Page 68 of A Skirl of Sorcery
‘Gone.’ He looked more stunned than appalled. ‘There’s a hole in my heart. An emptiness.’ He gave a strangled noise and I squeezed his hand tightly. Tiddles was already licking his chin, her small pink tongue rasping across his stubble.
I was still holding his eyes with mine. ‘I’ll get it back, Thane. I’ll get your wolf back.’ I drew in a breath and met his eyes.
Thane was already shaking his head in alarm. ‘No. Don’t do it. Kit, don’t you fucking dare do it.’
Of course I’d do it. ‘I give you my word I will bring your werewolf back.’
‘Goddamnit, Kit!’
I picked up the cup holding Fergus’s brew. ‘Here. Drink as much of this as you can, it’ll help with the aftermath.’ From what we’d gleaned about the Barrow pack, Thane would be able to hold out for far longer than Keres but he would still suffer. My heart wrenched. ‘Drink it all,’ I told him.
He was a better patient than I expected and he drained the cup dry before leaning back against the pillows. ‘So empty,’ he murmured. ‘So tired.’
‘Get some rest. Sleep is the best thing for you.’
‘You’re an idiot, Kit.’
‘I know.’
‘You shouldn’t have given me your word.’
I shrugged. ‘It’s too late now.’
‘Don’t leave me.’
This time I didn’t reply.
‘I need you, Kit.’ His eyelids were already closing again.
‘I need you too, Thane.’ Which was exactly why Ihadto go. I turned to Tiddles. ‘Don’t let him leave this room.’
Her ears twitched. I nodded grimly, then pulled back my shoulders and strode into the kitchen. Bin was seated on one of the chairs with He Who Crunches Bird Bones curled up on his lap. ‘We’ve got about forty minutes before dawn,’ I said briskly. ‘It’s already too late for you to return to Green Humbleton. You’ll have to stay here.’
He nodded. I knew he wasn’t pleased by this outcome but he wasn’t surprised by it. As soon as I’d found Thane’s unconscious body, Bin must have expected something like this.
‘Before that happens,’ I continued, ‘you will show me where this house is.’
He Who Crunches Bird Bones flicked his tail, opened his eyes, stretched out his front paws and jumped onto the floor.
‘Now?’ Bin asked.
I nodded. ‘Right now.’
‘What if you’re attacked again?’
‘Then I’ll resist again.’
‘What if I’m attacked?’
‘I’ll help you.’ I waited. I knew Bin would make the right decision; I didn’t need to force him into it.
‘Okay.’ He stood up, his face a dark, unyielding mask. ‘Let’s go.’
We slipped out of the front door. When I reached the garden gate and unlatched it, Bin murmured, ‘We’re being watched.’
Dave was on his porch. His face was shrouded in darkness but I didn’t need to see his features to know his eyes were on us. I raised a hand, he raised one back. ‘How’s Keres?’ I called softly.
‘Really good. She’s feeling better and she’s been moving around. I checked on her just now. I’m heading to bed for a kip.’He paused. ‘What’s going on with that wolf of yours?’ He must have seen me hauling Thane home.
