Page 183 of A Kingdom of Wild and Power
Yet the longer she watched the witches moving through the clearing—their numbers and the way they surrounded the camp like a living wall—the more she began to realise that the dream of escape might remain nothing more than that.
A dream.
Especially without help.
‘Thank you, Arden Briar,’ she said at last, turning back towards him.
‘For what, little wolf?’
Ylva attempted a small shrug, though the gesture was rather difficult with her arms bound tight against the roughbark of the tree.
‘For being in my life,’ she said simply.
And in that quiet moment, as she saw the way his deep green eyes caught the faint firelight and shone with something she could not quite name, a thought took root within her.
She would find a way to save him.
If only so she might see that brightness again, the same light that had carried her through even the darkest hours.
…
Hagan had shut himself away within his tent.
Part of him longed to storm back outside and drag the damned valkyrian before him—the one who had left his thoughts churning with restless desire and irritation alike. He wanted to seize her shoulders and shake her until something,anything, began to make sense. Instead, he forced himself to turn away from the temptation. At the desk he had conjured from a fallen tree, he buried his attention in the scrolls spread before him, determined to lose himself in ink and parchment rather than in thoughts of her.
He barely acknowledged the witch who entered to ask whether he wished for dinner.
When she returned a moment later, however, it took every thread of his control not to unleash his blood magic upon her.
Hagan spun around in his seat, ready to snap at her and froze.
Eris stood at the entrance of the tent, a smug curve to her lips as she clearly enjoyed the surprise she had inflicted upon him.
‘My, my,’ Eris drawled as she wandered inside, her steps unhurried. She crossed the space and seated herself on the edgeof his bed as though she owned the place. ‘Imagine my surprise when I discovered you had left the keep and were marching towards Velunthar without me.’
Hagan said nothing. He merely turned back to his scrolls.
‘I fail to see why you are surprised,’ he said. ‘The plan was always for me to attack the Fae.’
‘True. Very true.’
He felt her rise and move closer. A moment later her hand settled upon his shoulder, her grip tightening slightly.
‘But we both know that isn’t entirely the truth, don’t we?’ she said. ‘I’m a goddess, Hagan. I know when someone lies.’
When he finally glanced up, he noticed her eyes had drifted to the scrolls upon his desk. She quickly looked away, feigning disinterest, but the moment had already passed.
He knew she had seen them.
‘I’m worried, Hagan,’ she continued smoothly. ‘Mortals have a terrible habit of feeling. And those little emotions of yours can interfere with the grand work we are trying to build here.’ Her fingers pressed a little more firmly into his shoulder. ‘I need to be certain you’re not about to start ruining everything.’
Hagan rose so suddenly that Eris scarcely had time to react. In a single motion he seized her by the throat and slammed her down against the desk. The scrolls scattered beneath the force.
Yet instead of fear, a low chuckle escaped her.
She looked positively delighted by the display.
‘Are you questioning me?’ Hagan asked, his voice low, edged with something dark and dangerous.
