Page 86 of Season Warriors & Wolves

She looked over at me, coming to some realisation.

“Send word back for your father to return,” I said. “I’ll deal with the spice issue.”

His eyes darted from Snow’s hand to mine, and they went wide a second time. He almost bowed again, flinching from the first pain still. “How, my king?”

“Leave it to me. Spread word to those you trust to not travel out of the old Olympian borders for no reason from now till past winter. It is dangerous.”

The moment he was out of earshot, Snow asked, “It was you, wasn’t it?”

I nodded. “How come this side of Olympia is so distanced from the rest? I was hoping your people had spread the word down here, otherwise I would have done so myself and not let them starve.” Guilt was digging a hole in my stomach.

“Whoever remains here chooses to remain in ignorance about what lays beyond the zgahna—if my father were to torture the truth out of them. Even with the little help we give them, it has to be made in absolute secrecy and sometimes without their knowledge.”

“But why remain here? Why not join the rest of Olympia?”

“All that have decided to remain here are from Myrdur. Survivors who either managed to hide or escape. Most returned a few years after the Night of Draugr. Breitg goh dysin agh tah fana us berzgha. Born to die in the land that birthed you. A swift always returns to die in its nest. All of them refuse to abandon the land again despite the risks. One day, I hope to build the city and return to live here. Cai and I found the old architectural notes and sketches of the city in the Taren library when we were younger. We were going to build it back exactly how it was.” Her eyes drifted over her people. “One day.”

I pinched her chin and turned her face to me. “I’ll build you your city. Exactly how you want it.”

Her eyes gleamed. “You will?”

“You have my word.”

“Kil, you don’t—”

“You have my word,” I repeated. “If you want the stars, I will get you the stars. If you want the moon, I will get you the moon. Every wish that you have, every want you desire, I’ll bring it to your feet. You only have to tell me, nothing else.”

She took my hands, leaving a kiss on top of both. “You have to tell me, too. I’ll give you all you want.”

“You’ve already given me all I want.”

The inn keeper had given us a room on the top floor after we’d debated for a minute or so how safe it would be for us to remain here. The decision came quickly after Snow started petting my thigh and kissing my neck. Watching her try to stifle her moans and failing had made me come harder than before.

She’d gone to sleep. Dreamlessly.

Her body laid naked, sprawled on top of me, softly snoring when I felt her breath seize for a moment and then two. She jolted awake, eyes wide and panting for air.

“Hey,” I cooed, bringing her to me again. “It’s okay.”

She swallowed and shook her head. “It is not. There is something—” She didn’t finish her sentence. “It wasn’t a dream.” Quickly, she got to her feet and rushed toward the window. Her right hand shook, and she blew on it as if it burned while her eyes were narrowed on the distance of the village.

“Love, what is it?” I asked, getting up to her.

Then I felt it.

Like the smell of incense burning.

Magic.

Black magic.

Tasting like death.

I grabbed her hand and lifted it up. A black tattoo sprung from the middle of her right palm, spreading and blooming the shape of a spider lily. “What have you done, Snow?”

“A deal.”

“With who?”