Page 57

Even with dozens of human eyes upon us, tracking our every move through the village, my beast could feel the difference. Veyka had shaken it off. I wasn’t inclined to press it and give her something more to worry about.

I certainly wasn’t going to say anything that drove her out of my arms. Not when she’d come there willingly.

Not for sex, but comfort.

Ancestors, it felt good to hold her.

I was becoming quite good at ignoring the ache in my chest, using it as another way of protecting Veyka. When she was too far away, the feeling of emptiness intensified. When she was pressed against me, like she had been on the edge of the town…

I didn’t have the words.

Only the feeling—one I wanted again as soon as the others returned and she slipped from my arms.

We waited until the last moment to leave for the guild hall where the Council of Elders would meet, hoping to slip in the back and avoid notice. Fulfill the bargain we’d made, and be gone. I didn’t want to linger here—under prying eyes—any longer than necessary.

But even though we arrived with only a minute to spare, the raised dais at the other end of the hall was empty and the humans were still milling around.

The building was twice the size of Sylva’s home, but unlike her small, comfortable rooms, this was a huge empty hall. Empty of furniture. Full of humans.

A row of tall trees stood along the back; some sort of park or garden. Maybe a cemetery.

“Stay with the Queen,” I said to Lyrena out. She didn’t need reminding. She was nearly as fixed to Veyka’s side as I was.

But it quieted the howl of displeasure in my chest.

“I can protect myself.” Veyka pulled a dagger from her belt, testing the point.

The humans nearest us took several steps back.

I rolled my eyes—at them, at her, at all of it. “Good. Then protect Lyrena. I’m checking the other exits.”

Veyka hissed. A human stumbled over themselves.

I worked my way through the crowded room. Everyone was already staring. So much for going unnoticed.

I towered a full foot above the tallest person in the room. It had been a futile hope.

“She’s going to do something drastic if you don’t give her some space,” Osheen said to my back.

My logical side realized he was offering friendly advice. My beast didn’t give a fuck. He turned rabid—I wrested control back.

Shifting—a fit of jealousy—and all of these humans would be dead before the meeting even began.

“I didn’t realize you and the Queen were so well acquainted,” I growled.

Osheen pushed open the door at the rear, poked his head outside, closed it again. Unbothered by the beast. He expected me to have control over it. A mistake. When it came to Veyka, I had none.

“She’s not a soldier to be ordered around.”

I clenched my jaw. “She reminds me daily.”

“I’ve had soldiers like her under my command.” Osheen worked his way to the other side of the hall. Another door—this one to a small meeting chamber. A group of humans stared at us—the elders, I could only assume. I closed the door.

“Willful and obstinate?” I bit out, sweeping my gaze over the heads of the humans to locate her in the back corner, two yards from the nearest door. Not ideal.

“Wickedly smart with something to prove.

He might be right. But I didn’t like it. “What would you advise?”