Page 103 of Spirit Rites
Harper gives me a funny look. “Yeah.”
“How did you meet her?” I ask.
Harper shrugs. “I needed a place to live, and she had the upper floor available.”
I almost don’t want to ask because I don’t want to get my hopes up. “Was she one of the banished?”
Harper frowns. “Yeah. Why?”
I turn to look at Kaldar, but he’s already looking at me. I steeple my fingers together. “I need to talk to her.”
Harper’s eyebrows hit her hairline. “Why?”
“I need to ask her a few questions.”
Harper stares at me. “Kins, what are you going on about?”
“There’s a man on our council who’s granddaughter left thirty years ago to participate in the trials and never came back,” Kaldar says calmly. “Her name is Eliza.”
I watch as Harper seems to think about it. “Yeah, the timeline might add up.”
“Can we go with you and talk to her?” I ask, trying not to get my hopes up.
“I guess. I mean she has to still be up to let me in.”
“Thank you.” I squeeze Kaldar’s hand as hope clangs around in my chest. It would be so good if it were really her.
Lox ends up staying back since we’re riding with Harper. We make the ride to where Harper lives now. Thankfully, it doesn’t take long. I take it in by the light on the streets, thanks to the magic of this kingdom. “Harper, I love it,” I say softly.
“Yeah.” That’s all she says, but it’s enough.
We hang back when she knocks on the front door. The door opens, and I can’t really see the woman because Harper’s blocking her from view. Harper talks to her for a moment. We agreed to let Harper handle telling her who we were. When Harper turns to us and waves us forward, my stomach knots with tension. Kaldar puts a hand behind my back and leads me forward. I smile at the woman, but she doesn’t smile back. Her eyes are on Kaldar, and I wonder what she sees. I don’t have to guess because she tells us a moment later. “You’re the jaguar king’s son.” Kaldar nods. “You look just like him. Did he send you here?” Her voice is sharp, and I take a step forward. But Kaldar answers her first.
“My father is dead. Kinsley, my mate, is the queen now.”
The woman turns to me. “Hi, I’m Kinsley.” I give her my friendliest smile and put out my hand, but she doesn’t shake it. I end up dropping it back to my side.
“What do you want with me?” she asks.
I wonder how much Harper told her, obviously not enough to put her fears at ease. I take the lead, since I’m not as intimidating as Kaldar. “We are looking for a woman named Eliza that grew up in the banished community. She competed in the Spirit Trials around thirty years ago and failed to producea spirit animal and was banished. I grew up in the banished community as well,” I tell her, hoping to put her at ease.
“Why would it matter if I were that Eliza?”
I can tell she’s nervous, and I rush to tell her the rest. “Because that woman’s grandfather asked me if I would reach out to my connections in the banished community to see if I could find her because he misses her.” I watch as she flinches back, and I soften my voice even more. “He says he misses her so much, and her father has never recovered from losing her.” I pause. “I feel like I should also tell you that the Jaguar Kingdom lets those who fail to produce a spirit animal return, just like the Wolf Kingdom does.”
She takes a step back. “I’m sorry. I can’t help you.” She leaves us then and heads back inside.
I turn to Harper, feeling awful. “It’s probably her,” she says in a no-nonsense voice. “Just give her time. If she wants to know more, I’ll let you know.”
“Thanks, Harper.”
That conversation stays with me all night and into the next morning when we say our goodbyes and make our way out of the Wolf Kingdom and to the cabin that’s a little under an hour’s ride away. Kaldar and I talk about it and agree to just let it be. At least now she knows. It’s in her hands now; she can do with the information what she wants. When the cabin comes into view, I can’t help my smile. We tie up the horses and make our way inside, stopping just inside. I stare in shock. There’s a fire already lit in the fireplace. A pot of something that smells amazing is simmering on the stove. The bed in the center of the room is made with what looks like fresh linens, and there are furs on the bed and on the back of the small couch. Upon closer inspection, there’s also a glass jar with fresh flowers on the table. “Somebody was here early,” Kaldar says as he squeezes my hand.
“I can’t believe we have this place to ourselves for the next three days.” It’s adorable. It’s just one large room, but it's perfect. “I love it.”
“You know what I love about it?” Kaldar asks, tugging me against his chest.
I stare up at the man I love. “What?”
