Chapter Ten
Don’t trust the wolf.
I stared at the message, breathing hard through my nose. The note had been pinned to the tree when I stepped outside the next morning, this time by a long, fat thorn that had been driven into the notch left by the dagger.
I felt more devastated than I ever thought I could have as I read the words again. I’d actually woken up in a half-decent mood. The wolf had stayed for a long time, lying beside me with his big head on my thigh and dozing off while I scratched absently behind his ears. Eventually he’d gotten up, stretched, and licked my neck before slinking off. I’d gone inside and gotten into bed soon after, falling asleep surprisingly fast.
Why couldn’t I trust the wolf? I knew he wasn’tjusta wolf. He was something more than a normal wolf, but he hadn’t asked me for anything. How could he have? He’d just given me comfort. He’d made me feel more relaxed and happy than I had in weeks.
The message wasn’t addressed to me by name, or signed with anNlike last time. I was sorely tempted to ignore it. Crumple it up and throw it into the fire. It wasn’t like I eventrustedthe wolf. He was a wolf. An animal. But unimaginable sadness filled me at the thought of him returning if I would have to ignore him.
Hot anger flooded me, making my fist clench hard round the scrap of paper. Fuck this. The one thing I’d found here that brought me some comfort, and now I was being told I couldn’t interact with him? How did I even know these notes were definitelyfrom Nua? How did I know I could eventrustNua, for that matter? He was still Folk. Just because he’d been nice to a little kid didn’t mean anything. None of the other Folk had actually beenmeanto me, aside from that silver-haired girl who’d tried to drown me in the lake.
Striding into the cottage, I threw the crumpled note into the fire. The Folk were all the same. Playing games, messing with people’s heads. This was just another way to fuck with the mortal. I was dreading the celebration later, because I had no idea what they’d try to do to me. I just had to hope Caom didn’t leave me alone at any point. Especially because that creepy Prince Lonan would be there, watching me with his endless black eyes.
I spent the day trying to distract myself with theNovice Drachmsmithbook. I’d nearly finished it, and I wasn’t at all interested in the deadly potions chapter, but I forced myself to read every recipe and brew. Just the titles were unnerving.Tincture to ensure a bone stays broken. A brew to expound venom’s potency. Tea to turn the blood to acid.
I stopped to have a bath when the sun started dipping in the sky, not sure what time Caom would come to collect me. After getting dressed, I paced the cottage, sipping water and stopping periodically to peer out of the window in the bedroom to see if I could spot any of the preparations being made in the village. By the time Caom knocked on the door, I was jittery with nerves.
“I don’t want to go,” I told him as I pulled open the door.
His face fell. “Why not?”
I shook my head, turning and walking back into the living room. “They’ll all try and fuck with me.”
“They won’t!” He paused, and when I turned to face him, he was wincing. “Well, some of them might, but I’ll stay with you. I won’t let them.”
He stepped closer, eyeing me with concern and chewing on his lip. “Ash, youhaveto go. I don’t know what the Carlin will do if you don’t. It’s all for you. To welcome you.”
“Will the Carlin be there?” I asked. I didn’t want to meet her again. I could still feel her talon cutting my neck and see her bronze teeth gleaming as she grinned, staring at me with her one cobalt eye.
“No, but Prince Lonan will be.” His voice was grim. “You don’t want him to tell her that you didn’t even go.”
“For fuck’s sake,” I muttered, wiping a hand over my forehead. “Fine. I’ll go for a little while. I don’t have to stay for the whole thing, right? I’m guessing it’ll go on all night. Don’t you Folk love your parties?”
Caom grinned wide, showing sharp teeth.
“Yes, we do. And they’re always spectacular.” He trailed his eyes down my form. “Is that what you’re wearing?”
“What?” I looked down at my clothes. “These are the clothesyougave me.”
“I know, but…” His head cocked. “They’re a little plain for a party.”
I eyed his outfit. Deep purple leather trousers and a billowing mustard shirt. They should have looked awful together, and terrible with his fair hair and skin, but somehow didn’t. His blond hair had been woven with purple flowers, and a wide band of purple pigment had been painted over his eyes and the bridge of his nose like a mask.
“I’m good like this.”
He sighed. “Suit yourself. Shall we go, then?”
I reluctantly followed him out of the cottage, hands twisting nervously in the hem of my shirt as we started heading towards the village.
“Honestly, Ash, you’ll enjoy yourself. Idony’s sister has supplied the wine, and it reallyisthe best. Just don’t tell her that—she’s as bad as Idony.”
“Where is Idony?” I asked.
“She’ll meet us there. She’s helping her sister set up the stall.”
I shot him a quick glance. “Is Belial going?”