Page 203 of Season Warriors & Wolves

“Golgotha is taking a little rest by the hearth because the daylight was stressing him, and my soldiers don’t need to learn how to kill. I’ve only ever taught them how not to. Since we are going to war, killing is what we want, isn’t it, honey buns?”

“Do you need help?” Thora asked, folding back her sleeves and following him.

I grabbed her shirt, pulling her back to my side. “He’s got it. Don’t—”

Leave me.

Shit. I was losing my shit.

This was not good.

Not good at all.

“Actually, go help,” I said, backing away, but she grabbed me this time, her fingers tugging tightly on my jacket.

“I don’t want to leave you.”

Hells.

Sweet hells.

Cai broke us apart, pushing through between us. “Helping or not helping?”

“Not helping,” I said at the same time she said, “Helping.”

Her brows fell. “Malik, please.”

Drowsiness began fogging my vision and I swayed at my feet. “Later, bird.”

I’d faded right where my mind had pounded me for weeks to go, finally falling to the temptation of wanting to feel numb again.

It seemed someone else had the same idea as I.

Snow leaned against the tavern door, arms crossed, a blank look on her face. “Have a walk with me.” She pointed her chin down the street. “Lead the way or I’ll get the both of us lost.”

“Thought my brother and you were keeping each other busy. That was quick.”

She took my side while we made our way towards the Amaris balcony, the cliffs overlooking the Moor Sea stretching wide and blending one with the sky. “He is waiting by the brothel,” she said. “I decided to wait here. I guess I made the right bet.”

“How did you know where I would be?”

“I had Nia follow you before Silas took us. I know all the places you would go when you feel the way you do.”

“You’re wearing the necklace I gave you.”

She lifted her left hand to it. “Matches my ring nicely.”

“What are you doing, Snow?”

“I don’t know. I’m not Kilian. Words are usually not the best way for me to express my thoughts. I'm more of an ‘action’ kind of girl. Burying, burning, drowning, those sorts of things. And Kilian advised me against it. Said you’d be very much willing. Which concerns me even more, would you not think.”

“Snow—”

She jumped upright, pointing at a bunch of children vandalising the street with colourful chalk. “Oy, kids, can I have—”

They all turned to Snow, taking her presence head to toe before they screamed on top of their heads and ran off.

“That is one way to do it,” Snow mumbled to herself, kneeling to pick up some chalks, handing a few to me. “I’ve always wanted to do this.”