Ryza’s eyes opened and at first she saw nothing but darkness and her heartbeat accelerated. She sat up quickly and let out a muffled cry as she sank back down. But as she looked properly her eyes adjusted. She saw the dark stone ceiling. She could smell the sheets, smell the fur, and the air.
She looked toward the scent on the air and saw darkness outside again. Digging her fingers into the bed she forced herself to sit up slowly. But the pain hit her again and she sank into the bed, giving it up. She was back in Luthagen. Back home.
“I take my eyes off you two for only a few minutes and you almost get yourselves killed.”
Ryza tipped her head forward and smiled as Snow walked over to her immediately and sat on the edge of the bed. She leaned forward and cupped her face in her hands.
“I resent that,” she said scratchily, her voice dry. “I’m not a trouble maker like you.”
Ryza met her worried eyes and saw the relief flood them. Snow hugged her as tightly as her injured mate could take and pressed her forehead against hers. Ryza closed her eyes and took in her scent. Wrapped it around herself like her favorite blanket and she didn’t even feel the ache or pain in her body for a moment. She just felt her and everything was good.
Sighing as Snow slid back, she felt her claws gently stroke her cheek. But reality hit Ryza and she looked around her again, “Where’s Stephanie? And Dioh and The First. The demon!” She winced sinking back down as Snow pushed her. “What happened? How long have I been out?”
“Almost two days,” Snow told her gently.
“What? That can’t be right.”
“It is. You all have been healing slowly. I think it’s because of the demon,” Snow scowled at that. “Whatever that demon did, Steph and Dioh both have been healing slower.”
“Is Stephanie okay?”
“She is. I was just with her a couple hours ago actually,” Snow chuckled. “I had to force her to relax. She’s been worried about you and asking if you’ve woken up. Finally made her go back to sleep.”
“That’s good,” Ryza shut her eyes letting out a relieved breath. “After that thing hit her, I was scared.”
“She’s tough.”
“Very. She tried to fight the demon when she saw I was in trouble.”
“Putting herself between us and danger seems pretty on par.”
“It is. I might want her closer to our lives.”
“Really?”
“I trust her.”
“Look at you. Turning into such a softy.”
“Hush.”
They shared a smile but Ryza’s face went serious again. “What about the demon? What happened to it?”
“I don’t really know. I just know that The First sent out a howl for help. Me, Claudia, and a few others showed up. I didn’t get a good look at The First but he looked wiped. We brought you all back and the doctors took care of you. Haven’t seen The First since you all came back. What happened?”
Ryza thought back to the demon, its face staring at her, the screech it made and flinched. Her chest ached right above where her heart was and she gasped holding her chest. Snow’s eyes widened but Ryza was already shaking her head. “I’m fine.”
“You are not fine. For once don’t be stubborn and just rest.”
Sighing she finally nodded, “Fine.”
Snow kissed her softly and smiled. Ryza cracked a stubborn smile back at her. She sniffed the air gently and smiled, “I can smell Grey. Is he okay too?”
“Yeah he is. Actually, standing guard outside your room right now. Apparently, he was ready to fight the demon after it attacked you.”
“He’s a stubborn one.”
“Just like my favorite wulf.”
Ryza smiled at her and closed her eyes, relaxing against the bed. Not opening her eyes though she reached out absently toward Snow until she found her hand and squeezed it gently, giving it a tug. “Snow?”
“Yeah Ryry?”
“Stay with me. Until I go to sleep.”
“You know you can’t get rid of me that easily.” She lay down beside her, one arm going around her and resting her head against her shoulder. Ryza turned to face her and shut her eyes, trying to ignore the hollow ache in her chest.
It took almost a week before Stephanie was allowed to go home but closer to twice that for Ryza. She’d been able to walk around and limp but none of the doctors were able to find out if anything was wrong. She seemed physically healthy but there was something bothering them.
Stephanie and Snow were there standing near Ryza as she sat on the edge of the bed. She looked good, her bandages entirely removed. She winced a few times moving her right shoulder but it was more tightness than actual pain. Stephanie had grilled her intensely when she saw her the first time to make sure she was okay all while Snow had her head on or near Ryza.
Now she was there her head resting on top of Ryza’s making sure she was okay. Snow was looking at the pair of them and her tail wagging as one of her hands was in Ryza’s holding it tightly. She was beyond thrilled to have her home with her and she made no effort to hide that. “So tell us. She’s ready to come home right.
The doctor, an older man with greying hair and smaller ears looked at them, “I’m no mage and maybe that’s why I’m hesitant. You’re healthy but an instinct of mine says to be careful. I don’t think you’re out of the woods yet. Don’t push yourself. Definitely no hunting.”
“No hunting?” Ryza repeated.
“Be glad I’m saying no changing period,” he said. “I’m not sure of the long term effects of the demon’s magic on you. I advise you to stay bedridden as at least for the next few days. That goes for you as well Stephanie. You’re not forced to be bedridden but relax.”
She sat up and blinked quickly, “What do you mean?”
“You were hurt by the demon’s tendrils. Your wounds healed slower than any others you’ve had. And I’ve treated you many times. Don’t overdo it.”
She pouted and Ryza looked up at her, touching her cheek. “I’ll be watching you.”
“And I’ll be watching you.”
“And I’ll be watching you both.” Snow added flashing a wide smile.
“A solid pack,” the doctor said. “As long as you follow those rules you may go home. I’m sure you want to spend the night in your own bed.”
“Yes I do.”
Ryza looked at her girls and nodded as they took a step away from her. Taking a very deep breath Ryza sighed. She pushed and started to stand. She felt her body protest, not from pain but she pushed through it. She forced herself up and lurched forward getting her bearings. Stephanie had to resist the urge to go to help her.
But the necromancer was standing. “My shovel. Where is it?”
Snow went toward the far wall and came back holding out Ryza’s shovel. Or what was left of it. It was broken in two pieces, the shaft severed and the blade melted. “Sorry Ryry. This is all that’s left of it.”
She stared at the tool that had gotten her so far in life. The thing that had partially been her identity for years. Sighing and lowering her head she nodded. When she took it, the staff didn’t feel like her magic. It just felt like a dull piece of metal
“It’ll have to do,” she said softly. She stood straighter, leaning on the shaft and touched her chest feeling that dull ache again but it was bearable.
Leaning on the shaft she stamped it against the ground with each step and walked to the door finding the door way out. She looked back at the room and tilted her head forward, “Come on. Let’s go home.”
They left the healer’s dens and were greeted by the sun’s warmth. Things were more active than Ryza remembered it being but then again, she didn’t roam about during midday that often. The walk home was slow and easy. Ryza was leading the way, enjoying being able to feel the sun.
She could smell clay on the air along with fire. Stopping right before the square she turned and narrowed her eyes. Luthagen was an interesting place. There weren’t shops like there were in the Free City but there were stands integrated into dens. Wulves were skilled before they were changed or learned new things in their new lives.
Before this city was destroyed it was a trade town with all the raw materials for crafters and farm space to work with. People grew things, made things, or hunted but it only really traveled within the city itself. Products here only ever existed here.
“Look out!”
“Coming through!”
Ryza raised her eyebrow and took a quick step back grunting as a pair of children came running past holding large pots in their arms each. She scowled but her nose quirked. She could smell the clay and realized they were going in the direction of that. Her ears perked as she caught the beating of a hammer on metal as well.
Without another word she walked after them, leaning on the shaft like a cane. Snow and Stephanie exchanged surprised glances before following after her.
The den was only one floor but it was wide. Twice as wide as any other she’d seen before. There were two or three doors, one closed, one open with bright light, and one much bigger in the middle where the beating of metal was coming from. A sharp bark came out followed by an excess of steam pouring out and Ryza paused.
“What’s going on in there?” Snow asked.
“That’s Sting’s shop. He’s a metallurgist and a potter,” Stephanie said walking toward it. “Usually makes vases and jewelry. Occasionally tools. Sometimes weapons.”
“Sounds cool. My gran used to talk about a local guy at home. I think she had a crush on him,” she grinned. “Old man Liam.”
“You going to stay out there talking all this time or you going to come in?” The voice, loud and gruff, accompanied by a hard metal clang startled them all. “Well?”
Ryza nodded walking into the den slowly. Immediately she was struck by how hot it was. The area was sparse in the middle but full of things along the walls. Shelves of tools, hammers, picks, and things Ryza couldn’t understand a use for.
The children she’d seen before were there looking at them. Lots of deep brown hair, large ears, thin tails, and light brown skin. Both were boys, one taller than the other. Both had the same piercing black eyes. They looked at the two of them, the taller one bored and the shorter one enthralled.
After another clank of metal, the owner of the shop stood up. He was a thin old man that came with long age. He was strong though from constant use in this forge. His skin was a very dark brown and he had a bald head with white furred ears that were flat against his head and a thick scraggly white beard. His skin was wrinkled and his eyes a tired hazel. Wiping his brow with a gloved hand he pointed at Stephanie.
“There’s trouble. Thought I smelled you.”
Stephanie grinned and brushed her hand through her hair. “Hi Sting. Sorry I haven’t been over here in a long time. Things have been hectic for a long time since Ryza and Snow have come along.”
“Yes the newcomers. Heard good and bad things about you two. But I don’t care about rumors that much. Nice to meet you personally.”
“Hi.”
“Hello.”
“So what are you all doing here?” he asked then glanced at the two boys. “Hey you two. Get to work. Make sure that water you brought over is boiling! And check on the clay while you’re in there!”
Sting waved aggressively and two boys scattered away going to one of the other rooms that they couldn’t see. “So, what can I do for you three?”
“Nothing. Just passing through,” Ryza said. “I saw those two and smelled the clay. I was curious. Are they your grandsons?”
“Something like that,” Sting scratched his head. “Hope they didn’t cause you any trouble.”
“No they’re just kids,” Snow laughed. “No different than the pups running around. Just a little older and can talk better.”
“Just as annoying too,” Sting shrugged and walked toward the door at the other end. “Come on. This is the workshop. Lemme show you where the goods are. Looks better than this place.”
“Not so,” Ryza smiled. “A workshop is its own type of work of art. Each one says a lot about its crafter. Yours says you work hard and long hours. But you care more about your craftmanship than your own health.” She looked at Snow and Stephanie for a moment. “My pack tends to get annoyed with me when I don’t take care of myself.”
“Bah. What do those kids know,” he said rubbing the back of his neck.
They walked through the door and there was a dinging of a bell. As the three of them walked through they saw a wall just lined with shelves and displays. All with various trinkets. Flowers, pins, necklaces, pots, containers, and more. All that were crafted out of metal and clay.
“Wow. This stuff is beautiful,” Snow said walking toward the wall touching a necklace and lifting it up.
“This stuff is my life’s work,” Sting said going to the other side of the room.
Snow’s ears lowered and she shook her head. “Oh. I didn’t mean like that.”
“I know.”
Snow made a face and Stephanie giggled picking up a round vase. She turned it in her hands tracing the raised floral designs with her hand. Instead of the head of a flower, it was a wolf’s head. She set it down carefully and continued looking through them following whatever really caught her eye.
Ryza set the shaft against the corner of a wall and limped over to a case. She found a set of rings featuring wolf heads. One pair was white and the other pair was bronze. Her hand hovered over them for a second before she took them back. “You like those?”
Ryza glanced at Sting and nodded, “What made you make these?”
“They were supposed to be for a mating. But the couple they were for backed out of things before I finished. So now I’ve got a set of rings and no one to give em to.”
“That so,” Ryza mumbled.
“You interested?” Sting asked coming over slowly. He brought down one gloved hand and opened the case, bringing the rings out so that Ryza could see them closer. She picked up the bronze one and it was very cool to the touch. The ring itself was a black band but the wolf’s head in it was only a little bigger than a proper gem. The white one was very similar.
She slid it onto her finger and it felt snug but in a good way. Not too small. She turned her hand staring at it for a long moment and didn’t realize she was smiling like she was. Sting nodded slowly and pushed the others toward her, “Take them.”
“What?”
“These have been sitting around here for almost two years. No one’s going to collect on them at this rate. And I can’t think of a chance to put these to better use than for me to trade them to someone.” They heard a dull crash and Sting scowled. “I’ll be back.”
Ryza nodded and took one of each of the white and black rings. She put the white ring on her right hand and the bronze on her left.
“Whoa those are pretty,” Snow said looking over their shoulder and almost startled Ryza into dropping the rings. She looked over her shoulder and glared at her but that just broadened Snow’s smile. “What?”
Sighing she held them up to her, “What do you think? Look good for all of us?”
Snow picked up the brown ring and slid it on her finger and it fit her finger better than she had anticipated. She looked at it and then smiled, “It does have a charm to it. And it looks great on me.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes really. I have the eye for this remember?”
“Since when?”
“Since always.” Snow scratched one of Ryza’s ears, immediately distracting her mate and winning the argument.
“What are you two talking about?” Stephanie asked joining them. “Oh wow. Those are beautiful. Who are they for?”
“Potentially us,” Ryza said escaping Snow’s grasp. Lifting the other white ring toward Stephanie she smiled.
She looked at it and she blushed looking down. But she looked up again and picked up the white ring taking it in her hand. She slid it over her finger slowly and smiled staring at it. She couldn’t take her eyes off of it. She turned it around and then looked at her blushing harder.
“Are you sure you want to give this to me?”
“Do you see another wulf here?” Ryza asked. Stephanie shook her head and Ryza gave her another smile. “You risked your life for me. Which I wish you hadn’t but you did. I don’t want anything happening to you. And I want you to figure out how you fit in our lives. Properly. As our girlfriend.”
Stephanie took a step back blinking rapidly. She wiped her eyes quickly and looked at her then at Snow and back to Ryza, “Are you sure?”
Snow took her hand and rubbed her face against it gently, “Yes we’re sure Steph.”
“Very sure.” Ryza agreed.
Stephanie looked at the two of them and started to rub at her eyes trying to not cry. Which she was only half successful at but Snow and Ryza hugging her didn’t help matters. She held them both tightly and they laughed together as Sting came back over to look at them. He saw the trio of crying and laughing women and raised his eyebrow.
“Guess you’re going to be taking them.”
The Harlequin Library 