hanging open and his hand on the hilt of his sword.
“I love her,” I breathed out, scratching her head. I set her back on the ground gently and followed her back to her babies. I sank to my knees and was overjoyed when they ran to me and tackled me with their tiny, warm, furry bodies. I giggled as I fell onto my back, the small creatures licking excitedly at me. There had to be at least ten of them, their tiny nubby tails wagging with glee.
“K-Kellin.” I giggled. “Come here.”
He stepped out cautiously from behind the tree. The mother peered up at him, her tongue out like a happy dog, and watched as he approached us. He stood awkwardly over me, his eyes lingering on the mother.
“Lie down.” I laughed as one of the creatures gave a grunt and tugged on my hair.
Kellin lay down beside me and was bombarded by the small creatures. His body froze, but I could feel the tension ebb away as they licked and pawed at him. The mother climbed onto his torso and stared down at him from his chest. He stopped moving, gazing back at her. I wondered why he was so nervous around them. They were just balls of happy fluff.
Man and beast had an epic stare down before the mother licked his nose. He visibly relaxed again, and before long, our laughter echoed throughout the forest.
Chapter 30
“That was incredible,” I sighed as Kellin helped me off Starfall later. It was well past nightfall when we returned to the castle. We’d spent hours out in the forest, playing with the small creatures and working on my wielding. Kellin had been silent on our ride home. I’d laid my head against his back and closed my eyes, listening to his heartbeat as Starfall trotted along the road back to the palace.
“I’m glad you enjoyed yourself,” he replied softly, giving me an odd smile.
“Didn’t you?” I suddenly felt like I’d somehow done something wrong, and he didn’t want to tell me about it.
“I did,” he added quickly. “It’s just… Ana, what happened back there with the wolvens…” He ran his fingers through his thick, blond hair and looked away, seemingly trying to put words together. “Well, it’s unheard of.”
“What do you mean?”
“Wolvens aren’t known to be that way. All cute and lovable. I wanted to show them to you because they’re creatures of Winterset. I wanted you to get to know what’s out there. I never expected that to happen.”
“I don’t understand, Kellin.”
“How do I say this?” he murmured, staring down at me thoughtfully. “Wolvens are terrifying creatures.”
“What?” I laughed loudly.
“They aren’t cute little balls of fluff,” he continued. “I mean, they are, but they’re very protective and quite mean. In fact, I’m grateful the mother didn’t shift. They’re animal shifters. They can morph into something quite large and terrifying. I was worried it would happen, and I’d be forced to slay her and her cubs.”
“You-you’d have killed her?” I asked incredulously.
“I was beside myself with fear when you stepped out there. I thought you’d get us all toasted.”
“Kellin, you’re being ridiculous—”
“I swear it’s the truth. They’re fierce devils.” Kellin held up his hands in defeat as we walked upstairs to my chambers. “They can shift into fire breathing beasts at the drop of a hat. I’m assuming they felt the fire in your soul and thought of you as their kindred.”
“And what about you?” I challenged, trying to shoot down his theory. “You don’t have any fire in your soul.”
“On the contrary,” he said as we ambled down the hall. “You light the fire in my soul. You’re my flame.”
My cheeks heated furiously at his words.
“You really enjoyed yourself today?” Kellin asked after a moment.
“I really, truly did.”
“That makes me happy to hear,” Kellin said softly as we stopped at my door. “I’ve been worried about how you’re really doing. You hold a lot inside.”
“I’m doing better.” I nodded slowly. “It’s hard, but you’re making it easier. So thank you.”
“No need for thanks, Ana.” He reached out and thumbed my bottom lip gently.
“W-where do you stay when you’re here?” I cleared my throat, trying to shake away the feelings that kept cropping up—good, bad, and somewhere in the middle.
“I sleep just down the hall from you. Three doors, to be exact. You can find me there most times after dark.” He pointed.
“Good to know,” I murmured, nodding.
“I had fun, too,” he said suddenly. “You’re amazing, Ana. I still can’t get over the