Page 12 of A Song of Saints and Swans
I unceremoniously released the god of springtime, ignoring the disgruntled sound he made in response.
“The old settlement should be just beyond that ridge up ahead,” I brusquely replied, squaring my shoulders and calmly meeting Rena’s gaze, willing myself to appear more confident than I felt.
Never let down your guard.
She frowned, more concerned than annoyed. “Are yousureyou’re ready for this?”
If it had been Luperca or her wolves asking—or even Vasi, who was so rarely ruffled—I may have lied, but Rena wasn’t one to be fooled by posturing.
“Not at all!” I admitted with a laugh, surprised by how doing so lessened my tension. “But fate rarely cares if we’re ready before booting us off the train speeding toward our destiny.”
“Well said,” Jarilo murmured, almost like he was talking to himself.
Marena sharply glanced at her twin before returning her focus to me. “You know… even the gods must bow to the mercurial moods of fate, including those who believe they’re above such things.”
Thatwas news to me. I’d always assumed it was only us earthbound creatures who had no choice but to be herded along whatever path was predestined for us—regardless of whether it was a smooth road or a raging river.
Although some seem to play by their own rules.
“Rena…” I hesitantly began, curious if my friend would clarify something I’d always wondered. “Were you defying fate or fulfilling it when you helped Vasi escape Koschei the Deathless and return to the Tsar? Or when you guided her back from the Nav as the new Baba Yaga?”
The goddess of winter’s death, rebirth, and dreams gazed into the distance as she considered my question.
Before she could answer, Jarilo barked a laugh. “I would say a little of both. Rena has her visions, but it’sherchoice how to interpret them and how—orif—to act.”
When I furrowed my brow, he elaborated. “For example, sheknewKoschei was holding Mokosh captive.Thatwas what her vision had shown her—and the reason Vel sent her into enemy territory, despite our malleable rules of engagement. When she returned with a half-drownedhumaninstead…”
Marena’s lips twitched. “Vasi wasn’t just any human, Jar.”
He waved a dismissive hand. “It hardly mattered to Veles. Oh, how I wish I’d been there to see his reaction. I bet those dusty old unicorn tapestries hanging in his study almost caught on fire from the smoke pouring out of his ears!”
The two gods burst into wild laughter—like a couple of naughty children—and all at once, I was incredibly grateful for their company.
I probably would have continued putting off confronting my past for as long as possible if they hadn’t shown up on the training field together with the latest letter.
Even though it would have caught up with me, eventually.
And I’m thankful I don’t have to face it alone.
Not quite ready to admit this out loud—especially with Jarilo present—I was content to simply continue walking between them, chuckling in amusement at their antics. They each tried to outdo the other with unflattering tales of the god of the Nav acting like… well, like any other endearingly annoying father.
A fresh wave of guilt washed over me as I thought of myownfather figure, waiting for me back home with our clan. Gerard had been handling me with kid gloves since Vasi and Nox rescued me from the Facility, and that barely changed even after the wolves trained me enough to join them on missions.
Bringing up my future as clan leader right before I left was the first time I’d heard anything about it since I was a teenager. I assumed the reason he wanted to reopen the discussion was that almost losing me had him questioning the future.
But it’s my past that’s going to disappoint him.
Jarilo’s hand insistently found mine again, but before I could shake him off, we crested the ridge and I froze in my tracks.
My mother’sVardowas parked beside the pristine waters of a small pond—right where the clan had left it. As my gaze wandered over the intricately carved wooden surface, I realized it looked exactly how I remembered it.
And it’s in better condition than I expected.
“Is someone…livingthere?” I growled, even though my possessiveness was completely uncalled for.
Marena cocked her head, as if listening to a far-off sound. “Yes,” she bluntly stated, which made me tense. “But they’re not around at the moment.”
“Which means we’re free to let ourselves in,” Jarilo announced, tightening his grip so I couldn’t escape as he dragged me down the hill.
