Page 78 of The Wolf and Her Shadows

“Ha! You got that right.” She jerks a thumb towards our horses behind her. “Oh, I hope you don’t mind, but I prettied up you guy’s horses a little. They looked like they could use a spa day.”

I shake my head, watching Vannaria out of the corner of my eye as she begins fidgeting nervously. “No, I don’t mind at all. They’ve earned it. Um, I’m sorry but…” Letting out a sigh, I nod towards the elf. “Would you please give us a moment?”

Kora glances back and forth between us a few times, then begins backing away, hands in the air. “Yup, sure thing, Mari. Vann. I’mma just…” She turns, speed walking down in the direction I’d just come from.

Vannaria watches her for a moment before her violet eyes lock onto mine. “Are you going to tell me what’s wrong now?”

All of my anger evaporates at the softness in her tone. I open my mouth to respond, but the only thing that comes out is a sob. The next thing I know, her arms are wrapped tightly around me and I’m crying into her chest, making an absolute fool out of myself no doubt. I dig my fingers into her back, grateful that she’s not wearing armor so I can feel body against mine.

Once my tears stop and I’m fairly confident I can speak without them starting up again, I whisper, “You disappeared. Nobody knew where you were. You…” I clear my throat, blinking back the new tears threatening to fall. “You said you’d be right back. I thought… I thought maybe you’d decided to leave.”

“Leave?” Her grip on me tightens. “What do you mean by leave?”

“You know good and well what I mean,” I huff, my frustration returning at her feigned ignorance.

“Ah. Well, I hadn’t at first, but now I think I do.” Pulling away slightly, Vannaria lifts a hand to my cheek, brushing away a traitorous tear. “Were you afraid I’d left you? As in, leave you here in the village while I went off on my own again.”

I nod, suddenly feeling even more foolish. “Nobody saw where you’d gone and… Well, I suppose I may have panicked a bit. I thought maybe you had changed your mind.”

“Changed my mind about what?” she asks, forcing me to hold her gaze. “About you? Us?”

“Perhaps,” I mutter, lifting one shoulder in a small shrug. “And about being willing to wait around for me to be ready to leave again.”

She shakes her head, lips curling into a warm smile. “Mariane, I love you. I’ll wait however long it takes. And if you decide you’d rather take the risk and simply stay here…” Her eyes narrow slightly as she brushes away another tear with her thumb. “Then, and only then, will I leave this village without you.”

“And would…” I suck in a shaky breath, doing my best to stop my tears. “Would you ever come back?”

Her smile widens. “Of course I would. I’d only be gone long enough to cut the heads from a few snakes. I promise. And I’d even bring those heads back as souvenirs, if you’d like.”

A snort of laughter explodes from my nose so violently I end up getting snot all over Vannaria’s arm and the front of her shirt. My face twists into a grimace as I attempt to wipe it away, which of course only makes it worse.

“Sorry, Love,” I mumble, offering her an apologetic smile. “While I appreciate the offer, I’d still much rather cut those heads off myself. I just…”

“Just needed a bit of reassurance?” she asks, completing my unfinished thought.

A wave of guilt washes over me as I slowly nod. “I’m sorry. Here we are having only met recently and I’m clinging to you as if I’m…” Again, I trail off, feeling quite pathetic at the moment.

“As if you’ve been alone for the last seven years?” Vannaria leans in, so close her lips brush against mine as she lowers her voice to a whisper. “As if you love me?”

I’m about to kiss her, but her head suddenly snaps towards the far end of the stables and she snarls, “Show yourself or find a blade in your–.”

“Whoa, whoa whoa,” Stephan calls out, stepping into view with his hands in the air. “Sorry, was just trying to give you two time to finish your conversation.”

Rolling my eyes, I groan in frustration at being interrupted. “What do you need, Stephan?”

“Um… Well, ya see.” He grins sheepishly, running his fingers through his shaggy red hair. “Old Greyva sent me to fetch you. Again. Apparently she’s about to–”

“Ah shit!” I exclaim before focusing back on the woman in my arms. “I completely forgot the other reason I’d been looking for you. Can you shadow us back to her home? Like you did last night?”

She glances between Stephan and I, brows furrowed. “I can, but can I ask why?”

“I never did tell you that story I owe you.” I lean in and give her a quick kiss, knowing I’ll soon have to be on my best behavior. “But now we’re here and you can hear it directly from the village’s official storyteller instead.”

“Old Greyva?”

“Old Greyva.”

At my confirmation, all of the nearby shadows begin crawling towards Vannaria, gathering around our ankles before quickly surging up and surrounding us entirely. I squeeze my eyes shut, bracing for the impending freefall sensation that comes with her teleportation magic.