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A figure twisted a chair backward, dropping down at our table, slicing through our connection. Raven and I jolted at the intruder, bristling with defense.

Vlad leaned his arms over the back of the chair, a coffee in his hand, taking us in with his stoic expression.

“Have a seat.” Derision dusted my tone. “You need something?”

Vlad peered around, setting his coffee down. “You want to go into the village for supplies? I will take you.”

“Why?” Skepticism followed his gaze over the room in caution, wondering what trap he was leading us into.

“Iacob is being naïve to the threat around us.” He scowled. “He doesn’t believe in fighting or killing.”

“But you do,” I finished.

“I believe in protecting my property and my family,” he stated, his black eyes challenging mine, his dark hair ruffling, resembling feathers. “And if being prepared without Iacob’s knowledge saves them from harm, I’m willing to do that.”

Geese were known to be exceptional guard dogs, territorial and aggressive to intruders coming into their home.

“Against what he thinks, the truth is we need more weapons to stand a chance. If I need to break the rules and have a gun on me to save my home.” He shrugged. “So be it.”

“You believe the threat will come here?” Raven questioned.

“It’s only a matter of time,” he stated firmly. “The military is growing every day, taking up more and more of this area. Invading the villages, building encampments up the other side of this mountain… without the consent of anyone living here.” He sipped his coffee, a brow arched. “It won’t be long until they come through this area. And we’ve already lost people. I won’t let more die.”

Honesty hung from his resolved tone, the determination locked in his frame.

“Okay.” I dipped my chin, even more interested in getting Raven’s cuff off, the need to peel it away, see what she was keeping from me. To do that, we needed supplies to get to the caves. “We’ll need our weapons back.”

“Not possible. They are held in Iacob’s tent. So, my plan is”—he took the final sip of coffee, setting it down—”don’t get caught.” He rose from the chair. “We leavenow.”

“Now?” Raven repeated.

“Iacob sleeps until sundown, giving us only a few good hours to get there and back.” He headed for the exit.

Raven blinked at me with surprise, our fight dissolving in the wake of this new mission.

Vlad stalled at the entrance, glaring back at us, flicking his head.

“Guess he means now, now.” Raven got up from her chair, and I followed in her wake.

“Heading into enemy territory, both of us being hunted, with no weapons?” I muttered just enough for her to hear me. “What could possibly go wrong?”

Chapter 22

Ash

Bundled back up in our heavy jackets, condensation huffed from our mouths as we hiked toward Râ?nov. The early morning sun glinted off the snow, enveloping the terrain in whiteness.

None of us said much, Vlad keeping an intense pace up and down the ranges to the citadel. My stomach protested its emptiness with sharp hunger pains, leaving me to wish I had eaten before we set off.

Turning a bend, all three of us came to a stop, taking in the magnificence of the fortified citadel perched on a hill. The lumbering fortress consumed the entire ridge with its creamy stone walls and towers, and brownish-red tile roofs. Built in the early twelfth century, the fortress was part of a defense system with other Transylvanian villages, also offering refuge for the villagers in times of invasion and war.

From here, I could see the gates with throngs of people, horses, wagons, and a few motorcycles clogging the artery of the entrance. Soldiers strolled the walls and held sentry at the gates.

“Keep your hood up and head down,” Vlad instructed. “Stay to the middle of the crowd going through the gate. Don’t do anything to bring any notice to yourself.” He pulled up his hood, taking off for the gate. “And stay close to me.”

Basically, be another blended body in the sea of people dressed in bland colors and heavy coats.

Tugging my hood, I burrowed deeper into my layers, herding Raven to go before me. My heart thumped faster the closer we got, the smells of horse manure, body odor, and mud overwhelming my senses. My ears droned with voices and babies crying while humans and fae moved through the gate.