Page 82 of Spar of Hearts

His touch reached through the bars surrounding her heart, muscling them away until only the wash of waves and breath remained. When she finally opened her eyes, his followed. Their foreheads were pressed together, hands held tight between them as they breathed each other in.

“I won’t let anyone cage you. Ever,” he whispered. “You are wild and strong and glow like the moon when you speak of the stars. Those kinds of things can’t be restrained, nor should they.”

In that moment, Anya swore the moon finally did more than stare—it smiled.

So she did too.

“Thank you,” she whispered, pressing a chaste kiss to his cheek.

Roderick stammered wordlessly, eyes wide. Anya laughed and pulled him to his feet. He was, in many ways, a storybook knight—struck into silence by a kiss from his princess. But he’d done so much more than win a duel for her favor.

Anya stumbled back a step as she stood, then looked down to regain her footing. Their bare feet pressed into the sandy shore. The environment was far from the glamour of Melusine Manor—but her heart pounded all the same. She wiggled her toes, relishing the tickle of sand between each one until they were nearly buried. Roderick did the same, but each roll of his toes brought them closer and closer to hers. A laugh rocked her chest as he poked her foot with his big toe.

Roderick chuckled, pulling her by the waist until she was flush against him.

The wolf in her chest started to whisper. Him. It’s him. Your ma—

The distinct, trembling call of a loon caught in her ears.

Trem-o-lo~

Anya whirled her head toward the glacial wall, pupils blown wide.

Trem-o-lo~

The warning tremolos became faster and faster—like birds being hunted. Be it man or beast, this was the first solid proof of life beyond the towering ice. Her fingers tingled with excitement.

“Do you hear that?” She shook Roderick by the shoulders.

“No, what?” He chuckled nervously.

Trem-o-lo~coo-hoo!

“That! That!” Anya grasped his hand and pulled him as she rushed down the moonlit beach at full bore. There were loons! Birds! Birds meant trees, trees meant nests, nests meant babies, and that was proof of a thriving spring ecosystem. Her senses peaked. She could see the smallest trails where animals had clearly trodden to get to the sea.

“Goodness—Anya, slow down,” Roderick panted. Anya skidded to a stop and stared at the tracks. No. Not just tracks—paws! Paws! Paws! They were paws!

She yanked Roderick along the line of tracks toward the glacial wall, ignoring his pleas for her to slow down. She couldn’t. How could she? Her instincts were right! Finally, finally right!

The adrenaline rush diffused into a steady hum in her veins as she slowed to a stop before the yawning maw of a cave.

Roderick cupped his hands over his mouth and whistled, then listened for a beat. Five seconds passed before the echo of the tune came back.

“This has to be nearly a quarter mile deep,” he commented.

She had to admit, that was impressive. Anya’s brows shot up. “Did you just multiply the speed of light and time and divide to calculate the distance in your head?”

Roderick scrubbed the back of his neck. “No, it just sounds like it. But I suppose it’s second nature from my campaign days.”

“Either way, color me impressed.”

“Well, your cheeks are a little flush,” Roderick teased. “So, Princess, why did you drag me over here? Are you displeased with your accommodations?”

“No,” Anya huffed with a smile. “Come on!” She went to tug his hand again, but he stayed anchored to the spot.

“Woah there. Explain. Words, Anya. I need words.”

Words were in short supply compared to the excitement coursing through her, but she tried. “Aquillas. I know there’s life! Until now, I was at the mercy of words. But I heard a loon!”