The Winter

Chapter 18

Is it possible to unlock memories from another life?

Chapter 18

Hati paced the length of the ornate room we found ourselves sequestered in. Fulla led us to it after we'd been dismissed from the hall, giving us privacy to come to terms with all we'd heard.

Rainbow colours lit up his skin as the sun beamed through the colourful glass depicting a forest scene; hunting wolves creeping closer to the lone white stag in the last panel. I would have taken time to admire it if I wasn't still reeling internally from our earlier meeting. A meeting that, despite its revelations, gave me no more answers about how I was to save us all, or how I could learn to use my magic. I had power beyond what anyone knew, ingrained into my very bones, and yet no skill in wielding it.

No skill. No life beyond a planned death. A child born in a time of chaos, older than any other being on the world she tread. . .and yet, what was I really but bits of other things all mixed together and shoved into a skin shifters body?

Why was I not panicking as Hati was at the foretelling of my inevitable death?

Instead of panic or denial, I felt clearer of mind and calmer in heart than I had in months. Because if my death really was inevitable, I would damn well make sure it meant something.

"We will find a way," Hati promised, stopping before me, mistaking my stony expression perhaps for fear rather than resignation.

My only real fear was whether my mother and father would cope losing another pup, but they would have to, for Niamh and Anndra's sakes. Hati would need to take Fionnlagh under his wing, keep him motivated and training, his mind on the pack and not tortured with loss as I'd become.

It wasn't just resignation however. Fury lit a spark in me too. I could feel it fizzling underneath the cold acceptance, deadly and destructive. I would make everyone who had a hand in this pay, not for myself but for the pain that would cripple my family. Would it cripple Hati? It couldn't. He needed to keep himself strong for the pack, and for the promise I would make him swear on iron from my homeland, an unbreakable vow he would have to keep.

Hati would have to survive. My family would need him.

"I want to speak to her alone."

He growled, his hand slicing through the air. "No. I will not leave you alone with a single one of them. I have much respect for the Queen of these lands but she has an agenda of her own-"

"Everyone has an agenda of their own, mate mine. We had an agenda in coming here, and I don't plan on leaving until I have the answers I need."

"Eabha." Falling to his knees before me, Hati cupped his larger hands over where my own were fisted on my lap. A soft rumble enticed my eyes to meet the flickering flames dancing in his. There I could see barely controlled rage, a touch of wild causing muscles to shift and joints to pop as he tried to control instincts screaming his mate was in danger and to take out the threat. Only there was no real tangible threat to defeat that would save me. "Why torture yourself with more? Have we not heard enough of the answer she has to give?"

"Answers she had to give when other ears were listening, yes," I agreed, taking a deep breath before adding more forcefully, "I am not asking, Hati, I am telling you. I will speak to the Lady Freyja. Then we will eat at this farce of a feast - as if the borders are not being marched upon - then return home where we should be. Where we're truly needed."

"Home." Hati smiled, his hands sliding up my thighs while his thumb massaged soothing circles into my skin. "I should keep you there. I should lock you away somewhere safe until Ragnarök has passed. I can't. . .you can't. . ." He heaved a shuddering breath, and when his head lifted again, I was taken back by how young he looked, how vulnerable, how scared. "I can not lose you. I won't allow it. You belong by my side and I will not let you go. Fate will have to tear you from my grasp."