Page 194 of Season Warriors & Wolves

“To pray this bath has ice cold water.”

Golgotha looked between the two of us. “Slept well?”

“No. You?” I asked and he laughed.

“I don’t sleep, girl.”

“Explains the dark circles,” I said, playing with a fork trying to avoid looking at Malik.

“I thought about what you told me last night,” Golgotha said, cutting through his breakfast. “About Urinthia’s niece and the seedlings she has used to take control of the beasts she has created.”

“And?” Malik asked.

“Presuming you are looking to kill her, that could possibly mean the death of those she has turned.”

“All?” I asked, almost jumping from my seat. “But that’s in the millions.”

“Thora,” Mal said, almost gravely. “He wishes to use that.”

“What? Use what?”

“The chaos that it will ensue, the disruption of the balance of souls leaving for Caligo. Overwhelming the Mid-world and the Otherworld. Each time you kill a beast, two souls will leave,” Golgotha said. “It is tragic, very much so, but tragedy feeds me.” He let out a sigh, abandoning his cutlery. “You can of course refuse. I will still join you regardless as I’d like to see Urinthia on the other side of my bed again. But that would be it.”

Malik stood. “When will you join us?”

“As early as tomorrow. My presence could be discouraging to any courageous witch on the Winter King’s side who might want to play before the war.”

My friend nodded, taking my hand and pulling me toward the exit.

“Snow would have said yes to what he asked,” I said, trying to catch up with his steps.

“She would have not.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Snow will fight more than just Aurora. She is already fighting herself. Adding a fallen god looking to feed his realm life by using the misery of her people is not something she would do. Choice or no choice in the matter.”

He was right. Again.

Once we stood right outside the cave entrance, he turned to me. He pinched my chin and pulled my face up so I could look at him. “Why the awkwardness?”

“No awkwardness.”

His eyes narrowed at me. “Stinks like a lie.”

“Lies really stink to an Empath?”

“Don’t play with me, Thora.” He closed a step near me, our chest meeting each time he took a hard breath. “You know what else an Empath can smell?”

“No? Like literally?”

“No, not literally, but I bet it would smell just as sickly sweet as it looked. Pretend last night or this morning didn’t happen or exist because I will.”

“If I knew we could do this, I would have done worse like I wanted to. Put my hands where I wanted to. I would have not left you aching this morning either.”

“Thora,” he gritted out, drawing his eyes tightly shut. “Fuck.”

“Forgotten,” I said, giving him a smile he would never buy. “All of it.” I nudged his shoulder, trying to lighten the mood. “You are too easy to tease, Malik.”