Page 3 of A Song of Saints and Swans
“I’ll walk you out?” Marena looped an arm around my back hours later before guiding me out the door.
It surprised me how at ease I was with the goddess touching me, knowing I might have flinched only a few short months ago. But Rena naturally had that effect on others, and I was thankful she’d given me a chance, even after I was such a “prickly pear.”
There was more to it than that. Since the day Vasi had turned back time to stop The Devouring, I’d been regularly training with Luperca and her wolf warriors. I attributed this routine to helping me not only regain my confidence, but to feel like a pretty bad bitch. Like all shifters, I’d been given basic fighting instruction in case we were ever attacked, but it felt good to know I could cause some serious damage now, if I wanted to.
And the way Kaz looks at me during drills doesn’t hurt.
Again, I shook my head, banishing thoughts ofanotheroff-limits man from my head. I needed to stay focused. There were still imprisoned shifters out there to be rescued, and if I couldn’t change what had been done tome,then at least I could help ensure my experience didn’t happen to anyone else.
I suddenly realized Marena was expectantly staring at me as we stood in the moonlight of Vasi’s clearing. Desperate to redirect from my vulnerable thoughts, I blurted out, “What are your plans, Rena? Now that all the excitement is over with.”
She blinked in surprise. “Well, I suppose I’ll continue assisting mother with bringing balance back to the earth, and with helping Vel torture Koschei.” Her gaze darkened, and I had to remind myself that, despite her cheerful demeanor, this was a powerful goddess before me. “Oh, and I’ll continue to try my best to keep Jarilo away from you while you train—also not an easy feat!”
I sighed heavily, preparing to shift for the flight home. “Ugh. Your twin really doesn’t know how to take a hint, does he?”
Marena shot me a knowing look. “I believe we all struggle with accepting our fate now and then, hmm?” Registering my narrowing eyes, she quickly added, “But I promise, I’ll continue cockblocking him as much as humanly… godly possible.”
I gave the goddess a long hug before she wandered off into the forest, toward the nearest sacred grove. Reaching into my pocket, I brushed my fingers against the latest letter I’d received, still unopened despite the familiar seal on the stationery.
Although the autumn chill was creeping into my bones, I paused long enough for my gaze to lift to the moon above. There was still so much I didn’t know about the future—or my past—but realizing that so many fellow seekers had gazed up at this same moon strengthened me somehow.
Life had been a wild ride so far, and unpredictable at times. But I trusted everything meant to be would find its way to me, eventually.
That is, unless I reach out and grab it first.
Smiling at the joyous laughter of Vasi and her Riders pouring out from the hut’s open window, I stretched my wings and took off into the night—headed toward my own destiny.
Only Rage Remains
ANTHIA
There was something incredibly satisfying about bringing a man to his knees.
“Submit,” I hissed in Kazimir’s ear, painfully wrenching his arm behind his broad back and using the awkward angle to force him to the ground.
His wolf flickered over his skin as he chuckled low. “Who could say no to an invitation like that?” He abruptly kneeled, and I relaxed, making the mistake of thinking I’d won.
Before I could react, he flipped me over his shoulder, and my back hit the dirt so hard it knocked the wind out of me.
Never let down your guard.
Luperca’s words rang in my head, even without the formidable leader there to scold me while I trained with her men.
I knew I shouldn’t be too hard on myself. As part of her personal guard, Kaz was one of the finest wolf warriors in the clan. There weren’t many who could overpower or outmaneuver him, so it wasn’t surprising that a newbie like me would struggle to take him on.
At least, outside of the bedroom…
My body softened within the familiar cage of Kaz’s arms, my gaze growing hooded as he loomed over me in triumph.
“Now who’s sending out invitations?” I purred, waiting for that crooked smile of his to appear before I kneed him in the balls.
“Godsdamnit, Anthia,” he wheezed, collapsing into a pitiful pile on the ground next to me. “The clan needs those to stay intact.”
I stood and offered him a hand, sniffing with disinterest. True, a warrior like him was prime breeding stock for the next generation, but that mattered little to me. Shifters could supposedly only reproduce with their own kind, so a future with Kaz was out of the question.
Which is just fine by me.
The last thing I wanted was a serious relationship with anyone—whether wolf, swan, or godsdamn Prince Charming. If one of my fictional book boyfriends suddenly appeared in myVardowagonprofessing his love, I’d go for a round, but still tell him not to let the door hit him on the way out.
