Chapter 24

F armers pulling their horse-drawn wagons rushed past us, hurrying to their fields. The nutty scent of crackling hearths and roasting meats hung low in the air as we carefully weaved through endless stretches of farmsteads and outdoor markets abundant with Autumn squash and cold weather harvests. Children, grimy with soil, pushed through us, giggling with joy. The rolling hills in the distance blazed with scarlet, terracotta, and gold.

"Let's find an inn to stay the night. We'll travel to Procyon's temple in the morning," Aryx said. There was a sharpness in his voice as he led Kratos down the trail.

Procyon was known as the jolly, immortal king. His mortal court was highly revered across the realms. The city flourished under his reign as the pillar of agriculture. Although loyal to Ursae, whispers of rumors spread that he yearned for new Northern leadership. Adria cut off major trade routes between the two cities, and I imagined it took an enormous chunk of wealth from this quaint farming city.

We traveled through narrow dirt roads, looping across red covered bridges and towering silos.

The quartz light of dusk soon settled across the land as we approached an A-frame tavern with painted black shutters and frosted glass windows. Smoke lingered from its chimney and the faint murmur of laughter and soft conversation could be heard from within.

Kratos and Arcturas happily settled into the inn's wooden post enclosure, guzzling down the fresh troughs of spring water and playfully chasing each other around the tapered pasture.

Candlelight illuminated the inn's interior, throwing amber warmth across pink-faced men and women, sipping ale and spooning pot pie from their plates.

"We'd like two rooms, please," Aryx said to the innkeeper.

The small man, standing maybe four feet tall, threw back his neck to see the half-god's golden face.

Through a thick grey beard that hung to his knees, he said, "Sorry sir, only got one available. We can bring up a cot, though, if you need."

"Whatever's available is fine, thanks." Grumbling, I met Aryx's sheepish smirk.

The innkeeper motioned to the iron staircase behind him and passed Aryx the key.

"The loft is on the top floor, taverns to your left. I think Cook's serving mutton pies tonight. Make yourself at home."

I followed Aryx up the steps, passed the second floor with rows of occupied rooms, and to the third floor loft. Candles, dripping wax down the stained paneled wall, lined the slender doorframe. Ducking through the door, he tossed his pack on a yellow corduroy rocking chair that swayed in the corner and sat at the end of the bed to pull off his boots.

"I'll take the cot," he said, rubbing his aching feet.

"Fine." I swallowed, the room feeling too small, too intimate to share with the man in front of me.

"I'm going to go eat dinner, if you'd like to join me. We should be safe here. I doubt any of the patrons downstairs will recognize you- it seems they've drunk enough to not even recognize themselves," he said.

I began untying my own boots, glancing out the window to watch Arcturas leap over a patch of yellow mums, surprising Kratos, who was grazing peacefully.

"I'll join you. Tomorrow is going to be a big day. We should probably rest while we can," I said.

The two of us descended the creaking stairs and took a seat in the inn's tavern. A jolly, older woman greeted us with two ceramic ramekins filled precariously with steaming pot pie. A flakey biscuit sunk into its thick broth. My mouth watered as the savory steam wrapped around my face, warming my cheeks.

"I'll be back with some ale," she said, her voice creaking from wrinkled lips.

The woman's very essence reminded me so much of the barkeep I'd left behind. Had the city guards come sniffing yet? I suddenly wasn't hungry for dinner anymore.

"I'm sure she's okay," Aryx said through spoonfuls. "You should eat. It's been a long day."

"You don't know that. They could've taken her prisoner or had her executed for all we know." I poked at the dish in front of me, spooning broth over the biscuit.

"They have no evidence to take her in. Besides, the old barkeep's tough. You know that. She's probably kicking some drunk patron to the curb as we speak." He smiled slightly at me, and for the first time, the familiar gold in his eyes warmed.

Aryx was right. Frya was tough. She'd taught me how to survive. How to protect those you care for.

"I just hope she's okay," I said and dug in. Suddenly, I craved my old life in the tavern's back rooms. I missed the way her knees cracked as she hobbled into the room, or the way she jabbed a bony finger at Arcturas when she was up to no good.

"I know. You probably won't believe me, but I do, too. She had an unmeasurable kindness I'd never experienced before," Aryx said. Focusing on me, he set his spoon down.

"Yes, she did. Which made it easy to use her to your advantage, right?" I snapped.

Cook returned with two pints. Thanking her, I drained mine and asked for another. If I was to get through a night in that cramped space with Aryx, I'd need some help. After three rounds of drinks and two servings of pie, I was thoroughly satisfied. Once the hazy cloud of exhaustion set in and I could chase away the thoughts of my old barkeep, I retired back up to the loft.

Glancing out the window to check on my wolf, I didn't notice the soft click of the door behind me. Arcturas and Kratos slept peacefully under the western stars. Their limbs were tucked together, and snouts nuzzled against each other.

"Elpis. I'm sorry." Aryx stepped to the window beside me. "You were right. I used your pain. It was wrong of me. I wish I could take it all back."

"Well, you can't. What's done has been done." I brushed past him, his scent tickling my nose as I trudged for the door.

Aryx blurred past me, blocking my exit. He grasped my hand in his, tracing his thumb across my knuckle.

"Step aside," I hissed, staring at our interlaced fingers.

Electricity buzzed between us. The air thickened between us. Aryx's eyes were vivid in the warm flicker of candlelight.

"No, not until we work this out." He lowered his voice, the knob of his throat bumped up and down as he swallowed. My mouth went dry, watching his lips close, then part again. I hated that even now, after everything between us, I still craved those lips against mine.

The warmth of his touch raised goosebumps across my forearms as he traced the curve of my neck up to my jaw, lacing his calloused fingers through my hair.

"The things I said, what we shared, parts of it were real. I know, deep down, you know that," he whispered. I closed my eyes, desperately wishing for the man standing before me to be Rune again. His eyes were vivid in the warm flicker of candlelight.

"I'll never lie to you again." He smoothed a loose strand behind my ear.

The veins in his hands throbbed as he brushed his fingertips across my lips. My skin felt as if it would burst into flames, and I leaned into his touch. I wanted his words to be true, for it to be simple between us. Just him. Just me. I yearned for that connection between us, the physical closeness we once shared.

"From now on, it's just me, the real me. I promise." His voice was soft as he lowered his lips to my neck, trailing kisses up my jaw, across my cheek, stopping just next to my lips. Every muscle in my body ignited against him as his hands wrapped themselves around my waist, pulling me closer. Heat pooled low within me, and I clung to every movement of his lips against mine.

"I promise, Elpis, I promise." Aryx's kisses grew frantic as he slipped his hands beneath my shirt, tracing the scars of my past across my back. His cotton tunic was so thin between us, I could feel each arc and swell of his muscular chest pressed into me. A hunger unlike anything before erupted throughout my body and I swayed into him, groaning softly against his powerful legs between mine.

Every piece of my being wanted to lose myself in him, to pour out the darkest parts and lay it all out for him to see, but betrayal was still heavy in the air and it couldn't be ignored. My blood turned to ice as I thought of his broad stance next to his mother, smirking cruelly as the thorns cut into my flesh.

Aryx flinched as I brought the point of my dagger to his throat.

"Step aside." I cleared my throat, regaining composure. "This will never happen again. We will be allies, we will work together towards our common goal and nothing more. I hate you, Aryx."

His jaw dropped, and a painful fury welled in my chest.

"Step aside or I'll slit your throat." I gripped the hilt of my dagger tighter.

Silently, he stepped away from the door. Before he could turn back toward me, I rushed through, slamming it behind me.

Flying down the stairs and out the front door, I hurdled to the pasture, threw myself across Kratos's back and urged him to go.

He broke into a fast gallop, Arcturas sprinting behind us.

Tears blurred my vision as we traveled down quiet dirt roads. When we reached a shallow lake, Kratos whirled to a stop, the muscles beneath his powerful legs flexing against the earth. I dismounted and kneeled beside the shoreline, looking upon the stars reflected in the lake's stillness.

Finally alone, I let myself out.

Sobs disrupted the stillness in the air as all the progress I had made collapsed around me.

I was close, so sure of finding myself.

I'd seen glimpses of the woman I once was.

I'd felt her course through my veins.

Now, only emptiness remained. Emptiness and a hurt so deep, it dug its claws into my very core.

I'd let a man get under my skin, let him see the shadows that lurked there, and he deceived me. None of it was real. How could I have been so stupid? Now here I was, alone. I'd left behind my only true ally. I wished Frya could see me, to hold me in those ancient arms. She'd pat me on the back and brush my hair through her hands, and when all the tears dried up and nothing was left, she'd pull me up from the ground. And she'd probably've told me I was a stupid girl. I chuckled under my breath. Gods, I missed her. Strength was feeling grief. Not becoming consumed by it.

The harvest moon cast golden light across the lakeside. I whispered a quiet prayer to the goddess above. My mother, the omniscient force of night.

Arcturas padded over, nuzzling me gently with her snout. Her yellow eyes gleamed as she pointed her nose towards the moon and let out a long, winding howl.

A battle cry.

"Elpis, watch out!" A male voice struck out from behind me as I whirled around to meet it. Towering above me, a beast with glowing, silver eyes outstretched its claws and was ready to strike .