Unable to control the elements or shift into birds of prey, Sana Lightbourne is a scab on her noble family's legacy. They cast her out to marry Lord Rhyel, the cold, fearsome ruler of House Darcanos. If the northern tyrant doesn't kill her for being...
Rhyel grumbled to his wolf who was darting through the forest to the keep on the wall.
We're not going to their graves. We have to speak to them in the beyond, and Cori's kin must guide us.
His wolf growled, running through the gates, passing the bowing guards and up the steps to the lookout. Rhyel gasped and wheezed as his wolf shifted without warning, leaving him sprawled out on the stone slabs, shaking from the sudden transformation.
Was that necessary?
He seethed at his smug wolf.
"My Lord, are you alright?" Cori said, popping up from her perch beside the wall. "What are you doing here?"
"My wolf and Sune sent me here to see you," he said, dragging himself from the ground. "I'm on a quest."
"A quest?" Cori frowned. "And who's Sune?"
"Lady Sana's Tsidian moth."
Cori's green eyes grew wide as she dragged a hand through her short blonde locks. "Dear me," she breathed. "I never thought this would happen again."
"What do you mean, again?"
Cori smiled, sliding her hand to his shoulder. "Come with me, my Lord. We have a long trek to my family's compound. I'll explain it on the way," she said, turning to the guards standing watch along the wall. "Samir, you're in charge until I return."
"Yes, captain," the guard said, bowing his head. "Safe travels, my Lord."
"Thank you," he said, following Cori inside the keep. "I know you said you'll explain on the way, but can you tell me why Sune seems to think my wolf and I are incapable of accepting Sana? She's only been here a day and I've done nothing but be kind to her."
Cori shook her head as she handed him a bag of supplies. "It's not about being kind," she said, sliding a satchel over her shoulder. "Tsidian moths require complete loyalty from their chosen's partner. You agreed to Lady Sana being your wife, right?"
"I did, and I have no intention of backing out of it. I will be loyal to her."
"Mm." Cori nodded. "But you also yearn for your true mate too."
"I don't see how that's a problem." Rhyel frowned. "Everyone knows the blessing of a true mate died with my father. My soul will never have a match."
Cori raised an eyebrow. "Then why do you continue to hope for it?"
"I..." Rhyel sighed, sliding a hand over his heart. "I don't know."
"Come on," Cori said, sliding her hand to his arm. "You need to speak to your parents, and my Bapi will guide you."
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It was evening by the time Rhyel and Cori made it to her family's compound beyond the wall, deep in the mountains of the blackwood forest. Cori was still being vague about this quest he was meant to go on. She'd only told him that it was a common trek for partners of the Tsidian's chosen and that his father went on the same quest when a moth chose his mother.
