64. Chapter Sixty-Four

Chapter Sixty-Four

Tovi

D usk in the Vadon Mountains had turned into Tovi’s favorite hour.

The sun dropped between the wedge of two mountains, orange and white stretching across the army of pines, redwoods, and evergreens. Songbirds fleeted across a sky that bled indigo on one end, daylight blue the other. When Tovi inhaled, the air was crisp and fresh, not the nibbling bites of a cold curse.

After Claus’s death, the council had shifted their attention to Nadia. She’d not only returned home to protect her son and save her mate, but she’d returned for good. Happiness chimed through Tovi like the bluebird's song. Relieved for her friend, a decade chapter of her past seemed to snap shut, so Tovi soaked in the dusk, relishing in the promise of tomorrow’s dawn, a new start for the Drengr pack.

Steps approached behind her, and Tovi didn’t need to turn to catch Eldrick making his way across the training grounds. It was the emptiest part of Lār, and seeing as the female Drengr Alpha had returned, the village was brimming with celebration. Tovi craved peace and stillness, both of which came in the presence of Eldrick .

Lemon and basil overtook the dirt and sap, and the rivets of dark green in his eyes brightened under the sun’s perusal. He joined her atop the picnic table she sat on. The higher ground gave a better view of the forest and mountains. Despite the beauty of the hour, she found herself lost to another beauty, a beastly kind that sang to her soul.

When Eldrick finally looked at Tovi, a breath rushed out of her.

“I trust your mother is settling in nicely,” she said, averting her gaze.

“Yes. Well, she and my father disappeared, and I’d rather not think about what that entails.”

Tovi smiled. “I imagine we might not see them for days.”

Eldrick grimaced. “Again, I’d rather not think about it.”

Tovi laughed so hard, her cheeks ached like a bruise, but she stilled her excitement for her friend for a moment and assessed Eldrick.

“How are you doing?” she asked. She’d not witnessed hesitation when he’d killed Claus, but the loss of family, no matter the complicated circumstances, left a mark.

He blinked and stared at the ground. “I’m grieving a man who never existed while also relieved we have at least one more problem behind us.”

She nodded, understanding. He’d killed the Lone Wolf, an ally of her brother. She wasn’t sure how much that weakened Riven’s plans with some witch in Nūa and the Blood Goddess, but it ended the capture of innocent werewolves. His people were better for it. Conflict still sat on the horizon. The Blood Moon may have passed by, but Tovi didn’t forget the words of the prophecy. A new dawn will rise. The land felt different, she felt different. Though she didn’t dare consider that one line. She sighed.

“Eldrick—”

“Tovi—”

The both stopped, uneasy laughs bubbling from them.

He grabbed her hand, tracing his fingers across the lines of her palm. “I never once believed him. The moment he dared to say your name, I knew it was a lie. I only pretended because I needed to get close to you.”

She nodded—it hadn’t made sense at the time, but after he’d killed those werewolves and their warm blood had stained her dress, she knew his wrath hadn’t been aimed at her. Because she, too, had been overcome with the same feeling a week ago outside Sven’s estate with the need to protect him. But Tovi didn’t dare speak of that as the sun sank deeper past the mountains.

“I also meant what I said,” he whispered.

The woman I love.

His words in the hall had driven her to get fresh air. She’d needed space and time to think. So much lay ahead of them, and his heartfelt revelation was like gravity, pulling and receding tides over her heart. Her soul sang to return the sentiment, but for some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to say them back.

She swallowed, glass lodged in her throat. “I know.”

“Even if you never say it back, I don’t care. Even if I’ve lost you—”

“You haven’t lost me, Eldrick,” she said.

No. She was lost to him. Tovi floated, suspended and off kilter as she tried to regain her sense of poise, but it was too late. Since the moment they’d met at the Shield-maiden, her future had been written.

The wolf and dove.

The prophecy whispered—nothing and something at the same time—into her ear. She ignored it, meeting Eldrick’s stare.

“Stay,” he breathed.

“What?” she asked.

“Stay in my village.”

“Eldrick, I need to secure more allies—”

“Exactly. Stay with me. I think you and I can bring the werewolves and vampyrs together.”

You and I .

More words that unraveled Tovi’s insides. Again, she didn’t have it in her to say the right words or the words she wanted to say. Sweet and tangy, that sat on her tongue. She let them dissolve, not meeting Eldrick’s expectant stare. He’d given her an option, an out if she wished it.

But he’d also given her an opportunity, one her body, soul, and mind wanted to seize.

“Alright,” she said. “I’ll stay.”

Tovi moved closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder. Eldrick relaxed at her nearness. They sat together, anchor for the other as they watched the peace of the evening settle across the Vadon Mountains, promise thrumming between them.