Chapter Four

Iris

 

Never, in my wildest dreams, could I have dreamed up this.

Walking along in the autumn woods, with fat golden leaves swirling down and the Farthing Mountains rearing up to the North against a dark blue sky. A giant ice bear by my side.

I feel safe, I thought and hugged myself, enjoying the soft slide of fuzzy fabric against my skin. Kal was right—this is very warm. And it smells so good.

I was so used to having to be constantly on edge—always listening, always keeping an eye out, and always falling short no matter how hard I tried. Since the Rift, I’d bounced from place to place, trying to lend a hand and not get in the way.

For the first time, though, I was full of purpose and relaxed. Yeah, maybe Orion’s book extraction hadn’t been the smoothest of transactions, but it was nice to know my risks had paid off.

There was something that drew me to that book and nudged at my gifts.

I glanced left and bit my lip, trying not to smile.

Now I was on my way to Winfyre, a place I’d wanted to visit for years.

It was also where the Coven was. If anyone could translate that book, it would be those Riftborn. They’d been established early on and had made great strides in understanding our gifts. Originally a well-guarded secret in Winfyre, they were now known among the territories, as many Coven Riftborn had left to train others. Perhaps we could find those answers together.

And maybe I could ask them to check on Tiani.

Tiani Elkhadi, my best friend, practically a sister—the best thing to have happened to me in the darkness of my teenage years. She’d gone off on some secret mission and was supposed to be back by now. Or at least have let us know if she was okay. But no one had heard from her.

I set my jaw. Find answers in the book; find Tiani.

 

After a few hours had passed, my initial buzz of excitement had worn off, and I was starting to drag. It didn’t help, either, that in the back of my head, I’d been wondering why Kal had insisted on shifting. Was it really necessary? Or…? Don’t be unfair. But there had been a moment where I’d wondered if Kal didn’t want to talk to me, and this was his way of avoiding it without being rude.

Although I could imagine Tiani pitching a fit about it, demanding that he walk and talk to her. An ache of loneliness went through me, and I sighed.

Kal plodded on, ears twitching and breath steaming in the air. Warmth came from his fur, and it took all my willpower not to reach out to run my fingers through it. It was the prettiest color I’d ever seen, a soft winter white from a distance, but edged with silver and blue up close.

I tried not to look at him too much, as he didn’t seem to care for being ogled, but it was hard. The next time I looked over, he ducked his big head and shifted back. A flutter sang through my veins. Deep down, I knew anyone in their right mind would be intimidated by him, and I was, in a way.

But he was so dreamy, even when he was giving me stern looks.

“Pay attention to where you’re going,” Kal said and reached out, guiding me away from a small tree I’d almost plowed into. “And we’re stoppin’ for the night.”

“Fine with me,” I said and placed my hands on my hips. “Although this looks a bit rocky.”

“Not here,” he said with a soft huff that might have been hiding a laugh. “There’s a Winfyre outpost not far from here. A little rough and definitely cold, but better than nothing.”

“Isn’t this neutral territory?” I asked, and Kal gave me a look. “I’m just wondering if the other packs know the Northbane have an outpost here, is all.”

Because the Greyclaw wouldn’t be happy if they found another secret Northbane outpost.

“I have no idea,” Kal said in a tight voice and picked up the pace until I was almost jogging to keep up with him. “Why would that matter? We have the outposts to give shelter to our shifters. There was a time when we were constantly chasing off Skrors and Stasis Bureau agents, then Excris and Bloodfang. It was necessary for the survival of the Wilds.”

“Not now, though,” I pointed out. “I mean, that black market thing with Sarrow was unusual.”

“Or a sign of trouble to come. I—” He bit off his words and narrowed his gaze at me. “I appreciate your concern, Greyclaw girl, but the Northbane is not infringing on any treaties.”

“I’m not Greyclaw,” I said with a snort.

Kal tilted up an eyebrow. “No?”

“No. I don’t belong anywhere. I keep moving. Never know who’ll need help, so why settle down?” My cheeks heated up at my sad little lies. “I help as many packs as I can.”

“Hm,” was Kal’s eloquent response.

I went to say something else, then clamped my lips shut and nodded. Kal didn’t need to know anything else. Nor should I have been surprised that a Northbane Alpha would have tunnel vision when it came to other packs. The stories floating around the Greyclaw always spoke of the big bad shifters to the North, who thought that because they were first, they got to call all the shots. I hadn’t believed it. I still didn’t. But a twinge of disappointment had gone through me.

Kal stopped and swung off his pack, then pulled a length of black fabric from his bag. “Here.”

It was an oversized handkerchief. “What am I supposed to do with this?”

“Blindfold,” he said.

Even the wind fell quiet, stunned. “Seriously?” I finally got out, and he nodded, jaw tight. “This is—”

“I don’t know anything about you,” Kal cut in, and I winced. “Not that I don’t think you’re completely guileless, but I can’t take stupid risks like my brothers when it comes to—” He broke off, blinking as though he suddenly realized he’d said too much, and the agitated hand through his hair seemed to confirm that. “What the hell is wrong with me?”

“I was wondering the same thing,” I muttered, and Kal snorted. “Also, I’m going to be with you until we get to Winfyre, so who am I going to tell?”

“Better safe than sorry,” Kal said, a stubborn glint in his eye and his big arms folded. “Go on.”

“Unbelievable,” I muttered and tied it over my eyes. “Now what?” A soft yelp escaped me as two arms scooped me against a hard chest. “Kal, some warning!”

“Some thanks,” he said.

“Oh, well, yes, I mean—yes, I am thankful,” I said, more earnestly than I’d meant to, and this time I heard the laugh rumble in his chest. “But what if I had punched you in defense or something?”

“That’s somethin’ I’d like to see.”

With my eyes hidden, my other senses prickled with the presence of Kal. The rhythm of his breath, the ripple of tension in the biceps and forearms pressing against me, and the sharp, cedar and winter scent that clung to his skin. And that faint, strange note in his voice when he spoke. I wasn’t sure I would have caught it otherwise. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but my pulse quickened.

“You all right, Miss Iris?” Kal asked, and his chest expanded against me. My face began to flush, and I chewed my lip rapidly. “No comeback? Hm, maybe I had you all wrong.”

Is he flirting with me? an excited voice screamed in my head. Say something cute!

“I’m, um, not gonna punch you,” I said. “I wouldn’t do that.”

This time, Kal laughed out loud. A musical, rich sound that made my heart flutter.

Nice, Iris. He’s laughing at you, I thought. Couldn’t have been less flirty if you’d been talking about Skrors.

“I didn’t think you would,” Kal continued. “It’s not a trust thing or a knock on you as a person, Iris. It’s because I’m an Alpha. I have to keep Winfyre safe.”

“I can’t wait to see Winfyre,” I said, kind of getting where he was coming from and happy to be carried again. Probably more the latter: let’s be honest. “I’ve always wanted to go there.”

“That so?”

“Yes,” I said, and my throat closed up, too overcome at admitting to a Northbane Alpha all my foolish daydreams about Winfyre Ridge.

“We’re here,” Kal said and swung me down. I clutched at his arms as he steadied me, and two big hands briefly gripped my elbows, holding on for a moment longer than expected. Then the blindfold was plucked from my eyes, and he was looking down at me. “Not much, but it’ll do.”

Spinning around, I flashed my eyes all over the place and frowned. I saw nothing but steep hills and huge oaks. A hidden stream splashed somewhere, and the sky was fading fast into twilight. It was lovely, but I didn’t understand how it was an outpost.

“Are you messing with me?”

Kal squeezed my upper arm, and I glanced up at him, puzzled. A small, crooked grin was on his face, and he nodded. “This way.”

Following him, intrigued, I tried not to notice how the evening light dusted his light blond hair into gold, or how his shirt was rolled back to his elbows. But part of me was noticing all of this, and it was making my head spin. This morning, I’d been idling on my way back to the Greyclaw.

Now, I’d been kidnapped, rescued, and was being dragged to Winfyre Ridge.

Dragged—riiiight, whispered a sarcastic voice in my head. More like you were practically panting to come along.

“Here,” Kal said and patted the trunk of a large pine. Then he frowned at me. “What’s that look?”

“Nothing,” I said and pushed back my curls, wishing they could be tamed. “Getting ready.”

“It’s not a bad climb,” Kal said, and, moving closer, I saw there were cleverly disguised handholds and footholds going up the tree. "Why don't you go first?"

Nodding, I walked over and gripped the tree, securing my foot and then reaching for a higher handhold. As I pulled myself up, I became very aware of Kal standing behind me, and then jumped as a large hand splayed across my back.

“I won’t let you fall.”

My neck turned on instinct, and I realized our faces were inches apart. Buckling a little, I clung to the tree with my fingers and whipped my head back around, nodding.

“Right. Thanks,” I said and forced myself to keep climbing.

Yet even when I reached the shelter hidden high in the tree, I could still feel the warmth of his hand on my back. Trying to ignore that, I took in the “outpost.” It was small and cozy, the floor swept clean. Everything smelled of pine and wind, the breeze lifting my hair as it whistled through the cracks of the carefully placed walls and branches.

“Good,” Kal grunted as he appeared and shrugged off his bag. “Still in great shape.”

“Pretty cool, too,” I said and hovered awkwardly in the corner, watching him stride around, full of purpose. Kal didn’t seem to waste even the smallest of movements, and right now, I envied that. “Anything I can do?”

“There are pallets and sleeping bags in here,” he said, opening a metal chest in the corner and rifling through it. “Spelled by the Coven to be clean and warm. Here.” He handed me supplies. “Set up against that wall. I’ll be by the entrance, just in case.”

Dragging a pallet and sleeping bag over to where Kal had gestured, my back began to tingle again. The thought of spending the night, lying just a few feet from him, was almost too much. In fact, I couldn’t think about it for more than a second, or my head would spin. Also, I was glad I’d relieved myself earlier because I didn’t want to make that climb without Kal. I made a mental note to watch how much I drank.

“Hungry?” Kal asked, and I nodded. He struck a match, lit a small, low-light lantern, and then rifled through his bag. “Catch.”

I barely managed to react in time to prevent a small satchel from hitting me in the face. Inside was an assortment of nuts and dried fruit. Hunger rumbled through me, and I hunched my shoulders, a little embarrassed.

Setting it aside, I took off my shoes, sat down on the pallet, and wrapped the blanket around my shoulders. Quietly, I nibbled my way through the bag. Meanwhile, Kal was checking over the tree house, running his hands over the boards, peering into the handful of cabinets, and striding around. Finally, he sat down and pulled off his boots, frowning to himself.

Curiosity hummed in my bones, making me ache with questions about him. I wondered what he was thinking about. I also wondered if he’d sensed how I was subtly trying to both watch him and not make it obvious. Yet I kept the questions to myself.

I didn’t know much, but I knew Kal wasn’t one for chitchat or questions.

Without something to do, and with my brain swirling with questions, a heaviness settled over me. The aches and length of the day caught up to me. Soon, I found myself nodding off as I sat there.

“Iris.”

“Hm?” I woke up and realized Kal was crouching in front of me. In the dim light, his face looked different. Tender and open. My hand lifted towards him when I caught myself and snatched it back, gripping the blankets. "I'm sorry—guess I'm tired."

“You can go to sleep. You’re safe, I swear.”

This time I couldn’t stop myself before my hand patted his. “I know. I wanted to stay up and keep you company. Silly, I know.”

“Sweet,” Kal said, and his voice was gruff. The hand under mine flexed, and I drew back as he stood. “Sleep.”

“Kal?”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks again.”

Kal’s laugh was low, warming his words as he spoke. “I have a feeling we’re going to be thanking you, Iris, before this is over.”

“Mm, glad to do something actually useful for a change,” I murmured as I curled up, too comfortable to muse on what he could’ve meant. “Night.”