There was no chance for a private conversation. Anything Raff whispered to her, Titus would hear perfectly. The wolf lord conveyed that with a single sideways look and she inclined her head as she laid out their makeshift mattress. At least the slick fabric should be warm, even if it smelled like smoke and…Titus. Raff made a sound deep in his throat when she laid down. Some territorial Animari thing, probably.
Then he appeared to get over it and settled behind her, again putting his body between her and Titus. This sort of thing didn’t really happen among the Eldritch. She had no words for how it made her feel, sort of warm and melting and puzzled. Despite how she looked, people rarely treated her as if she was truly…precious. The loyalty she received from her followers felt different than what she got from Raff. Silently he zipped the sleep sack and spooned up behind her, a physical wall between her and any harm that might creep up in the night.
He’d also made sure that she would sleep next to the fire, and Thalia had no fucking idea what she’d do if he crept any closer. To someone who had lived such a chill and lonely life, the sudden warmth blazed too hot and strong, a fire that might burn her to death, if she wasn’t careful.
It’s so hard to be careful.
For the next two days, Raff watched while Thalia played housemaid. She swept and scrubbed the floor, washed the linens by hand, and tried to cook a soup that he saved from burning while she was dusting the furniture. She wasn’t good at any of it, and the effort exhausted her, but she wouldn’t let him help. Every time he tried, she scowled and ordered him to sit down, like he was a delicate porcelain figurine. She really didn’t seem to understand how fast the Animari healed or how tired he was of lazing around.
Today, he followed her out to the clearing where she’d hung the rug and was using a stick to beat the dust out of it. He plucked the wood from her fingers and took over the task. The fact that she finally let him spoke volumes about how tired she was. Marriage to him hadn’t done her any favors; she was rail thin and her delicate hands were chapped and blistered, red across the knuckles from all the unaccustomed scrubbing.
Raff glanced at the bracers that she’d left out in the wan sunlight, hoping to catch a partial charge. The solar panels weren’t powerful, so it would be better if she could plug in. She should be fighting for her people, not coddling him.
He took his aggravation out on the carpet, until Thalia said, “You’ll beat that thing to death. The tiger won’t thank you for ruining his rug.”
With a snarled curse, he tossed the stick aside and drew her against him. She flattened her hands against his chest, but she didn’t push, eyes wide. “What’s wrong?”
“Everything. I’m tired of being strategic. I want to go kill everyone who opposes you.” He had the urge to kiss her, smooth her fair hair, and rub cream on her damaged hands. This woman would probably stick a knife in him and twist if he tried any of that. She didn’t want his protection, and he didn’t have much else to offer.
What more can the big bad wolf do?
Thalia laughed softly. “That’s sweet, but you’re not up to it.”
Raff tried to show her how well his leg had healed. “Look, it’s better. I can put full weight on it, and the scar on my side is nearly gone.”
She shooed him toward the cabin. “Nice try, but I remember clearly how hard I worked to take care of you. I won’t risk your recovery. If you’re bored, see if there’s tea. I’ll want a hot drink when I finish out here.”
He stomped inside, scowling, and rummaged in the cupboard. She wants tea. Never in his life had he been relegated to a role like maker-of-tea. Korin would laugh her ass off, if she could see him now.
Titus snickered, appearing to find it all extremely amusing. “Are you ever going to tell her that you’re fine, wolf?”
Briefly, he considered punching their host. Better not.
“Does it look like she’d listen?” he snapped, putting the kettle on.
The great cat laughed and shook his head. “Maybe not. Her willingness to ruin those pretty hands speaks to how much she treasures you, though.”
Raff sighed. If that were true, maybe he wouldn’t mind so much, but it felt more like he was accruing a debt to her that he had no way to pay. “We’ll be moving on this afternoon. I’m sorry to have troubled you this long.”
“Is that so? Do you have a plan, at least?”
The tenor of the question raised his hackles; something about the other Animari’s expression made Raff think he knew more than he’d let on, possibly since the beginning. “What are you getting at?”
“You can’t be planning to stroll back to Daruvar. If your enemies have taken the fortress, returning without a sound strategy would be suicide.”
Raff stared. “You know who we are?”
“Please. Everyone knows that the packmaster of Pine Ridge recently married the Eldritch princess, against counsel from advisors on both sides. Does it make sense that there would be some other mixed couple wandering the wood near the Eldritch stronghold?”
“Why did you mislead us with that silly story about star-crossed lovers?” Thalia stood in the doorway, wearing an expression of coldest fury.
“How else could I make you work for your keep?” Titus smirked, seeming pleased with himself.
“Hilarious,” Thalia bit out.
“It would be wrong of me to let you wander off without telling what else I’ve heard.” The levity evaporated from the great cat’s aspect.
Raff wasn’t sure if they could trust their benefactor, especially
