how he and L found you. Where they found you. With whom. In what state.”
The breath whooshed out of my body. I hadn’t ever wanted Wolfe to know about the mountain man. I looked away and scraped at my plate. “I see.”
“Rogan …”
“Later, Wol—Captain.”
Just as I had not wanted to, Wolfe and I created a chilled atmosphere. I shifted uncomfortably.
“So, Captain Wolfe,” L piped up, “how be ye findin’ Rogan?”
Yes, I thought, glancing over at him. How had he found me at the Mosses’?
Wolfe shrugged. “I’m a Glava as well, Miss Moss. I have a heightened sense of intuition.”
L threw me a look. I had told her about Wolfe being Glava but had not mentioned this ability. I shrugged back at her. I hadn’t known about that ability. I sighed and refused to look at him. Wolfe was powerful. Extremely powerful. He could move things with his mind, call upon the elements, and he had some psychic talent as well. I had never heard of the like. Perhaps that’s why he hadn’t trusted me enough to tell me.
I chanced a glower at him but Wolfe caught it. His expression was so clear, it was almost as if I could read his mind: “Don’t be mad at me for not trusting you. You who didn’t trust me and got yourself almost raped in the Alvernian Mountains.”
I grimaced and turned from him.
L threw me a sympathetic smirk.
Chapter 28
The sun bit into the morning chill, and I breathed in the crispness of a summer morning in the Alvernian Mountains, feeling far more exuberant than I had in weeks.
I had the plant, I was no longer alone, and I was heading back to Silvera to save Haydyn.
Sarah, Jonas, and Jr. stood on the porch of their home while L helped me with my pack. I could feel Wolfe waiting impatiently behind me at the end of the garden path, having already thanked the Mosses for their hospitality and made his goodbyes. Jr. was not amused by Wolfe’s sudden departure and blamed me for it. He refused to say goodbye to me.
“Right,” L said briskly, handing over the hunting knife.
I shook my head. “I can’t take anything more from you.” I was already wearing her clothes and carrying their food. They had so little and yet they gave so generously.
L gave me one of her characteristic scowls. “Ye be refusin’ to let me escort ye down the mountain, so ye be takin’ the damn knife.”
I hid my smile. Last night, L had made quite a stink when I told her she was staying with her family, that I would be all right now that I had Wolfe with me. She’d given Wolfe, in his fine clothing, with his nice hair and skin, a dubious look. Wolfe had good naturedly let her pick at his “obvious uselessness” as she called it. I experienced an ache in my chest as L had gone on and on, pretending to be put out. She was worried about me.
I took the knife and held her gaze. “You and your family must come to Silvera to see me, L. I’ll arrange it.” I looked past her to Sarah and Jonas. They smiled at the idea, so I took that to mean yes.
“Ye isn’t meaning that.” L sniffed, kicking dirt on the path, uncharacteristically self-conscious. “Ye’ll go back to yer fancy world and forget all about me and mine.”
“L.” I grinned, grabbing her arms. “L, you’re just about the most unforgettable person I’ve ever met. And if you don’t come to see me in Silvera, then I’m going to crawl all the way back up this mountain to you.”
She reddened a little but looked pleased. “Well, no need to be gettin’ all melodramatic on me,” she drawled, waving me off.
I laughed, feeling that pang again. I felt as if I’d known her forever, and I was sorry to leave her and her family up here in these forsaken hills. I’d be back for them, though. I was going to make sure they never had to worry about anything again.
Ignoring L’s gruffness, I tugged her into a hug and was surprised by how tight she held me. After a moment, she patted me on the back and pulled away, our eyes bright.
“Ye be careful,” she warned, and then peered around me to Wolfe. She threw him her famous scowl. “Ye be watchin’ o’er this one, Captain Wolfe.”
“I promise, Miss Moss.”
“Miss Moss,” L muttered under her breath and then threw me a look. “Ye