Page 82 of Beyond the Winter Kingdom
“Nowthisis the kind of welcome I deserve. All you’re missing is tuna.”
Damon rolled his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose between his forefinger and thumb. “Seriously? Do youwaitfor dramatic moments just to make an entrance?”
“Only when the dialogue's this bad,” Corvo replied, hopping down and giving himself a shake. “Honestly, I expected more from you two.”
I knelt down to give him scratches behind his giant ears. “How did you find us?”
He continued to purr loudly, clearly pleased. “The bond.”
“But you've never been able to track me like this before,” I said, narrowing my eyes. “Or could you? Please don’t tell me you could have intervened when I got kidnapped by brownies.”
Corvo’s tail swished like a banner of irritation. “Let’s be clear. I don’t lower myself to petty mortal struggles unless I absolutely have to. I’m only here because I’m V’s familiar and ifhedies,Idie. This is self-preservation.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Oh is that it?” I lowered my hand to stop petting him and Corvo narrowed his eyes.
“Imayhave tried and failed to look for you when you were kidnapped. Then I got hungry and stopped by Irene’s. Running into you was weird luck—for you. I lost third dinner that night because Irene was too busy bitching at her minions to feed me.”
I smirked and returned to petting him. “I think you like me.”
“I’m allowed complexity,” he sniffed. “I’m bonded to Vareck. I just happen to tolerate you.”
Damon muttered, “That’s how all his compliments sound. You get used to it.”
Corvo gave him a sideways glare, then looked back at me. “Besides, tolerating you has benefits. You keep my idiot warrior emotionally upright and you occasionally feed me. That earns you ... mild favoritism.”
I blinked. “Is that your version of a thank you?”
“Don’t push it.”
I grinned anyway. “So, why now? Why can you find me all of a sudden?”
“Well, now Iwantto. That's probably the difference.” His eyes gleamed. “And I’m just that good.”
I crossed my arms. “Corvo.”
“Fine.” Corvo rolled his eyes. “The bond changed. Whatever was blocking your mate bond seems to have lifted and now I can sense you through him.”
I frowned. “But we haven’t completed the bond?” I said, more to myself than him.
He nodded once. “Yeah well, the horizontal tango did something because you’re connected now, which means we are too.” He cocked his head, like a thought occurred to him. “I wonder if you die, will I die too? Oh fuck. Having one meat sack to keep alive was hard enough.”
I went still.
Corvo blinked slowly and shrugged in a very human-like manner. “Who knows? Let’s all try not to die andnotfind out. Shall we?”
“About that,” Damon said. “Our best bet of staying alive is getting to the Fold. But we’re going to run low on supplies depending on how long it takes. Can you pop in frequently to bring us stock, and to let us know where Sadie and Vareck are?”
“Ugh,” Corvo groaned. “Corvo do this. Corvo find that. Corvo keep my mate alive. I’ll have you know I expect snacks in return. And pets. There better be catnip crusted halibut in my dish when you get back to the castle. All this do-gooder-ing is exhausting.”
“When have I not fed you, hmm? Ever since?—”
“We don’t need to go spilling secrets now, Damon.” Corvo’s eyes flashed, and he whipped his tail around. Damon just hummed in return.
Ignoring whatever was happening between them, I scratched under his chin. “Is that a yes?”
“Obviously.”
I looked to Damon. “Problem solved, it would seem.”
