Lord Merith swallowed. "Damien… after everything you've done… I hope you stay awhile. We could use your strength."
Damien shook his head gently.
"I can't. I still have something I need to do."
His own path. His own demons.
Q
His own truth.
The lord nodded slowly, resignation settling into his features.
"You saved us," he said quietly. "And you terrify us. Both can be true."
Damien didn't respond. He simply patted Fenrir and motioned toward the doors.
The night air was cold as Damien left the castle. Fenrir's glowing eyes swept the shadows, ever protective. Luton hummed softly on his shoulder.
Damien paused under the torch-lit archway and stared toward the distant northern hills.
His thoughts drifted unbidden, back to the people he'd left behind.
Apnoch, Lyone, and Arielle.
Were they okay? Had they made it to Eastern Shirefort safely? Had they even started moving toward Shirefort? Were they training? Eating? Healing?
