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When I stepped over the threshold I took in Jnr staring wide-eyed at his mother as she laid L on top of the table

"Jnr, heat up some water," Sarah threw over her shoulder as she ripped L’s clothes away froht of the wound and I turned away, seeing how putrid it had groith infection Sarah stroked her daughter’s face tenderly L barely registered the touch "L, oin’ to be sortin’ that out, alright, honey"

I just stood there, gazing on uselessly This was all ht the guilt and concern on ly

"Now don’t ye be lookin’ like that, Rogan Things happen up in these here led with the pot of hot water so I hurried to take it from him before he splashed the water and burned hi L’s wound She stirred a little at her mother’s touch And then, as she had done with y into L I watched in a to L’s face with surprising swiftness L’s eyelashes fluttered and she groaned, looking up into Sarah’s happy but now fatigued face

"Ma" Her head rolled and she sawmy hands To my surprise she smiled "Kneasn’t coan saved my life"

"Well don’t that be somethin’" We all turned at the sound of Jonas’ voice He stood in the doorway to the house, his eyes bright on his daughter and then onover his shoulder He winked at me and then stepped further into the house A shadow moved behind him and my heart faltered There was a man with him, taller, broader As he stepped inside beside Jonas, his fa

"Wolfe!" Jnr shouted happily and flew past me to hop at Wolfe’s feet "This be lanced at L as she pulled herself into a sitting position Her eyes flicked between Wolfe andlook

I exhaled and looked back at Wolfe

I shook my head

I couldn’t believe the fool had coazes locked, despite the inscrutability of those pale eyes of his, a delicious relief, like co home after months of e sitting around the Moss’ kitchen table with Wolfe I knew I’d only known the family a few short days, but I had a bond with L that e to share the off on him, and he wasn’t unpleasant to me However, I knew that wasfor fivealready exhausted L and I’s rescue of one another fro techniques while Jnr desperately tried to get in on the conversation, completely enamoured by Wolfe As he did with everyone, Wolfe had enchanted the Moss faot how large he was Thankfully he had forgone his e when he appeared with Jonas was hanging up on the Moss’ coat pegs, the fur around the cuffs and collar proclai Wolfe’s wealth His shirt and waistcoat were finely made, his boats, his trousers He looked powerful and rich, his white-gold hilted sword propped against the wall Just being near hiht of L’s words of wisdoed to reach out and brush his hair off his face, stroke his arertips But he refused to look at athered, Wolfe clearly knew the Moss’ How?

L stared at me Her eyes dehtened any conversation ument She kicked lared at her and exhaled, turning to Wolfe

"So, Captain, when did you arrive?"

The sound of lanced sharply at me "Apparently a few hours after you and Miss Moss left for the Pool Sarah and Jonas convinced me you were in safe hands and that it would better if I stayed with them to await your return" That last word he ee and his eyes suddenly turned dark with pure, undiluted fury I tensed I had expected him to be mad, but this… He looked ready to explode "Jonas told me how L and he 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 an…"

"Later, Wol- Captain"

Just as I had not wanted to, Wolfe and I had created tension at the table I shifted uncomfortably

"So, Captain Wolfe," L suddenly piped up "How be ye findin’ Rogan?"

Yes, I thought, glancing over at hied "I’htened sense of intuition"

L threwGlava but had not ed back at her I hadn’t known about that ability I sighed and refused to look at his 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 ht it The glare he threw back said "Don’t be ot yourself alrimaced and turned froht

The sun bit into thechill and I breathed in the crispness of a su 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 Jnr stood on the porch of their home while L helpedi already thanked the Moss’ for their hospitality and oodbyes Jnr was not a ht," L said briskly, handing over the hunting knife

I shooktheir 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"