Page 413 of Warlords, Witches & Wolves

Chapter 22

Boris followed the girl through the forest, surprised to find the village – and the castle where she was headed – weren't at all far from his cave. Perhaps it wasn't so strange her family allowed her to wander through the woods, when she was so close to home.

She'd slipped the brooch into her pocket on her way home. Boris had wondered whether she'd wear it or sell it, until he saw the guards bow to her when she entered the castle. He'd known then that she wouldn't sell it, though he still wasn't sure whether she'd wear such a jewel. She lived in such an isolated castle, wearing men's clothes, instead of the silk gowns seen in court that befitted such a brooch.

Then, of course, he wondered what she'd look like in a wine-coloured gown, her dark curls tamed only by a crown of such splendour it cast the brooch into the shade…

In fact, he was certain he'd seen just such a crown in the sack he'd taken from the capital, encrusted with so many diamonds and rubies, you could scarcely see the silver metal beneath. So valuable it had been kept under lock and key in the capital, only being brought out to wear on the most momentous occasions.

Hardly the sort of thing you gave to a girl chance met in the woods. Then again, that brooch wasn't, either, and he'd handed it to her without a thought.

Silly bear with silly ideas. What had he been thinking?

He hadn't been thinking, which was the problem.

After swearing he would watch from the shadows, where she wouldn't see him when she woke, he'd definitely made a mess of things. Then again, he'd expected her to feel fear at the sight of him, and there'd been none whatsoever.

Ah, but she'd fired the arrow at the buck that day, hadn't she? It hadn't been Igor shooting at him at all.

A very strange girl, this Lady…Rose, is that what she'd said her name was? Whose eyes had glowed as red as the ruby brooch in the sun when she'd cast the spell which lit up the cave.

She was a witch, then, with powers beyond those of normal men. Boris had heard of such women, but he'd never met one, and he could not deny she intrigued him. For a slip of a girl to feel no fear in the presence of a monstrous bear, when she'd seen him kill…she must be a powerful witch indeed.

Perhaps she could break the spell that had made him into a bear. Or, failing that, cast some sort of enchantment that would keep Igor away from him, and help him find his way back to court, where he would see Sviatopolk pay for his crimes.

If only he could ask her.

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