The Red Wolf's Daughter (Book 3 Part 2: The Making of the Siran)

Chapter 37

Caroline cleared her throat and shifted on her feet while she looked at me. "So, are you ready to finish what we have started?" she asked and raised an eyebrow in question, and I looked at her and nodded in confirmation.

"Yes," I said and nodded again before I cleared my throat and looked at her. "Come on and let's get this over with before we get interrupted by someone else." I started to walk the way that I was going before we were interrupted by the twins, and Caroline followed me.

"How much time do you think it's going to take to get them settled?" Caroline asked while she moved to my shoulder, and I shrugged in response because I didn't know while I stayed silent.

She hesitated and moved to my side all the way, and I looked at her from the corner of my eye while she looked around and then at me. "Do you think we'll be stopped by Cooper?" she asked and raised an eyebrow in question, her voice barely above a whisper when she said his name as if she was afraid that he would appear out of nowhere.

I bit back a scoff and rolled my eyes while I pursed my lips in annoyance. "Oh, I don't know, and I don't care," I said and narrowed my eyes. "If he does, then he does. If he doesn't, then he doesn't. I'm not sure he will show his face to me for a little while."

"Why not?" she asked while she raised an eyebrow in question and looked at me. She cocked her head and studied me while she furrowed her brows. "Do you think you scared him that much?"

"Yes," I said and nodded in confirmation, biting back a small chuckle. "I am surprised that I hadn't scared him enough not to punch Reece by tossing him over my shoulder and having my foot on his throat."

She bit back a small chuckle while she nodded. "That was kind of funny," she admitted softly.

I scoffed a laugh and rolled my eyes while I scowled. "It was funny, even though I was scared and about to piss my pants when it happened."

She paused and shook her head while she cleared her throat. "I was scared, too," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I thought Cooper was going to kick you out after you did that to him."

"If he did, then I would have found a way to take you with me," I replied while I shrugged and grimaced, nonchalantly. "I wasn't going to let you stay here by yourself and not get into trouble with me." I shot her a small wink and bit back a small smirk.

Caroline furrowed her brows and cocked her head while she studied me. "What do you mean?" she asked. "What were we going to do if you took me away from here?" she asked while she raised an eyebrow in question.

I shrugged and grimaced before I cleared my throat and moved a hand through my hair. "Find people and help people get situated for what is to come," I replied. "That's the main thing that we can do if we are kicked out of this group."

"Also train?" Caroline asked, and I chuckled and nodded in confirmation.

"Yes," I confirmed verbally while I bit back another chuckle. "We will train. We need to get your confidence in water up, and we also have to get mine up, too."

Caroline breathed a sigh of relief, and she nodded, biting back a small sigh of relief. "Are you sure that you have to get your confidence up in water?" she asked randomly, and I chuckled and slowly nodded. "Why do you say that?"

"Well, because it is the truth," I said and shrugged while I grimaced. "I am not as confident in water as I am with fire. That's why you see me using fire more often than water."

"When will you be confident in water, or do you even know?"

I shrugged and grimaced some more. "I do not know," I replied honestly before I cleared my throat and shook my head. "However, we are going to figure that out together." I sighed and moved a hand across my face and cleared my throat again.

Caroline frowned and nodded. "So I get to see you struggle, huh?" She raised an eyebrow in question, and I snorted and nodded in confirmation.

"Yes," I said while I moved a hand through my hair and shook my head before I sighed. "It'll be annoying, but hey, that's life."

"However, you are good with fire," Caroline said, and I shrugged and grimaced, "and you get to see that I am struggling as well."

"You aren't having to be a teacher, though," I said while I flashed her a small wink and smirked, and she bit back a small smile. I cleared my throat and looked away from her before I looked at her again. "However, we can teach and learn how to do this together. How does that sound?" I raised an eyebrow in question, and she nodded.

"That would be wonderful," she said while she breathed a sigh of relief. She offered me a hesitant smile while she dipped her head closer to her chest. "Thank you, Ky. I do appreciate it."

I bowed my head and smiled, my heart feeling warm and filled with pride because she was grateful. "Of course," I said while I nudged her shoulder, and she smiled and moved with the shove. "Anything for you, Caroline."

My smile wavered a little when I caught sight of Andrei passing us without a single look our way, and my heart broke into a million pieces.

Caroline looked at Andrei and then at me. She didn't say a word, but I could tell that she was nervous and worried about us, even though a part of her was jealous because she was interested in him, too.

I cleared my throat and licked my lips while I looked away from him, grimacing slightly and tucking my head closer to my body. "I'll do anything for you, Caroline," I said, my voice barely above a whisper while I absentmindedly grabbed the necklace that my Andrei had given me for my birthday, yearning to go home but knowing that I couldn't, not until I had finished up with everything here.

Always...

No matter at what cost.

I promise...