Page 114 of Spirit Trials
I turn around and eye Jamik warily. “I’m just heading out to the markets for a little bit.”
He frowns. “Does my brother know?”
“I’m not a prisoner here,” I snap and immediately regret it. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to take it out on you. I’m just tired of being inside.”
“I get it,” he says quietly.
I breathe a sigh of relief. “Good.”
“I’ll go with you,” Lox says, entering the room.
I pause a moment before I shrug. “Okay.”
We head outside towards the barn. I shiver in the morning chill but don’t regret my actions. I really do need to get out. Before I go into the barn, I walk around behind the barn to check on my favorite wolves. Two heads are already up and watching me. “Sorry,” I say softly. “I was trying to be quiet.”
Obviously, not quiet enough,Solace snaps at me through our bond.
I ignore my cranky wolf and glance down at Shade. “Why aren’t you with Rysden?” He just stares at me.
Because he’s with me.
I sigh and take a step back. “I’ll check on you later.” I walk around to the front of the stables and shake my head.
“Problem?” Lox asks.
I take the reins of my horse from him and mount up. “Thanks. I don’t know. Solace has just been so snippy with me.” I shrug. “I don’t know if I did something to offend her, but she is not happy with me.” I turn to look at him over my shoulder. “And why isn’t Shade with Rysden?”
“Shade’s with her?” he asks.
I nod. “Yeah, which is weird. He always goes with Rysden.”
“She’s probably pregnant.”
I pull on my horse’s reins and spin around. “What?”
He shrugs. “That’s what I would guess. Female wolves get feisty and moody when pregnant, and the males get protective.”
I take in his words.Are you pregnant?I send to Solace through our bond.
Do you think my belly is this large for fun?
I smirk. I haven’t even noticed her growing belly, so it can’t really be that big.Congratulations,I send back. She doesn’t respond, but I don’t care. I can’t stop smiling.
Chapter 57
“I’m going to get down and walk,” I tell Lox as I dismount and tie up my horse. I pat the coins I slipped in my pocket before coming. I still can’t believe the amount of money I won from the trials. In all the craziness of everything, I’d forgotten about it. But Rysden hadn’t. He made sure I got my prize money.
“I’ll be around,” Lox says before slipping away.
I breathe in the morning air and start walking between the vendors. I wander from cart to cart, taking in absolutely everything. I stop in front of a vendor. “That smells amazing.”
An older woman beams at me. “Here. You must try my sugared dough.”
“How much is it?” I ask.
“For Lady Mercy, it is free.”
“Oh, no. Please let me pay.” But the woman is resolute, and she hands me something hot in a napkin.
