61. Chapter Sixty-One

Chapter Sixty-One

Eldrick

E ldrick blinked against the sun. Not a single cloud drifted through the sky, not an inch of gray for miles against the bright blue. Winter still sat in the air, but his wolf pranced and jumped in the sounds and sights of home. No curse, no clouds. Eldrick inhaled the vibrancy of the Vadon Mountains as he stood at the foot of Lār.

A few paces away, Kade and Bétar clasped forearms, saying their goodbyes.

“Send word, won’t you?” Bétar said.

“It won’t be too long,” Eldrick said, joining them.

Kade smiled at his brother. “A month at most.”

The day prior, they’d all gathered to discuss with Aramis and Claus about what they’d learned in Drystan and what came next. Kade and Evelyn would head east to the city of witches. If there was any research on how to get her magic out of the bloodstone, the Nūa library possessed it. Evelyn had also admitted it was time she returned home after being gone for so long. Kade hadn’t objected, and in fact, stepped down as commander of the Gray Fenris and passed the title onto Bétar.

They’d decided to all reconvene at the end of the month with hopes Evelyn had gotten her magic back and they’d researched more of the prophecy thanks to her sister, Blair. In the meantime, Eldrick and his father planned to hold council, hosting the pack alphas to discuss the curse, the entirety of the prophecy, the missing werewolves, and the secured alliance with Princess Tovi Verena.

Their newest ally rounded the corner. Eldrick and Tovi hadn’t spoken a word to one another since Sven’s estate. They’d barely been in the same vicinity, aside from the planning session the day before, but Tovi had pretended as if he weren’t there, never once making eye contact. He wasn’t sure what hurt worse, the fact he’d caused the rift between them or her ability to move on so quickly. Between Evelyn and Yen, she smiled, nose scrunching as she laughed. The three had fallen into a natural friendship, and, according to Lucy, had racked up a tab at the Shield-maiden steep enough to compete with him and his brothers.

Eldrick sighed, shifting his attention to Kade. “I wrote to Lorkan and sent a missive this morning.”

“Did you mention Mother?” Kade asked, amber eyes sad.

Eldrick sighed. “No. I thought it too great a risk to put it in writing, but I urged him to return home soon, that he was needed here. I’ll tell him in person.”

Other than the Gray Fenris, Kade and Eldrick had chosen to tell only their father that Nadia was still alive. As far as they knew, she was still a spy in Riven’s court, and they intended to honor her wishes and duty until she returned home.

Behind Eldrick, Aramis ascended the stairs of Lār without a cane. Ever since learning his mate was alive, he had more pep to his step. Silver still lined his hair, but Eldrick wondered if the distance between mates had caused his ailments. How and when they saw his mother next, Eldrick wasn’t sure, but his father’s eyes shone with a new hope that had long been extinguished.

Kade and his father embraced, whispering their farewells and mumbling about leading with his heart. Kade’s eyes glistened with understanding. They parted as Evelyn approached. The bloodstone resting on her chest had shifted to a shade of molten orange. Eldrick had only known Evelyn for a short while, but he admired her ability to keep going, despite whatever she faced. The last weeks had been difficult for all of them, but especially her .

She smiled at him. “I’m a little disappointed we can’t tease Kade endlessly together.”

“Same. I was looking forward to some little-sister bonding time.”

Kade grumbled while Bleu beside him stomped his hoof like he agreed. Maxie weaved between his brother’s legs, clearly picking a side.

“Traitor,” Evelyn whispered.

The three laughed, and Eldrick brought Evelyn into a hug. It all felt too fast. A short time ago, he’d gotten his brother back, and duty, the prophecy, and the security of their homeland tugged them all in different directions.

“Take care of yourselves,” he said to both of them.

Evelyn grasped his elbows. “I shouldn’t meddle, but I think it’s easy to forget Tovi’s hurt is older than all our years combined. She won’t make the first move, Eldrick, and if you don’t want to lose her, talk to her.”

Eldrick swallowed, but Evelyn had already swung atop Bleu and Kade had shifted into his wolf form before he could respond. The two headed out, and the rest of them waved their goodbyes and watched them leave until they passed under the village’s gate.

Ahead, Yennifer dragged Tovi towards Drengr shops. The two mingled, laughing about something Yennifer had whispered into Tovi’s ear. Eldrick drifted back to that day he first saw her, enchanted by her ethereal presence. She’d been standing between the same two vendors. Her hair had reminded him of the snow-capped mountains and those jade eyes had calmed his breath to a steady, even rhythm. He enjoyed her teasing tone, pushing his usually stern buttons. He grew excited at her secrets, because it meant there was more to learn about her, and he wanted to learn all he could. The good, the bad, the ugly, the wins, the losses, all of it .

He—

Eldrick shut his eyes.

One, two .

He wouldn’t say a word. He wouldn’t dare. He hadn’t meant to hurt her or react so badly, and he hadn’t meant to throw her cursed existence in her face. It didn’t matter what she was or how the curse had changed her. Eldrick’s heart knew she was no monster. It beat against the memory of her at Sven’s farm, fighting fang and claw like a beast. She’d been fighting to save Eldrick, after all.

“She’s a fighter,” his father whispered. “There’s no doubt about that.”

Eldrick followed Aramis’s line of sight. His throat closed. He feared if he agreed, he’d spill the secrets of his heart onto the ground.

His father clasped his shoulder. “Never fear the decisions we make from the heart. Those are usually the ones we’re meant to make.”

Before Eldrick met Tovi, he would’ve disagreed, but as he stared down at her, catching a glimpse of that breathtaking smile as she talked with a shopkeeper, he believed his father’s words to be true. Not solely because of what he’d experienced with Tovi, but what he’d witnessed around him. The Gray Fenris’s bond. Kade and Evelyn. Feelings, strong and deep, brought them together, made them stronger. They’d need it all with whatever came next.

“Thank you,” he said, turning towards the stairs of Lār.

“Eldrick,” his father said.

He stopped, not because of his name, but because of the tone his father used. Soft, endearing. Their eyes, the same green, met.

“I’m proud of you,” his father said. “I don’t tell you it enough. And if it is still something you want, I’d proudly allow you to ascend as alpha of the Drengr pack. We can announce it at the end of council.”

The words Eldrick had wanted to hear for years brought nothing but joy to his entire being. His muscles zapped awake, yet he wished Tovi was hearing the news at his side. His father’s approval, his words, finally made Eldrick realize he needed to speak with her.

“Thank you,” he said, his words thick. “Let’s discuss it this evening.”

His father nodded, a small smile on his lips. “Your mother would be proud, too. I can feel it. ”

Eldrick swallowed, nodded, and headed off in the direction of the vampyr princess. His heart led him to her, the pull tugging him through the street to a leather maker’s shop. Yennifer spied him over a shelf, her brow raising.

“Magu.”

Beside her, Tovi stilled, hands halting over a set of fighting leathers. She blinked at the archer.

Yennifer winked. “I’ll meet you at the Shield-maiden later. Be sure to drag Lou along!”

Tovi’s eyes begged a direct No! but Yennifer scurried off regardless, leaving them alone. Tovi didn't pay him any mind, moving to the next vendor.

“Wait.” He sidestepped her, blocking her path. “Can we talk?”

She opened her mouth and closed it. Her stare said enough. War raged in it, along with anger and hurt.

Stars above , maybe this had been a bad idea.

She made her way into the street. “There isn’t anything to discuss.”

Eldrick grabbed her wrist, halting her retreat. “Tovi, please.”

He’d come here to say only a few words, and he didn’t care how she responded. He simply needed to say them.

Tovi exhaled, her chest rising and falling. Tension, worse than it had ever been, buzzed between them like a thousand voices screaming whatever was unsaid.

“Eldrick—”

“I’m sorry.”

Tovi’s mouth fell open. She studied his face. As quickly as it had softened, her face hardened.

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

That wasn’t enough. He wanted more. Needed more. The thought of losing her drove him mad. He’d give up anything, he realized. Anything in this world. The sense it was too late crept over his inner wolf .

“There’s nothing more between us, Eldrick,” she said. “It’s done.”

Cold, agonizing fear shot through him. “I—”

“We’ll go into the council as allies, yes?”

He stilled. That had been established during their meeting yesterday, along with his father and Claus present.

This had been the very thing she’d come here asking for. An alliance against her brother. What a fool he’d been to deny her, to see her only as a vampyr, his enemy. He’d been wrong. That she was a vampyr wasn’t enough to determine anything. Because facts and logic weren’t enough to make sound decisions. Getting to know her, learning about her, that had been enough and the beat of his heart, his instinct about her was enough, too.

“Yes, but you already know that.”

Tovi gave a curt nod. “I’m a princess, you are an alpha, Eldrick. Nothing can get in the way of us being allies.”

Eldrick’s being deflated. A sharp pain lodged between his ribs, but he accepted her decision. She’d always be more to him than an ally against the darkness. Eldrick recognized his emotions, but he wasn’t sure how to articulate them. He didn’t have the stomach or courage to say it out loud, and it was clear this strong, proud, beautiful woman had given up on him.

“Alright.”

Tovi retreated backward, leaving him stone and frozen to the muddy ground. “Thank you, Alpha Drengr.”

Not Eldrick. Not wolf.

She fell into the throngs of the village, gone, and the reality he’d lost her forever carved itself across Eldrick’s heart.