Page 36 of A Crown Without Mercy

“Thank you.”

Sylvana stood.“Of course. I should go. He won’t stand there much longer.”

Amarok took a few steps back.“Be careful Sylvana, he’s been listening. I cloaked our conversation as best as I could.”

“As did I. Nicolai and Kieran Acheron have read my thoughts already.”

“Take caution where they are concerned. I can’t protect you from them.”

“I’ll be fine, and I need you to watch out for yourself as well.”

Sylvana made her way back to Klyn, and the silence between them was awkward as they walked to the carriage. He reached for the door but before he opened it; he looked down at Sylvana. “Care to explain?”

“I found Amarok when he was a cub and I nursed him back to health. He still visits me from time to time.”

After another uncomfortable moment of silence, he spoke the words she was afraid to hear most of all. “I’m smelling bullshit. I don’t believe you, Sylvana.”

The way in which his words rolled off his tongue scared her more than she cared to admit.Dammit, what the hell was I thinking?“I’m not lying.”

“I know you were communicating with the wolf. When did they learn to speak telepathically?”

“I’ve always been able to communicate with animals.” She chuckled nervously.

“The simplicity of your answer speaks volumes.”

“I don’t suppose you would keep this between us?”

Klyn adjusted his stance and stared down at her. “I will not lie to the Acherons. That will be on you. Now, I suggest you do your best to get the dirt off your dress. Should you run into Riordan, he will notice anything which appears out of place.”

Sylvana looked at the cascading material, collected the sides and did her best to shake off the dirt. She then smoothed out the material and looked up at Klyn. “How do I look?”

Klyn motioned with one hand for her to turn around and Sylvana walked in a slow circle as she held the dress above her ankles.

“Well?” she questioned.

“I can still see specks of dirt and you have a few white hairs on your cleavage.”

“Shit.” Sylvana exhaled, as she bent further over to take a better look.

“Allow me to give you a fighting chance.” Klyn waved his hand, and her hair and dress blew to the side as if caught in a gentle breeze. “I believe you’re good now. Even the smell of thewolf,as you called it, should no longer be an issue.”

Sylvana placed her hands on his forearm and smiled. “Thank you.”

“Your gratitude is premature. Thank me after Riordan fails to notice.” He opened the door and took her hand in his as she stepped up into the carriage.

“We are going to have to pick up the pace, and it might be a rough ride. The last thing either of us needs is to show up late.”

“I’ll be fine.”

Klyn picked up the reins, gave his lead stallions some slack, snapped the reins and made a clicking noise with his tongue.

The stallions pointed their ears forward, leaned into the harnesses, and the wheels of the carriage creaked as they rolled forward. With another snap of the reins, they broke into a trot, and it was not long before they were galloping down the road.

“I think I’d feel safer on the horse than is this carriage,” Sylvana said.

Klyn turned his head and winked. “As would I. Driving a carriage is not what I do.”

“What do you do?”

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