Page 59 of Rage of Her Ravens
Helena patted Ember on the head. “Inside and out.” Her eyes crinkled as she cupped Aurora’s shoulder. “You’d do best to steer away from him.”
Aurora’s eyes were wide with curiosity. “Why?”
“Just trust me on this.” She tried to stand upright, her bones cracking with the movement. She gave me a stern look. “The girls have holes in their stockings. Have you no change of clothes for them?”
I fought the urge to look away from her scowling face. “I’m afraid we didn’t have time to pack.”
“Why not?”
I shot my mates a nervous look. “My parents didn’t exactly bless our bond.”
“I see.” She frowned, rubbing her pointy chin. “And you didn’t think to leave the children with your parents?”
Spine stiffening, I looked directly into her eyes. “I made two promises to Tari before we lost her.” I chose my words carefully, knowing shifters were good at sniffing out lies. We’d lost her, yes, but she hadn’t died. I would keep that secret until my sister was safe with her family once more. “The first was that should anything ever happen to her, I’d love and raise the girls as if they were my own. The second was that I’d protect them with my life. I have every intention of honoring those promises.”
Blaze cleared his throat, splaying a hand across his heart. “And we would gladly sacrifice our lives to help her keep those promises.”
Nikkos murmured his agreement.
My gaze shot to my mates. They would do that for us? Tears sprung to my eyes, and I had to fight to hold them back. Oh, how lucky I was to have such amazing mates. Yes, they were certainly getting kisses tonight.
“Is there a place where we can purchase fresh clothes and shoes for the girls?” Nikkos asked.
“I will procure them new things,” she said, stiffly, “but you will not be paying. We shifters look out for our own.”
“We would not wish to take advantage of your hospitality.” Blaze pulled a sack out of his pocket, jangling it in his hand. “This should hopefully cover two rooms, meals for us, and clothes for the girls.” He handed her the bag.
She poured ten golden coins into her palm. I’d never seen so much money before.
“Oh. Well. I’m not one to turn down such a generous offer.” Her wide smile revealed one sharp canine and several missing or rotted teeth. “I’ll have my grandsons show you to the tavern.” She nodded toward the huge beasts behind her.
Blaze bowed, his wings fluttering behind him. “Thank you.”
“May we have some coins, Uncle Blaze?” Aurora asked, flashing him a cherubic smile.
He ruffled her hair with a grin. “When we get home, I’ll give you girls each a gold coin if you behave yourselves tonight.”
They squealed with joy, dancing around on their toes while smiling ear to ear.
“Oh, we’ll behave!” Ember exclaimed.
“And no complaints tomorrow when I have to carry you,” Nikkos added.
Their smiles faded, and they scowled at Nikkos as if he’d just taken candy out of their hands.
I covered my mouth to hide my grin. “It was worth a try,” I whispered to Nikkos as he took my hand again.
He simply shook his head and laughed.
* * *
Helena stayed behindwhile her two frightening companions led us into the compound. The shifter stronghold was a town inside a fortress, with an outdoor market, several dozen huts with smoking chimneys, and a tavern with an attached inn. Blaze and Nikkos had to each carry a girl, since the ground was covered in red, sticky clay that stained the soles of my shoes. I breathed through a wheeze, as the air reeked of manure, piss, and roasting meat. Music echoed all around us. Everywhere we turned, there was a group of shifters with drums and stringed instruments sitting on overturned barrels and crates while playing for a small crowd or just to themselves. As we crossed past several crude buildings, shifters wearing coarse clothes came outside to stare at us, their expressions turning from caution to shock when they set eyes on the girls.
“Why do they all look at us?” Ember loudly whispered while blatantly staring back.
“Your pappos were their kings,” I answered, warily eyeing the inhabitants of this strange town.
Some of the shifters looked like humans, some looked like something in-between, with furry faces and pointy ears, and others were something entirely different, nightmarish wolf creatures with long, pointy snouts. They stood on two bent legs and towered over my mates.