Page 92 of Fate Promised
While he wasn’t the friendliest vulk and swore a lot, she didn’t think he was upset she was Juri’s mate. In his own way, he seemed to be trying to get to know her. And a few times, she’d caught him watching her and Juri together, an odd expression on his face. Juri would never believe her, but she thought Kyril was lonely.
A distant braying rippled across the small clearing. She shaded her eyes and peered upward. “It’s Al!” He was high in the sky, and as she watched, he dipped his wings and circled once. Another albatross, also only a speck of white, sprang into view, floating on the thermals near Al. This one was a little smaller, a hint of gray at the edges of its wings. More braying sang through the air as they cooed to each other. Al dipped again, then the two turned to the south and flapped away. She smiled.
Juri gestured toward the birds. “He’s smart, he didn’t wait to join the one he wants most in the entire world.”
“I hope they come back next year and have their family near Ryba.” She wove her fingers more tightly in his and studied the cragged rock for any hint of a door. Nothing. It looked like the side of a mountain. “Is Hans going to visit us here?”
Hans left a couple weeks ago to return home to his mate, but she knew he and Juri were speaking mentally.
Juri nodded. “I spoke to him while we were walking here. He said to expect him in a week or two with Briony. He found Illarion, and Illarion will portal them here, so they don’t have to travel over the snow. We can give Illarion Koschei’s message in person. And we can ask him to officiate our wedding in the spring. Unless you had other plans?”
She squeezed his hand. “No, that sounds good.”
“He said something else interesting, too.”
“What?”
Juri had a strange expression on his face. “He said he’s going to honor my pact with Ryba about it being a frior town.”
“What does that mean?”
Juri swept the crooked branch aside, and explained, “It means the vulk will continue to have a presence in Ryba. Frior is an ancient term for a person, or a place, under vulk protection. We’ll … have a sort of extended home there and make sure the town is always safe. Hans said I’m off duty for a while, but when we want to emerge from our den, we can go back to town and talk to the mayor. He thought you and I might want to be the ones to figure out how to make this work.”
An alliance with the vulk—permanently. They’d be able to live in Ryba whenever they wanted. She felt like she was floating. “What do you think?”
He slung his arm around her. “I think we won’t emerge from my den for a good long while, but I’d like to create a town where the vulk are welcome.”
They gazed at each other for a long moment. She wanted that too.
He smiled. “All right, time to show you my den. Our den. Our other home.” Juri placed his claws in a few holes in the stone and a slab of lichen-covered rock slid open without a whisper of sound. He leaned forward and ran his fingers over the wall near the entryway. Light flared forth at the top of the passage, casting a warm, orange glow.
She gasped. “How did you do that?”
“Vae light. The magic lets you light it at a simple touch.”
Triska moved to enter the den, but Juri stopped her. “Aren’t I supposed to carry you across the threshold?” He swept her up in his arms.
Triska wove her arms around his neck, over the straps of the pack, and studied her vulk. Her vulk. Forever. She trailed her fingers up the back of his neck, and he purred. His jaw brushed against the top of her head.
After a gentle slope, the den spread before her, and Triska gasped. She’d expected something nice, but not like this. He settled her on her feet and went to the fireplace, coaxing it into flame. Triska walked across the lush woven rug on the floor. Made in Stok, it was quite rare, with vivid blue and yellow in a design so intricate only the best craftsmen could make them. But the rug paled in comparison to the stone arching around her.
Triska walked to the wall and ran her hand over it. Perfectly smooth. The inner stone of the den was a soft gray, but ribbons of white threaded through it, and in some places, the white took over, making it appear that the stone flowed like water. “How did you do this?”
“The vulk know stone.” He stood in the center of the expansive living room, watching her.
The space was all Juri. A large sofa of black leather nestled against the far wall, its lines simple, yet attractive. A massive fireplace dominated the other wall. The kind for roasting game. Large game.
“Hans said he’s making us rocking chairs as a wedding gift. I thought they could go in here.”
She nodded. “Absolutely.”
A gentle slope led to the next room, and she peeked her head in. “Your kitchen is larger than your living room.” She laughed.
“Of course. I spend the most time in there.” He crossed the room and put his arms around her. “Maybe not anymore, though. The bedroom is about to get a lot more use.”
She raised a brow. “We won’t just be using the bedroom. I want you in every room and on every surface of your den. I want my scent mingling with yours.”
He grinned. “You don’t need to mark my den, you’re already here.” He pointed to above the mantel and led her over. Etched into the stone was an elaborate carving. A beach, a tree, and waves. “This is our cove. I etched it in here. And come with me.”