Page 103 of Wolf's Bane

Her friend pointed to the sun dipping near the horizon. “And what kind of time do you call this? You’re late.”

Luis crushed his sister into an embrace. Even from her distance, Charlotte smelled the distinct aroma of sweat, horse, and leather.

“Gah, you smell disgusting,” Solenne muttered, her face pressed into his chest.

“I missed you, too,” Luis said. “Are you shorter?” He pushed her away, hands on her shoulders. “You’re shrinking. Must be all the magic. I do not approve.”

“It’s not magic,” she said, knocking his hands away, “and you’re a giant now. Everyone is shrinking from your vantage.”

“Mystical werewolf bond magic.” Luis wiggled his fingers.

Solenne laughed, sounding so pleased to have her brother back.

Luis and Miles made the rounds, embracing and slapping everyone they saw, including Travers who stood motionless, enduring the hug.

“Well?” Solenne asked. “Did you find Blackthorn?”

Luis gave a dramatic yawn. “We’ve been traveling for days—”

“Only because you were so excited to be near home that you refused to rest,” Miles interrupted.

“Days without pausing to eat or sleep,” Luis continued, as if he could not hear Miles. “I’d like a bath and a meal. Then we can talk.”

Miles rolled his eyes. “Draven has the sword. Apparently, he’s been waiting for someone to come and fetch it.”

“So you have it?” Alek asked.

Luis shook his head. “He wants a trade that I was not qualified to make.”

“What does the vampire demand?”

“A bride,” Luis answered.

The crowd fell silent. The Marechals looked at each other, like they had lost the battle before they had fired a single shot.

“I suppose that’s that,” Godwin mumbled.

“Yes. I said I’d send word, but how could we ask—” Luis trailed off.

“An interesting fellow, but an unreasonable demand,” Miles added.

That family. Charlotte loved them, but they lacked imagination and had a disturbing forgetfulness when it came to history. They squabbled among themselves, demanding to know the terms of the negotiation or if Luis just accepted the terms without protest. Luis refused to discuss until he had a bath. The more details Godwin and Solenne demanded to know, the longer Luis’ list of demands grew.

Alek and Miles watched the exchange, amused and exhausted.

“I’ll go,” Charlotte said.

No one heard her.

“I will go,” she repeated, raising her voice to an unladylike decibel.

The family turned as if one entity, as if they just noticed her presence.

“No,” Solenne said. “Out of the question. You’re not giving yourself to a blood drinker. They’re dangerous—

“Don’t be ridiculous. Send me. This is what I do, isn’t it?” Charlotte retorted. “I marry monsters.”