“I’m sorry,” she said, when it became apparent that the large man was losing patience. “There was a storm and we couldn’t find shelter anywhere else.”
“That, I understand. But from what I saw of the trail signs, you rested here, went out and fought some, then came back. And you’re still here. I guess you know how it goes in the old stories, when the intruder’s still sleeping in the bed they stole from its rightful owner.”
She didn’t. Thalia’s childhood education had included history and philosophy, botany and strategy, statecraft and diplomacy. Nobody had ever read to her from storybooks. She had been left to pore over old tomes and interpret them as best she could, sometimes with Lileth’s guidance, more often not. While the old woman had been vigilant, she had never been precisely…warm.
“I’m getting up,” Raff said. “If I could, I’d pay for the supplies we used, but…” The wolf lord shrugged. “Circumstances being what they are, we’ll have to owe you.”
It would’ve been polite if the man had turned his back as Raff fumbled to get dressed; Thalia had to help him while their witness observed their every move with relentless precision. He didn’t stir except to close the door behind him. Once Raff was out of bed, the cabin owner stomped across the floor and glared at the hearth.
“You used almost all of my firewood. I don’t suppose you bothered to collect more?”
She wasn’t used to being in this position—with nothing sensible to say in her own defense. The truth was just so fucking messy and complicated and—
“I’m sorry. You were right when you said we were in a fight. I was tending to my husband, so I didn’t have a chance to replenish the fuel.” Her tone was as humble as it ever had been. Her loyal Noxblades—Gavriel especially—would be horrified.
That finally roused a reaction from their unwilling host. A flicker of something softened his craggy features as he knelt to feed a block of wood to the waning flames. Thalia wasn’t good at gauging Animari faces, but he looked to be around Raff’s age. Quite young to have chosen life as a hermit, she reckoned.
“Husband,” he repeated, sounding thoughtful.
Was that a mistake?
If he was some mad purist, he might attack them for embarking on a mixed marriage. She tensed and from the way Raff’s arm tightened beneath her hand, he was ready for this to encounter to spin from bad to worse. He’s in no shape to fight. Dammit, we only needed one more day to rest. It wasn’t fair, and she knew it, but she wished the owner could’ve delayed his return a little longer.
“That’s me,” Raff said deliberately. He also took half a step forward, putting himself between her and the other Animari.
“Let me guess, you eloped, and her folk didn’t take kindly to it. Things went bad in the woods and he almost died. Now you’re hiding out, wondering if you made a terrible mistake.”
It was a reasonable guess, based on what he’d observed, but Thalia wasn’t sure if the truth would make things better or worse. Before she could reply, Raff said, “I’m not wondering that. If I could do it all over again, I’d still marry this woman.”
Even though you’ve been in constant jeopardy, constant pain, because of me? In front of the other Animari, she couldn’t ask. She wanted to. Desperately.
“Those are the magic words. I can’t resist a star-crossed romance.” The man’s tone was oddly wistful, belying his stern appearance.
“Does that mean we can stay the night?” Thalia asked.
“Dear mercy, I was never going to shove you out in the dark. I just wanted to take your measure some. You aren’t the first trespassers who’ve stumbled in. Won’t be the last either, I expect.”
She let out a long, slow breath, relief making her sound like a deflating balloon. Raff wrapped an arm around her and to their host, it might look like he was being protective, but in truth, he was leaning on her, hard. Yeah, not nearly ready to march on Daruvar.
“Introductions seem to be in order. I’m Thalia. This is Raff.”
The wolf lord managed a credible bow by clinging to her arm as he dipped at the waist. A scowl creased the other Animari’s brow.
“Titus. Don’t ask me any personal questions, don’t bother me with polite nonsense, and we’ll get along fine.”
“Thank you,” Thalia said. “It’s generous of you to let us stay.”
“It’s clear your man can’t move on. If he gets ambushed by your people again, he won’t make it out of these woods alive.”
“True enough,” she said softly.
He wasn’t entirely wrong. If I was the kind of leader who inspired instinctive loyalty, Ruark wouldn’t have gained such a following. The other houses would’ve fallen in behind Thalia, despite the long shadow her father cast.
Sighing, Titus set down his pack. “I’m bone-tired, so I get the bed, and tomorrow, I expect Miss Thalia to wash everything you’ve dirtied in my absence.”
That…covered a lot of ground. She’d cut up the spare blanket, used it for rags and bandages. The floor was smeared with blood and the sheets…well, she’d never in her life washed anything like that, but if she was pretending to be a normal woman, who’d run away with the love of her life, so be it. Raff started to argue; she shook her head silently.
“I’ll take care of it,” she promised.
“Good. Of course, freeloaders can’t be choosy, but here, you two can huddle up in the sleeping bag I used on the road.”
Raff caught the cloth bundle he tossed, and it smelled none too fresh, even to Thalia’s reckoning. To another Animari, the damn thing must reek. Still, it was better than
