The wolf tilts his head to the side.
“By the order of the Elf King, you are a creature of the Fade, and there you shall remain.”
The wolf wags his tail and I don’t bother suppressing a giggle. “I guess he does what he wants.” I bury my hand in the wolf’s fur.
“Like someone else I know.” Eldas gives me a side eye and somehow I laugh. For the first time, it feels as if we’re working together—as though we’re equals.
“If it’s any consolation, he didn’t listen to me either.”
Eldas looks up to the heavens as if silently beseeching the gods for assistance and then heaves a monumental sigh. “He’ll go back soon enough. He was likely just following our scent through the Fade.”
“Fadewalking seems a lot less impressive when an animal can do it too.” I can’t help a grin. Eldas narrows his eyes at me, but his scowl has lost some of its bite.
“He can Fadewalk because he is of the Fade—a creature caught in the rift when worlds were severed.”
“He’s a good boy, that’s what he is,” I coo to the wolf.
“Fine. It is now my choice to allow this beast to stay as long as it pleases.”
I don’t know if he’s saying that to me, the wolf, or himself. “Of course it is your choice.”
“If you destroy anything in my castle, I’m sending you back by force,” he says sternly to the beast.
“I’ll look after him.”
“Don’t get too attached. He’ll be gone before morning,” Eldas grumbles, and starts for the door. “And you, Luella, we will practice your magic again tomorrow.”
“You’ve given me even more incentive to learn,” I say earnestly. He seems somewhat startled by my shifted tone and gives a small nod. I bite back the urge to tell him that if he gives kindness, he’ll likely get it back.
Eldas yawns. “Now, I will make an effort to get some sleep, if the Human Queen will stay put long enough to let me.”
“I’ll allow it, I suppose.”
He clearly wasn’t expecting me to answer. A smirk pulls on the corners of his lips. Eldas puts his back to me before I can enjoy the expression.
“Eldas,” I say right as his hand falls on the door handle.
“What is it now?”
“Thank you for our agreement… It’s a good start in proving that you’re not so terrible, after all.”
As soon as I say it, I dip my head and focus on petting the wolf to hide my smile. I don’t want to make him even more uncomfortable. The sight of his icy facade crumbling at someone else’s gratitude is satisfaction enough.
He says nothing and slips out of my room, leaving me and my unexpected new companion alone.