Page 114 of Spirit Trials

I turn around and eye Jamik warily. “I’m just heading out to the markets for a little bit.”

He frowns. “Does my brother know?”

“I’m not a prisoner here,” I snap and immediately regret it. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to take it out on you. I’m just tired of being inside.”

“I get it,” he says quietly.

I breathe a sigh of relief. “Good.”

“I’ll go with you,” Lox says, entering the room.

I pause a moment before I shrug. “Okay.”

We head outside towards the barn. I shiver in the morning chill but don’t regret my actions. I really do need to get out. Before I go into the barn, I walk around behind the barn to check on my favorite wolves. Two heads are already up and watching me. “Sorry,” I say softly. “I was trying to be quiet.”

Obviously, not quiet enough,Solace snaps at me through our bond.

I ignore my cranky wolf and glance down at Shade. “Why aren’t you with Rysden?” He just stares at me.

Because he’s with me.

I sigh and take a step back. “I’ll check on you later.” I walk around to the front of the stables and shake my head.

“Problem?” Lox asks.

I take the reins of my horse from him and mount up. “Thanks. I don’t know. Solace has just been so snippy with me.” I shrug. “I don’t know if I did something to offend her, but she is not happy with me.” I turn to look at him over my shoulder. “And why isn’t Shade with Rysden?”

“Shade’s with her?” he asks.

I nod. “Yeah, which is weird. He always goes with Rysden.”

“She’s probably pregnant.”

I pull on my horse’s reins and spin around. “What?”

He shrugs. “That’s what I would guess. Female wolves get feisty and moody when pregnant, and the males get protective.”

I take in his words.Are you pregnant?I send to Solace through our bond.

Do you think my belly is this large for fun?

I smirk. I haven’t even noticed her growing belly, so it can’t really be that big.Congratulations,I send back. She doesn’t respond, but I don’t care. I can’t stop smiling.

Chapter 57

“I’m going to get down and walk,” I tell Lox as I dismount and tie up my horse. I pat the coins I slipped in my pocket before coming. I still can’t believe the amount of money I won from the trials. In all the craziness of everything, I’d forgotten about it. But Rysden hadn’t. He made sure I got my prize money.

“I’ll be around,” Lox says before slipping away.

I breathe in the morning air and start walking between the vendors. I wander from cart to cart, taking in absolutely everything. I stop in front of a vendor. “That smells amazing.”

An older woman beams at me. “Here. You must try my sugared dough.”

“How much is it?” I ask.

“For Lady Mercy, it is free.”

“Oh, no. Please let me pay.” But the woman is resolute, and she hands me something hot in a napkin.