As we walked toward the Grand Cabin, I stopped Rosie with my arm. “Can I ask for a favor?”

She nodded. “Anything.”

“Would it be possible to get Raydir any sort of art supplies? Charcoal and paints, specifically. He makes the most spectacular charcoal drawings. And his attention to detail with watercolors…” I trailed off, remembering the painting he’d given me for my 18th birthday.

Rosie laid a hand gently on my arm. “We can certainly get those for him. It’s not a problem.”

“Thank you. I hoped to surprise him with it. Getting back into his art was one of his reasons for wanting to come out here.”

“Absolutely. We encourage all forms of creativity out here. He’s not the only artist in our midst.”

Once inside the Grand Cabin, I found Raydir already talking with Bennett. He waved when he saw me, and we hurried over.

“Ah, Arwyn. I’m glad to see you. We have much to discuss, the four of us,” Bennett said.

I nodded. “Yes, we do. Starting with: what are you not telling me about the first shift on the Alignment? How dangerous is this going to be?”

Raydir squeezed my hand reassuringly under the table, rubbing small circles over it with his thumb.

“It depends on your reaction,” Bennett replied cryptically. “Now, Raydir, you said that you’ve had nightmares. We’ve dealt with many different reactions—this points toward either type of wolf you can become.”

“But he doesn’t choose?”

Bennett nodded. “Correct.”

We paused the conversation momentarily as a couple of women served us plates of brisket drizzled with a balsamic glaze.

“There are two types of the wolf spirit, more commonly called the wolf curse,” Rosie explained. “There is the type of wolf that is calmer and more wolf-like. They experience the mildest Alignment nights, shifting with all memory of who they are and who they love.”

I swallowed. That doesn’t sound so bad. “And the other?”

Rosie and Bennett shared a glance before he continued. “The other is more dangerous. These wolves forget what they know and really become the wolf. Alignment nights are the worst for them, but the nights leading up are not great either.”

My body tensed. “So if it’s someone’s first Alignment—”

“That is worse for everyone, regardless of the type of wolf they become,” Bennett clarified. He nodded to Raydir. “Therefore, we do not know which one he will be.”

“And which are you, Bennett?” I asked.

Bennett sipped at his drink. “I am fortunate enough to be the former. But several others who live in our community are the latter. This time is always hard on them. On all of us, really. Now, as for what we can do to make tonight and ultimately tomorrow better, Rosie will make you some ibisco tea. Take one cup tonight, one in the morning, then one before sundown tomorrow. That should help ease some of the effects.”

“Is there anything else we should know?” Raydir asked. “I want to make sure Arwyn is safe during the shift.”

“She will be safe,” Rosie reassured him. “We will make sure of it. And the most important thing is that you are there for each other. Raydir, a word of advice—think of Arwyn during the shift. Focus on what you love, who you love, and tomorrow won’t be as bad. Any stray away from that focus, and the symptoms will be more severe.”

Ray nodded uncomfortably. “Noted.”

We sat in a strange silence for the rest of dinner, the only sounds came from the chatter of the other folks and the clinking of utensils on plates. My head swam with a million thoughts about our situation. How would I know he would be ok? Did I make the right choice coming out here? Of course I did, what was I even thinking?

“It gets easier, I promise.”

I looked up from my plate to find Rosie giving me a small smile. “I hope you’re right. I can’t bear to see Ray like this.”

She watched Raydir get up from the table, kiss my temple, then go to talk to someone across the room. “The first shift is the hardest. It’ll get better from here, and he has you to hang onto. Remember that.”

I glanced over at Raydir. “I love him. When we were in the dukedoms, we always had to sneak around to be with each other. But out here in the valley, we’re truly free to just be with each other. Having the chance to make our own choices…it’s freeing. Our families have feuded ever since my sister died. If that hadn’t happened…” I shuddered, not daring to let myself imagine how life might have turned out if Arabella had never been in that carriage.

“Here, take this.” Rosie placed something cool and smooth in my hand.

“What is it?”

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“Praesidium. It’s a protection crystal. And that reminds me—I know I said the ibisco tea was for those three occasions, but if Raydir has nightmares again, make him a cup of the tea. It is the best remedy we have to ease them.”

“How will we know which type he’ll be?” My mind kept fluttering back to what Bennett said: these wolves forget what they know and really become the wolf.

“You won’t know until the Alignment happens.” Her eyes softened. “But we will be with you every step of the way.”

It was dark by the time that Raydir and I got back to our cabin. I changed into the silk nightgown and went to sit beside Raydir on the sofa. A warm fire crackled in the hearth, the lights dim for the evening.

“What’s on your mind?” My fingers wove through his hair. While most men in the dukedoms kept their hair short, Raydir had grown his out so it curled along his jaw and just past his ears. It had been that way for as long as I could remember.

Ray smiled. “Just you.” He nuzzled my cheek with his lips. “We’re finally out here together. And we can do whatever we want.” His gaze met mine. That same hunger I saw on our journey was evident once again in his eyes.

“But the Alignment,” I protested as his lips grazed my neck.

He lifted his head again. “Rosie and Bennett already told us what we need to know about that. We’re as prepared as we’re going to be. And we’re together. That’s what matters most.”

He tilted my head up to his and kissed me again. I let my hands roam over his back as he laid us down on the sofa. A small growl of approval escaped from his throat when I hooked my fingers under the fabric of his shirt and pulled it up over his head. He broke the kiss for a second to help me toss it to the side before slowly diving back in for more.

This was what I wanted. He was all I wanted. As much as my body yearned for his touch, my brain had other more rational ideas.

Raydir’s fingers went to the clasps of the bronze piece that sat over my torso. He’d managed to get the first few undone before pulling back. His eyes searched mine.

“Not tonight?” he asked.

I bit my lip and shook my head. “I’m sorry. I-I want this, I do. Just…”

He nodded. “I understand.”

I laid my head back on his chest and sighed. “How many other girls have you ever been with?” I mentally kicked myself as soon as the words had escaped my lips. Was that really what I was asking right now? And more importantly, did I really want to know?

Raydir ran his fingers through my hair, the calming gesture almost lulling me to sleep. “None.”

“But you’ve courted other women.” I trailed a hand over his chest, feeling his heartbeat under my fingertips.

“Courted, yes. Slept with, no.” The corners of his mouth twitched into a smile. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me up into a hug. “You’re the only woman I want to be with, Arwyn. I love you.”

“I love you too.” I cupped his face in my hands and leaned up to kiss him again. He hummed happily when I laid my head back down on his chest.

I closed my eyes and tried to get some sleep. Tomorrow was just another day. Nothing serious to worry about. We were going to make it through. We were going to be fine.

“Bella! Bella! Wake up!” I whisper-squeaked, shaking my sister awake.

“Ary, what is it?” she grumbled, rubbing at her eyes.

“The howling. I’m scared.” I hugged my teddy bear to my chest.

“Ary, the wolves aren’t going to hurt you, ok? They’re far away in Darqua.”

My bottom lip quivered as I looked up at her.

She sighed. “Come here, Ary.” Arabella got up out of bed, taking me by the hand, and bringing me over to our bedroom’s balcony. “You see way out there in the distance? Beneath those mountains is Darqua, the hidden valley.”

“Is that where the wolfies live?”

“Father says so.”

“Can we go someday? I wanna meet a wolfie. Then I can ride him around the woods.”

Arabella laughed. “You’re silly, Ary. Now, can you go back to sleep, please?”

“Yes, Bel—”

“No, no! Don’t hurt—”

”Now I'm gonna dream about happy wolf…”

“NO! Leave her alone! Ahhhh!!”

I jolted awake and Raydir thrashed next to me, yelling and cursing. It took a minute to gauge my surroundings; we had fallen asleep together on the sofa.

“Ray, Ray! Wake up!” I shook his shoulder.

His eyes shot open. “Wha—what happened?”

“You were…you were having nightmares again.”

Raydir dragged a hand down his face, rubbing at his eyes. “I guess the tea didn’t help.”

I hopped up, rummaging through the cupboards for a tea kettle. “Let me make you some more. Rosie said to make you more if you had nightmares tonight.”

“Are you sure you don’t mind?” he asked, padding over to the kitchen to join me.

“Positive.” I kissed his cheek. “You are so worth it.”

The kettle let out a shrill whistle soon after. I poured the water into a mug and added the ibisco tea bag so it could steep.

“Drink this. I really do hope it’ll help.” We sat back down on the sofa.

“I’m sorry I woke you up again,” Raydir said as he drank his tea.

“Don’t worry about it.” I covered his hand with mine. “I’m just glad you’re ok. Why don’t we stay up for a while? We can just talk.”

“The way we did when we were young?” His lips formed a smile. “I miss those days.”

“Me too. Back when we were young and innocent.”

Raydir laughed. “Oh, we were never innocent. Remember how we used to sneak out those biscuits from the kitchen? And we’d go for rides for hours until our parents sent guards out to look for us because they were afraid we’d gotten lost?”

I leaned my head back against the sofa. “Those really were the days. And all those times playing hide and seek on rainy afternoons?”

“We really could get lost for hours. And you always wanted to spend time in the library. You could practically live there.”

“I certainly miss that.” I jutted my chin toward his half-drunk tea. “Keep drinking, Ray. We want to lessen as many of these symptoms as possible.”

Reluctantly, he sipped more of the tea. “Let’s hope this stuff actually works. I don’t know how many more of these nightmares I can take.”

“I’m sure it will. But just in case, I want to stay here with you for the rest of the night, ok? And don’t even think about getting up and leaving me for whatever reason. I’m here to protect you as much as you are here to protect me.”

Raydir let out a low, deep growl but nodded all the same. “Talk to me more about when we were kids.”

I smiled, leaning my head on his shoulder as he ran his fingers through my hair again. “I remember one night when we played hide-and-seek at the castle. I can still hear our voices echoing through the halls. I found you in the kitchen because you had gotten tired of waiting for me.”

He laughed. “I was always too good at that game.”

I pushed his shoulder lightly. “No, you were always too stubborn and cocky with that game. Anyway, I found you in the kitchen with Ginny. She was teaching you to make biscuits and you were covered in flour.”

“Mm.” He twirled the ends of my hair between his fingers. “Do you know why I love you, Arwyn?”

“Because we’ve been friends forever?”

“That’s certainly part of it, but no. I love you because what we have is stronger than anything the fates could’ve ever predicted. You know that the fate ceremony is just an age-old tradition that has no real bearing on anything other than keeping the future of the dukedoms in line.”

I stayed silent. It was a tradition our fathers still hadn’t abolished despite knowing how in love we were.

“I’ve courted many women over the last few years and still we always come back to each other,” he continued. “And there’s no one I’d rather run away with than you.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed my lips to his again before letting him take control. The moment was bittersweet as the sweetness of his mouth on mine mixed with the saltiness of tears that streamed down my face.