Page 47

“Thorn, stop!” I shout. “This will not help your fox.”

My brother lunges forward. “The beast is ours by right of the hunt!”

I wrench him back again, my own temper rising. “We did not sanction any hunt for familiars. Stand down, now!”

To my surprise, he hesitates at the command in my voice.

A faint whimper breaks the standoff. Thorn gazes down at the broken body in her arms, her fury visibly receding. She looks back up at me, eyes still hard but no longer murderous.

“Please,” I say more gently, “allow me to help make amends.”

After a tense moment, she gives a terse nod. With my brother sufficiently subdued for now, I approach Thorn cautiously. Her shoulders relax slightly. Up close, the fox looks badly injured but still draws breath. Hot guilt twists my gut.

“Bring her this way,” I murmur.

Thorn acquiesces, following me to my quarters. I can feel my brother’s glare boring into my back, but he does not give chase.

Inside the dim privacy of my tent, Thorn lays the fox gently down atop a blanket. I fetch water and bandages, hyperaware of her proximity. The fated mate bond thrums between us, heightening my instincts to provide for and safeguard her. I can only imagine how much harder this is going to be if, no, when the bond is complete.

Kneeling, I inspect Luna’s wounds—minor lacerations and a broken hind leg. The bones will have to be set. As I run my hands lightly over the injuries, the urge to soothe away all of Thorn’s hurts, physical and emotional, swells within me, but I push that down for now in favor of the fox. Luna’s eyes open halfway and regard me warily, but she does not shy from my touch.

I glance up at Thorn. “She’s resilient, your friend.”

Like you, beloved.

Thorn strokes Luna’s head, her expression softening for the first time since her arrival. “Her name is Luna.” The protective devotion in her voice makes my chest constrict with the need to shelter them both.

I nod solemnly. “You have my deepest apologies. Luna will come to no further harm. I promise.”

Thorn searches my face, and I meet her piercing gaze unflinchingly, willing her to see the sincerity of my vow.

After a long moment, she sighs and sinks down beside me. Some of the tension seems to leave her slender frame.

We continue tending Luna’s injuries in silence—Thorn with her magic and me assisting in anything requested. The animosity between us has softened. I ache to reach out and trail my fingers down her arm, to gently smooth her worries away, but I restrain myself.

Once Luna is sleeping fitfully under clean dressings, I stand and regard Thorn. Fury no longer pours off of her, but wariness remains in the set of her shoulders. I cannot blame her mistrust, considering my family’s role in her pain.

I clear my throat awkwardly, unsure what more I can say to set things right. “Please, make yourself comfortable here for as long as you need to care for Luna. I will… I will keep my brother at bay. You have my oath.”

Thorn inclines her head silently. As I take my leave, the connection between us tugs at me like a physicalweight, but I must go deal with my brother before he does anything to further endanger my fated mate.

He is waiting outside, scowling and flecked with blood. My protective instincts flare, but I tamp them down. There will be a reckoning eventually, but now, my mate needs me.

“Why do you coddle the witch?” he spits. “Her familiar is rightfully ours.”

I fix him with a hard look. “She is not to be touched. Neither of them are.”

He opens his mouth to keep arguing.

I cut him off. “The fox is under my protection now. Do nothing more to provoke the witch’s ire if you value your life.”

His lip curls derisively, but he turns on his heel and stalks off.

I release a breath. There will be further consequences, but the crisis seems averted for now. I return inside to update Thorn.

She sits with one hand resting lightly on Luna’s back as it rises and falls with labored breathing. Thorn looks up at my entrance, eyes inscrutable.

I spread my hands placatingly. “You may rest easy. None will disturb you here.”