Page 56 of The Howling (Monsters of the Yeavering #2)

L ive Barghest. Not spirits, but the genuine furry were-canines.

Reavely’s castle is full of them. I blink and rub my eyes before catching sight of Lilburn. She grins wildly at me.

Fenrother releases a blood curdling snarl and Linton shakes out his wings in a cloud of dust. Out of all of them, he is the least bothered by what he sees.

Ellie is the first to spot us, running and enveloping me in a huge hug which is more than welcome.

“We have to help Reavely. He was injured in battle,” I say to her urgently as Fenrother toes the prone form of my mate.

She raises her paw-like hand and several burly warriors come running.

“Get the king to his quarters,” she orders, “and find the apothecary.”

“What happened?” we ask each other at the same time.

Ellie grins. “All I know is I used to be able to walk through walls and now I can’t. The curse has been lifted!”

“I can see that.” I watch as Reavely is gently raised, his head cradled, and I follow as they carry him with some considerable care across the courtyard, through the great hall, which is filled with life, banners, and the scent of food, up the stairs, and into our bedroom, where he is laid with great reverence on the bed.

He lets out a low groan, and I am instantly by his side.

The wound on his shoulder has the appearance of half-cooked meat, and it’s hard for me even to look at it.

“Hey.” I brush my hand through the muss of hair at his temple.

Reavely’s eyes roll open, and he fixes them on me. For a second, there is recognition before they cloud again.

“You broke the curse,” I say. “Your family is back.”

“Back?” he rasps.

Ellie drops down next to me and takes Reavely’s hand. “Hello, brother,” she says.

For a moment, I think he’s lost conciousness, but then his eyes come back into focus.

“Sister?”

“Yes, it’s me, Reavely.”

A smile spreads over his face.

“You did it, my little deer,” he murmurs. “You brought them back like I always knew you would.”

“Not me,” I say as a broad woman bustles in through the door.

“Someone asked for an apothecary?” she says before she spots Reavely and shoves me and Ellie aside, tutting and muttering as she empties the contents of her basket onto the bed and sets to work.

Despite her glares, I install myself on Reavely’s uninjured side, stroking his hair and whispering nothings into his ear. She applies an herby smelling poultice to the wound and binds him up.

“He is strong, but this is a nasty magical wound. Lord Soulis’s work, I presume?” the apothecary says. “Stopped by even more powerful magic? That’s good. He’ll need to rest for a few days, but he will survive.” Her gaze falls back on me. “And you’ll be coming to see me tomorrow, won’t you?”

I open my mouth to reply, but she’s already packed and walking out the door without a backwards glance.

“That was…interesting,” I say to Ellie.

“We couldn’t tell you. There was an enchantment in place. But the healer from the village was in the employ of Lord Soulis,” she says. “Once the curse was lifted, he disappeared.”

I try to imagine what it was like for the village folk to suddenly find all the Barghest back. I guess most of them would have been happy about it, given they have a castle to supply once again.

“I can’t quite believe it about the curse.” I shake my head and stare down at my mate. His long eyelashes brush his cheeks, and I have to resist the urge to kiss the tip of his nose. “It didn’t seem like it would be that easy.”

“It probably wouldn’t have been, if you’d been anyone else,” Ellie says. “But if Mother gave you the jewel, then it was meant to be.”

I touch the chain around my neck.

“You knew?”

“The thing about the Styne of Golorum is that it can only be used by those who have no use for it,” she says. “It makes it one of the most powerful magical items in the realm. Of course she would give it to you.”

“Oh.” My attention is drawn back to Reavely, who shifts uncomfortably, pain twisting his mouth.

Ellie stares at her brother and then leaves the room. In a short time, she’s back with a blue glass bottle and a beaker made out of horn.

“Try him with this,” she says. “As much as he can drink.”

I blink at her.

“Barghest are pretty robust. Save for when you take us by surprise and slaughter us in our beds,” she says wryly.

“If the apothecary says he’ll survive, he’ll survive.

” She puts her hand on her brother’s. “Admittedly he’ll most probably milk it for all it’s worth.

” she sighs. “But this broth will help with the pain and healing. Our mother swore by it.”

“I am sorry for all you have lost,” I say.

“Mother wanted you to have the jewel. She knew it would mean she had to depart the Yeavering, but look at what it’s done.” Ellie opens her arms. “Look at what you and Reavely have done.” She smiles, although sadness lingers in her eyes. “Yes, we have lost, but the gains are worth it.”

Her eyes trail down my body. I expect I’m pretty filthy, given the battle.

“You will need to go to the apothecary, like she suggested,” Ellie says.

“I’m not leaving Reavely until he’s better,” I respond.

“I think he’d want to find out you’re in pup. And you probably want confirmation too.”