Page 82 of Fate Promised

She turned, and her face was smooth and expressionless. “I’m in this fight, too, Juri. And my magic will negate the orb Hoyt activated.”

“You’re not going near Hoyt so he can kill you this time.” He stared out the window at the bay. Or go on a ship over the water. “I’m not in vulk form, I can’t protect you.” He shot a glance at Hans. “I may not even be able to fight.” Would Hans tell him to remain behind because he wasn’t a vulk anymore?

She raised her chin. “Oh, don’t be daft. Even if Hans says no, you’ll still go, and so will I. This time, I’m the one who needs to help you. And the rest of the vulk.”

His mouth opened and closed. Of course he’d still go. Hoyt needed to be taken care of, so that he never threatened Triska again. That didn’t mean Triska had to be there. “No.”

“If Hoyt started the incantation, I can stop it.”

He growled. “We’ll take care of Hoyt, not you.”

She glanced away, not meeting his gaze. “You need help. Help only I can provide.”

He shook his head. “No. The vulk will make a plan, the way we always do. We don’t need your help.” He turned to Hans. “Help me out here.”

Hans remained silent, his gaze flicking from Juri to Triska. “Briony fought Morana last year at my side. Her magic saved me.”

Juri switched to Vulk and swore violently. Kyril’s brows shot up. “Wow, Ryba brings out your saltiest language.”

“You can stick my salty language up your arse.” Icy shards speared into his chest as he turned back to Triska. He opened his mouth, then closed it. Briony had helped them last year. She’d even designed protective armor for the vulk to wear. And now Triska wanted to enter the battle and do something similar.

“Will her magic work?” he asked Fergal.

Fergal rubbed his chin. “I don’t like going over there at night when my magic is weakest. And there will be a considerable distance between Triska on the island, and where the orb is underneath … but I can bring stores of my magic and bolster hers. Then it should work.”

Juri put his arm around her and pulled her closer. “If you come, you stay far, far away from the battle and Hoyt.”

She nodded. The ice shards in his chest grew. There was an expression on her face he didn’t recognize. A distance to her gaze like she saw through him. It was eerily similar to the look she’d had when he’d pulled her from the ocean in Peklo.

Triska stood. “I’m going to go see my father. He probably hasn’t heard we’re back yet.” Triska didn’t wait for an answer but strode to the front door. Juri shot to his feet and followed her.

Outside, the suns had become covered by thick clouds, making the street dull and gray. Even the last flowers of the season growing in the pots lining the street appeared muted. “I’ll come with you.”

She shook her head. “No. I need to be alone.” She waved toward the door of the tavern. “And I’m sure your pack needs to talk to you.”

Something wrenched hard in his chest. Dried leaves skittered across the cobblestones and snagged on his feet, fluttering to be freed. If she needed to be by herself, that was fine, but the way she’d said it … her words sounded ominous. Like she was speaking about much more than today.

Words died on his tongue. His shoulders tightened. Her words from earlier rang in his ears again, ‘we can’t take what the rune offers. I won’t do that to you.’ She wasn’t his.

Her hand rose as if she wanted to touch him, but instead, she gave him a small smile and turned away.

The primal beast still inside roared. No. He was going with her. He needed to hold her until this feeling calmed.

He stepped forward to follow her when a hand clamped on his shoulder. Hans. “Let’s take a walk.”

Juri jolted, then whirled. “What? No, I—”

“We should talk.” Hans jerked his chin toward the beach. Juri followed Hans down the boardwalk, but he could only picture Triska walking away. Silence fell between them as they strode together along the sand until Hans halted suddenly. “What’s going on?” he asked Juri.

“She’s a selkie.” Everything tumbled out. He told Hans about what the rune said, Triska almost dying, and how she’d revealed her true nature earlier that day. “I’m going to lose her.” He ran his hand through his hair. “I’ve stayed away from her for ages because I knew she was safer without me. Now I think about all those years …” He turned and met Hans’s gaze. “I could have been with her. We’ve had a rune mark—a bond—between us since we were kids.”

Hans rubbed his mouth. “There’s something I learned last year I haven’t shared with the pack. The choice you face with Triska, about making her your mate, it’s not the first time vulk have had to choose.” Hans paused. “Many years ago, the vulk became the strongest beings on Ulterra, but they gave up their souls.”

He knew the vulk had no souls. That was how they slew the leshak—the souldrinkers. Only the vulk were immune from them. But he hadn’t known it was a choice.

Hans crossed his arms. “The vulk knew when they did this, they could never find, or take, a mate. Ever again.”

Juri’s mouth dropped open. “The vulk knew?”

---