Page 151 of Deadwood
“That’s not something you can decide for her. What if you get injured? She would feel it and not have a clue what’s happening.”
Glacies’s eyes narrowed, like that was some kind of insult. “I do not get injured.”
I scoffed, shoving a hand through my hair as Vulcan came up beside her. His gaze was filled with worry, and I had no fucking clue what to do.
“I want to see her,” Glacies demanded.
“No.”
Panic pooled in her eyes. “You cannot keep me from what is mine.”
“You just said it yourself—you don’t even want her!” The thought had my stomach turning.
Vulcan stepped forward, blocking Glacies from me. His voice quieted, aiming his words directly at me. “Let Auria make this choice for herself.”
I shook my head in disgust. “Glacies wasn’t going to give her that option. She has no idea why she even likes the short-tempered beast.”
A low growl filled the air behind Vulcan, indicating she’d heard.
Good. I wanted her to know I was aware of that little fact about her. If that temper ever turned itself on Auria, I’d rip her wings from her back myself.
“As the universe allows, let it be how it will be.”
I stared up at Vulcan, hating the wisdom he randomly decided to spew. I much preferred his backhanded comments and dramatic eye rolls.
“Fine.” Vulcan moved out of the way, allowing Glacies and I to face each other. “You get ten minutes with her, and if you so much as think about taking her and flying off?—”
“Her safety means more to me than taking her from here,” Glacies admitted, her tone softer than I’d ever heard it before.
With a nod, we headed in the direction of Deadwood.
* * *
I leftGlacies and Vulcan behind the house as I went inside to see if Auria was awake. Glacies had made it a point to say that she was, but I got the feeling the dragon would find a way to wake her even if she wasn’t.
Heading in through the front door, I took the steps two at a time. Flynt was right where I’d left him, his back leaned up against the doorframe and arms crossed over his large chest. His eyes caught mine as I walked down the hall.
“Has she come out at all?” I asked, even though I hadn’t been gone long.
Flynt shook his head, adjusting his stance to give me room. “Not a peep from the room.” As I reached for the door, he added, “There were no knife wounds on the wolves, Bowen.”
I paused, meeting his gaze. “None of them?”
He shook his head, confirming my suspicions. Whatever light Auria had seen was the thing to take them all out. I didn’t dwell on the fact that it only made me hate Lander more, knowing he hadn’t even stabbed one of them.
We’d figure this out later.
Carefully, I twisted the handle and slowly opened the door to peek in.
She was sitting upright on the bed, her back against the stacked pillows with her gaze on the door. “I’m not some caged tiger waiting to strike.”
I opened it the rest of the way to step in. “I didn’t want to wake you.” Her eyes drifted to the comforter pulled up to her waist as she picked at a stray strand. She looked…hopeless. “What’s wrong?”
Her chest rose under the large shirt she wore as she moved to rub at her finger. “What are we to do when the bridge is back up?”
I moved without thinking, crossing the room to sit on the side of the bed. I pulled her fidgeting hands into my own. “We will figure it out when the time comes.”
The truth was, I didn’t have an answer. I couldn’t keep her here—not without inciting a war between Deadwood and Amosite.
