Page 221 of The Lands Defying
He starts to turn, and the heartbreak in Rhea’s voice makes my teeth ache.
“Wait…I—Don’t go.” Her shoulders shake, and he goes to her, nuzzling her neck as Runa tries to comfort her. “Please.”
“I am where I am meant to be,”he tells her, licking her face.“Don’t be sad. I am happy to be with my family. You will be okay, my little Heir.”
She nods, a whimper coming from her and she reaches up one last time, rubbing her head on his, and then he’s walking away, back to his family.
She watches as they walk back through the trees, Solvier giving her one last look before disappearing from sight.
“Little wolf,” I call, opening my arms to her. She doesn’t hesitate running into them and I hold her tightly, rubbing her back as I rest my chin on the top of her head. Holding a hand up to Runa, she comes next, nuzzling into me as I stroke behind her ear.
I call Drax and he goes to Rhea’s neck, licking there before licking Runa, trying to comfort.
“He has got to make up for his regrets,” I tell her. “This is his chance, and now he can be where he truly wants to be.”
“You remember the story I told?”
“I remember everything.”
She sighs, leaning back into me. “Even in death he found his peace.”
“Not many can say that,” I tell her, looking to the below like I can see it.
Howls suddenly rent the air and then, from within the trees, a pack of wolves close in on us.
Runa and Drax instantly turn, hackles raised and teeth bared, but these wolves have no body.
“Spirits of wolves,” Rhea whispers as we watch the almost transparent wolves. They have a slight, light blue tinge to them to make them visible, and swirls and patterns on them that look ancient, but you can see the trees through them.
They stare at us, their tails wagging high, and then they begin to walk away as one, halting when they notice we aren’t following them.
Rhea looks to them for a moment, and then to Runa. The silver wolf moves forward curiously as Drax tenses, readying to protect her. But when the spirit wolves do nothing, Rhea goes to her.
Her feet are off the ground as she climbs on Runa’s back, a small smile gracing her lips as she turns toward me.
Her eyes are puffy from crying, but she’s always beautiful to me, and even more so on the back of her wolf, absentmindedly stroking Runa.
Drax grunts, and stands next to me. I chuckle because he doesn’t let me do this often, but I think the look Runa gave him helped his decision.
“Soft ass,” I say to him as I climb on. He growls and I scratch behind his ear. “We can’t leave our girls behind now, can we?” He snarls and I smirk. “Thought so.” And then we run togetherwith the spirit wolves, heading toward the large tree in the center.
Sixty Five
Rhea
We follow the spirit wolves on Runa and Drax. Darius is alert, as always, but I’m calm. I am calmer than I have ever been. In a place that feels like it is everything right.
I breathe in the sweet scent of the lilk trees, marveling at how tall they are. The ones in Eridian cannot even compare.
Is this where they originated from?
The pack of wolves play and run through the trees along the path, yipping and making excited barks at one another. I can’t help but chuckle as one pounced on another unsuspecting one.
“Even here they play,” Darius says, patting Drax’s neck. The wolf doesn’t exactly look happy with having a rider.
I snort.
Draxton’s head whips my way, eyes narrowing and I avert my gaze, biting my lip.
