Page 27 of Fate Promised
Triska scooted inside and wrapped some eggs in two pieces of toast. She brought them out to Kyril and Juri. Kyril stared at the meal in her hand as if she held something dangerous, then slowly took it from her. “Thanks,” he said gruffly, then turned to the road, hopping over the gate instead of opening it.
Juri frowned. “Kyril’s right, I need to go with him and do some searching this morning. I’ll meet you down at Fergal’s a bit later. I’m going to stick close, though.”
A door opened next door, and Hazel walked into her front yard. Although they’d had a few frosts come through, Hazel’s front garden was still lush and green, with tomatoes hanging on the vines and sunflowers providing a flash of golden color. Triska suspected Hazel was using magic, but she hadn’t caught her yet. “I’m here, so she’s plenty safe,” Hazel said.
“Do you normally listen to other conversations?” Juri asked, scowling. “You live next door?”
Hazel gestured back at her front door. “As you can see.”
Juri growled. “I don’t know, you seem like the type to break in and make yourself at home.” He strode to the hedge. “Stay with Triska until I meet up with her later. If something happens, send an alert with magic.”
Hazel’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t take orders from anyone.” Her gaze flickered to Triska, and her expression softened. “She’s safer with me than she is with you, and I don’t need to be asked to protect my friend. I was out there fighting the necromancer’s spell too.”
“Good.”
The two glared at each other, and Triska thought the hedge might burst into flames. She rolled her eyes. “Okay, that’s enough neighborly chat this morning, I think. We all need to work together.” She turned to Juri. “I’ll meet you at Fergal’s later.”
“All right.” His hand not holding the egg sandwich, wrapped around her lower back, drawing her close in a one-armed hug. His lips teased along her neck. “I’ll know if you need me. I can sort of sense you with the rune,” he whispered.
As he stepped back, she raised a brow. “And I’ll know if you need me.”
He didn’t say anything, but his lips quirked. Then he turned and left.
Hazel let herself in through the front gate and stomped after Triska into the house. She walked two steps inside, entered the kitchen, and gasped. “Look at this disaster.” Her fingers twitched. “There’s even egg on the ceiling.”
Triska glanced up to where another drop of yolk hung precariously, about to fall. “I’m not sure how he did that.”
Hazel rolled up the sleeves of her red cloak and grabbed a cloth. “Typical vulk, they make a mess of everything no matter where they go or what they do.”
Triska raised a brow and joined her. “How well do you know the vulk? You’ve never mentioned them. And seriously Hazel, go sit and eat the rest of the eggs, I’ve got this.”
Hazel’s cheeks flushed pink, and she turned to scrub the stove. “I can’t be in this room like this. I need to fix it. And the vulk … I crossed paths with one of them a while ago. It wasn’t a pleasant experience.” She paused and spun around. “Did that vulk sleep here last night.” She pointed at the cushions still on the floor in the living room.
Triska shrugged. “I wasn’t about to make him walk around in the cold all night.”
“I would have.” Hazel turned back to the stove. “What about Emil? You going to tell him you let a strange male sleep in your house when you wouldn’t let him?”
“Juri isn’t a stranger, we used to be close.” As she and Hazel put the rest of the kitchen back to rights, she explained about their childhood friendship until Juri had moved away.
“After all this time, you still remembered him?” Hazel asked. “I mean, I had a few childhood friends, but we outgrew each other ages ago. You, Chessa, and Briony are my friends now.”
“Juri talked about her last night, too. I didn’t know your Briony was mated to a vulk.”
Hazel nodded. “She’s married to the vulk Alpha. They had a fancy wedding and everything. They didn’t invite me.” She crossed her arms. “Because the white-furred asshole was there. He’s the Alpha’s brother, and they were afraid I might zap him if we spent too much time together.”
Triska stared. “This white-furred asshole is the vulk you crossed paths with before?”
Hazel nodded.
“Would you use your magic on him?”
An odd expression crossed Hazel’s face, almost as if she were in pain. Just as quickly, it passed. “Eh, probably not. He’s had enough magic used on him.” She scowled. “He has a gift for making me angry, though.”
Triska put her hand on her chest, feeling the necklace underneath her sweater. “Juri never made me angry.” No, he’d been a mischievous rascal who always looked after her and told her stories. She shook her head. “You’re right, it was a long time ago, but it’s not so weird to stay in touch with old friends. Chessa and I met in grade school, and we’re still friends, too.”
Hazel waved her hand. “Chessa won’t let anyone forget her. The vulk, though, it’s best if you try to forget him. They have no capacity to care about anyone but their pack.” Her lips tightened. “All they desire is to kill spawn and other monsters. They may have lust, but they have no capability to love. They don’t have souls.”
Triska froze. “You know about that? Do you know why?”