Elsbeth bounded to her feet, her eyes sparkling. “Will you come with us, Erik?”
“No. I should stay here, in case Kristine needs me.”
“Of course,” Elsbeth said.
“Valaree, are you coming?”
“No, Father. I shall stay and keep Erik company.”
With a nod, Ulric left the cave, followed by his wife and daughter.
“It will not be so bad,” Valaree said softly. “I have told you that you are welcome to stay with us when the transformation is complete.”
Erik shook his head, unable to put his thoughts into words.
“You feel alone, as though you will be cut off from humanity, unable to speak, to communicate. But it will not be like that, if you stay with us. When we are in wolf form, we will be able to communicate with you, and you with us.”
She placed her hand on his arm, her dark brown eyes intent upon his face. “If you wish, I will be your mate. Wolves mate for life, Erik. You need not be alone.”
“Valaree . . .”
“You need say nothing now. I spoke only in hopes of comforting you. I know how frightened you must be, how lost you must feel. Though I was born a werewolf, there were still adjustments to be made. It is not an easy way of life, but you can find happiness, if you try. There are wild wolves who are friendly to our pack. If you stay with us, you will meet them.”
Erik drew in a deep breath. “My thanks, Valaree. I will think on what you have said.”
Later that night, lying beside Kristine, Erik thought about what Valaree had suggested. He did not want to spend the rest of his life as a wolf, but if it was his fate to do so, then he was fortunate indeed to have met Valaree and her family, to know there were those who would welcome him.
But it was Kristine he loved, Kristine whose life he wished to share. Turning on his side, he placed his hand over her belly, felt his child stir beneath his fingertips.
Please, please let me see my child before the transformation is complete. Please let me hold my babe in my arms just once. Please . . .
He closed his eyes as Kristine pressed herself against him, and prayed that, whatever happened to him, his wife and child would make it safely back home.
It rained the next day. Valaree had suggested staying in the cave to wait out the storm, but Erik had insisted they move on. Time was running out. They had to find the mage soon, before it was too late.
Ulric had agreed with him, a fact that chilled Erik to the core of his being. The werewolf knew, as he did, that the transformation was almost complete.
Erik glanced into the distance. The wolves loped ahead of the horses, running tirelessly, oblivious to the cold and the rain.
Kristine huddled inside her cloak, the hood pulled low over her forehead to shield her face. She had been quiet since they’d left the cave. He knew she was troubled by the presence of the werewolves, by the constant reminder of what awaited him when the curse was complete.
At noon, they paused to rest the horses. The wolves went ahead to explore the lay of the land. Erik lifted Kristine from Misty’s back and they sought shelter in the lee of an overhanging rock.
“Are you going to return to Valaree if. . . when . . . ? Are you?”
“You heard what she said?”
Kristine nodded. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.” Her gaze searched his. “Are you going to be her . . . her mate?”
“I don’t know.”
“I think you should.” She looked up at him, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I know you won’t be happy staying with me after . . . After. I don’t want you to be alone.”
“Kristine . . .”
“I just want you to be happy.”
“Ah, Kristine . . .” Taking her in his arms, he held her close for a long time, gently rocking her back and forth, his throat thick with emotion, and knew he had never loved her more.
“How much farther is it?” Kristine asked.
“Ulric said we would reach the wizard’s keep late tomorrow.”
“The mage will be able to help us,” Kristine said. “I know he will.”
Erik nodded.
“And then we’ll go home.” She forced a smile. “I want our daughter to be born at Hawksbridge.”
“My mother will be pleased.”
“We must send for her when we get home, Erik. She’s lonely at the convent.”
“She is at Hawksbridge already.”
“She is?”
“I went to see her. That’s how I knew where you had gone. I sent Chilton to fetch her home.” He let out a sigh. “It was wrong of me to send her away. Hawksbridge was her home long before it was mine.”
“She understood your reasons.”
“Promise you will take good care of her for me.”
“You will be able to do that yourself, soon.” She smiled up at him, though her eyes were sad. “The mage will be able to help us. You must believe that. You must help me to believe,” she said with quiet desperation. “Oh, Erik, I cannot bear this any longer.”
“Kristine, don’t. I need you to be strong for me.”
“I’m sorry.” She wiped her eyes with a corner of her cloak, and then she smiled up at him, her eyes luminous with unshed tears. “We should go. The sooner we find the mage, the sooner this nightmare will be over.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
The River Onyx appeared as black as its name. Erik knew it was simply a trick of the light reflecting off the black stones that lined the bottom of the river; still, it was disconcerting to gaze at that murky ribbon of water and think of crossing it.
Though the water was only thigh-high, it ran swift. The horses balked at entering the dark water and only Erik’s firm hand, and the stallion’s trust, enabled him to lead Raven across the river. When he reached the far side, he went back for Misty. Fearing the mare might panic, Erik told Kristine to wait. In the end, he had to blindfold the mare to get her across the river.
He went back one more time to get Kristine. Lifting her in his arms to keep her from getting wet, he carried her to the other side.
Valaree and her family, in wolf form, swam across easily enough. Standing close together, they shook the water from their coats, then ran off toward the woods that edged this side of the Onyx.
“You’re cold,” Kristine said as Erik put her down.
“I’ll be all right. We’ll rest here a few minutes.”
“Are you hungry?”
Erik nodded.
“Me, too.” Delving into one of the saddlebags, she withdrew a loaf of brown bread and a square of yellow cheese.