Delaney and Renna were also shocked seconds later as they made it in. None of us, besides Molly, were brave enough to go in past our ankles. We walked in a line, Molly on the deepest end, along the shore with our skirts hiked.
I was sure the Nerede shore had never seen anything like this before. Five women. Dressed in the most elaborate gowns, frolicking in the water like a bunch of young girls.
We only got so far before a guard snapped at us to turn around. We obeyed, our teeth already chattering with how cold we were.
As we made our way back over to our shoes, laughing as we tried and failed to shake all the sand off us, Krew’s magic hit the bottom of each woman’s dress, immediately drying it.
“Dammit,” I muttered. I could dry mine myself, but not with everyone standing there.
“Oh no,” Isla commented. “Jorah’s cannot dry?”
“Not while she’s in it,” Krew admitted.
This time it was Keir choking on a laugh. I pressed my lips together in an effort to keep from joining him.
Krew glared at his brother. “I didn’t mean it like that. I mean we will have to see if the kind farmer who has stabled the horses will allow her to change out of it and hand it to me, in which case then I can dry it, yes. Just not while it is on her person.”
“Oh sure, Prince Krewan,” Molly joked. “You just want to see her naked. Or in the very least, wearingsignificantlyless.”
Always, Krew sent down the bond to me while glaring at Molly.
Unable to keep it in any longer, I grabbed at my knees, laughing hard. But we all were, so it wasn’t any more awkward than Molly had already made it.
Krew threw up his hands. “Let’s get going, before Jorah freezes to death.”
Renna grabbed my arm as we began walking. “He’s just in a hurry to see you in your skivvies.”
Giggling, I made it a point to reach for Gwen’s arm with my free hand as we began the walk back to the stables.
For the longest time I had refused to befriend these women, knowing that we’d only know each other for a short time, but in this moment, I could not be happier for each of them. And as the Assemblages eventually ended and we all returned home, I was determined to keep these friendships I had been so against.
CHAPTER19
My feet pounded in the forest, and my shadows followed, running alongside me, one on either side. They were more graceful and quieter than me despite having double the legs, and they had no path to make a way for them either.
Every morning Rafe and the black wolf ran with me. The first morning it had happened, I’d been overjoyed. I had never expected them to keep coming back. Yet they ran with me now every morning, and then ate breakfast while Owen and I trained. It was becoming our new routine.
I didn’t even mind getting out of bed this early anymore. I got to run with the wolves. It was my favorite part of the day, though I wasn’t about to admit it to Owen.
My hand hit the rough bark of the tree we always ran to, and I grabbed my knees. “Ready guys? Just the trip back now.”
Rafe’s tail gave a low swing and he put his head down, ready and waiting for me.
I wasn’t sure because I couldn’t speak wolf, but I thought the wolves enjoyed this even more than I did. And I had no idea why.
“Let’s go!”
We took off, and I grinned, going even faster paced than we had the way there. Owen stayed near the meadow, knowing that with the wolves with me, I was well enough protected. That and my own magic.
My lungs were burning and I wasn’t sure how my legs were even still attached by the time we made it back to the meadow. I wasn’t sure I’d ever enjoy running, but I did enjoy how happy it made the wolves, so I at least hated it less now.
Where Owen normally stood in the meadow, there were now two men. And I knew from the bond exactly who they were.
Seeing Krew there, the black wolf pulled to a stop and let out a low growl.
I slowed to a walk, turning to look at him. “It’s okay, that’s just Krew.”
He let out another low growl.
