Page 4 of A Song of Saints and Swans
Forget romance—I want revenge.
When I first arrived on the training field months ago, hand-to-hand grappling was nearly impossible, since the slightest physical contact triggered me into panicking. Thankfully, Luperca taught me to hide my trauma until I could face my opponents unafraid. Then, her wolves Kazimir and Boris stepped in to show me no pity, so I could bury it so deep only my rage remained.
A few months in, a night of post-drill drinking ended with me in Kaz’s bed. The alcohol made it easy to forget that the last time a man touched me was at the Facility—but everything about the wolf was easy. He wasn’t too rough or demanding, and didn’t last so long that I remembered things I’d rather forget.
Sometimes I got off and sometimes I didn’t, but I saw it as less an intimate encounter and more an opportunity to steadily erase those who had come before him. More than anything, I was determined to never again be at anyone’s mercy.
My rigorous combat training had honed me into a force to be reckoned with, but it was only in the past month that I’d been invited to join the liberation efforts. Sometimes Vasi and her Riders joined us—one of the few times I saw my friend anymore. More often than not, it was warriors from other packs and clans by our side.
During these missions, I came face to face with conditions eerily similar to what I’d endured at the Facility, which threatened to send me spiraling. I muscled through—needingto rescue as many shifters as possible and adamant that my trauma would never get the better of me.
I’d rather feel nothing at all.
As if drawn by a magnetic force, my gaze drifted to the surrounding forest. What I found made me simultaneously stand a little taller and inwardly cringe.
Marena, goddess of winter’s death, rebirth, and dreams, was watching me help the grumbling wolf shifter to his feet—her proud expression confirming she’d seen me take him down.
Unfortunately, her extremely aggravating twin was by her side with an expression that matched my own, excepthisglare was squarely aimed at Kaz.
Here we go.
When we first met in London, Jarilo had immediately—and quite mistakenly—decided he possessed some sort of claim over me. Ever since, the god had relentlessly stalked me, but as my basic needs were already being met by an incredibly well-endowed wolf, he was shit out of luck.
I had no interest in complicating my life with multiple dicks, despite how well polyamory had worked out for a certain witch.
“Do you need me to go over there with you?” Kaz growled in my ear, possessively posturing like he always did when Jarilo showed up uninvited.
I rolled my eyes. “Go ice your nuts, big guy. I can handle the god of springtime, harvest, and war.”
Andfertility,the immortal idiot would be quick to remind me.
I took my time redressing in the warm layers I’d shed to fight before strolling across the frost-covered field.
My casual pace served two purposes. It deepened the scowl on Jarilo’s face, while also allowing me time to admire the flawless beings waiting for me at the tree line.
Both were dressed in the modern clothes they seemed to prefer when pretending to be human, although how anyone could mistake them for mortals was beyond me.
Marena was freckled and fresh-faced as always—her green eyes sparkling mischievously and her bright orange hair shining like a beacon where it draped over her shoulders.
While there was some familial resemblance between them, Jarilo’s reddish curls were more strawberry blond, and the sharp angles of his classically handsome face accentuated the startling color of his eyes.
Like golden-hour sun reflected on water…
Those eyes flashed dangerously when I reached the pair and pointedly addressed his sister instead of him.
“Hey, Rena. It’s always good to see you.” I smiled broadly at the goddess before wrapping my arms around her in a hug that warmed my bones, despite her icy powers. “Although I see you’re stuck babysitting tonight?”
“Oh, I do love it when you ignore me, swan,” Jarilo chuckled darkly, the low timbre of his voice making my core pulse—much to my annoyance. “It only encourages my bad behavior.”
Le sigh.
“Whyareyou here, Jarilo?” I fully aimed my judgmental gaze at him, even though all I was doing was giving him the attention he craved. “It’s not as if I haven’t clearly communicated how profoundly you irritate me.”
His satisfied smirk raised my hackles, but before I could shift and bite it off his face, Marena smoothly intervened.
“Unfortunately, ‘Thia, his presence is necessary this time.” She paused and slowly exhaled, as if wary of how I’d react. “Another letter arrived at the emporium.”
My vision immediately went hazy, sweat beading on my brow as my breathing grew shallow. Before a full-blown panic attack could hit, I felt Marena’s cool hand slide under my long hair to rest on the nape of my neck.
