirely pitch black with brown eyes, and the other gray and white with green eyes. The gray and white one was crouched down, flat on its belly, allowing Teagan to strap a large leather saddle to the creature, along with some of the group’s luggage.

Robyn, who hadn’t noticed I’d ceased walking until he got down the handful of steps, followed my gaze to the pair of wolves.

“Sometimes I forget having Titan Wolves isn’t an ordinary thing for most fae,” he mumbled, then motioned for me to continue following him.

Once I reached his side, I looked up to meet his eyes and parroted him, “Titan Wolves?” I’d never heard about them in any of the books I had read on the South.

He nodded. “A dying breed of especially large wolves. They can run faster and jump higher than any other mammal on the continent. What’s left of them are only ever bonded to Southern royalty.”

He pointed to the wolf that was being loaded up with luggage, then said, “That’s Lychen, Teagan’s wolf. She bonded with him when she was eleven.” He pointed to the black wolf next. “And that, is Atlas. He’s one of my best friends. I bonded with him when I was thirteen, and we’ve been together ever since.”

Slowly, we started walking toward the group again. I was so lost in thought and anxiety ridden I barely noticed the beautiful garden we were floating through—full of all kinds of varieties of Southern wildflowers, each sector a different color.

“You said you and Teagan werebondedto them. What’s that mean, exactly?” I asked him as we drew closer to the group.

“It means our lives are intertwined. Atlas and I know each other well from years of being together, but because we’re bonded, he’s also able to pick up on my moods—kind of like how you and I are able to feel each other’s emotions—and therefore he can predict my actions better during battle. Also, he shared his markings with me once he decided I was the one he wanted to bond with. I didn’t just pick him, he had to pick me, too.” Robyn stretched his marked right arm out and motioned to it. “These markings are the same as the ones Atlas has. Watch this,” he said, a small mischievous smile playing on his mouth.

He whistled a double, high pitched note and Atlas’ head immediately snapped in our direction. He came bounding over after catching sight of Robyn.

As the large creature walked over, I noticed he had the same swirling pattern on his head that Robyn had on his arm in a deep brown color, almost blending in to the black surrounding it. Starting right between his eyes, it traveled up between his ears and down his spine. Though, I noticed, Atlas’ marking was longer than Robyn’s was.

Likely sensing my curiosity and following my gaze, Robyn said, “The stronger the bond grows between a rider and their Titan Wolf, the more of the wolf’s markings they’ll gain. That’s why Teagan’s markings covers more of her arm than mine does, because her and Lychen have been bonded for years longer than Atlas and me.”

I had to suppress a sigh as I thought of Eden. I hadn’t had much time to think about her recently, and the ache of being separated hit me all at once as I gazed at Atlas.

“Interesting,” I murmured, then took a step back, slightly behind Robyn as Atlas drew close. Only then did I realize exactly how huge the Titan Wolves were.

Atlas stood at least twice my height, forcing him to crouch down in order to meet Robyn face to face. I seemed to only be as tall as one of his legs.

When Atlas was finally face to face with Robyn, he let out ahuffof hot air, blowing Robyn’s hair out of his face. I noticed his tail had begun swishing back and forth, too. It was clear that Atlas was extremely fond of Robyn, allowing him to reach up and scratch under his jaw, and Atlas simply leaned into Robyn’s hand.

If he were a cat, I was sure he would’ve begun purring.

“Atlas, there’s somebody I want you to meet. I told you about her, remember?” Robyn said, then stepped aside so I was no longer cowering behind him. “Atlas, meet Aviva. Aviva, Atlas.”

Atlas’s ears perked up as he looked at me, his tail gone still.

Suddenly I felt lightheaded with nervousness.

“It’s alright,” Robyn cooed. “Here, give me your hand.”

When I hesitated, he added, “Just trust me, Avi.”

My eyes snapped up to meet his, shocked by the new nickname I’d just heard come from his lips. He had the decency to blush slightly, but his hand remained outstretched, waiting.

I wondered for a moment if he knewavimeantlovein Nolvym—a term of endearment.

Slowly, I put my hand in his, and together he guided our hands toward Atlas.

The wolf lowered his head even more, meeting us halfway, our hands falling directly between his eyes. I gasped softly as I felt how soft Atlas’ fur was, and gently stroked the markings that were there after Robyn lifted his hand away.

Atlas, seemingly content with my presence now, moved quickly as he reached out and licked the side of my face, leaving behind a trail of wetness.

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