Page 150 of Moonless

Oh. He’s walking into a pack of wolves, and I’m making trouser jokes.

I stop walking, so does he. “Rauk. They’ll stare. That’s all. Keer’s the only one who’d try anything, and he’s already had his go. You had him on the ground. He only got up because I asked you to, and he knows it.”

His ears stay on the voices a while longer. Then they come round to me. His lip lifts off one fang, and he nods once. There he is.

We’re slow enough that they’re back before we reach the clearing, and they’ve both got trousers on. Axan’s holding his bad wrist against his stomach, and the claw marks across his ribs have scabbed over. Keer’s lip is still split. He had that coming.

“There,” I tell Rauk. “Dressed for company.”

Keer ignores that. He’s looking at my mark on Rauk’s neck. Still sulking, then.

“Mel’s coming.”

I hear her before I see her, calling my name. Then she’s past his shoulder, white hair coming loose around her face, one hand beneath her bump as she hurries down the path.

Mel, don’t run. Don’t you dare run with that bump.

I put the bow against the nearest tree. Rauk lowers the sack beside it, and I go to her as fast as my back will let me.

Mel nearly manages a run for the last few steps. Then she stops short and looks at my shoulders, and at the arm I’m holding against my side.

“Where can I—”

“Here. Gently.”

I reach for her, and she puts her arms around me. Her bump’s between us, and I put my face down next to hers.

“Oh, Kes.”

I close my eyes and hold her. Her hair’s in my mouth, and I leave it there until I have to breathe.

She eases back only far enough to look at me, keeping one hand on my cheek. Her eyes are wet.

“Let me see you.”

“You’re seeing me.”

“All of you. You’re wrapped up.” She touches the edge of the cloak, then stops with her fingers on the fastening. I catch her hand.

“In a minute. Just stay here first.”

She nods and puts her arms around me again. I hold on until my left shoulder starts to pull, then shift that arm lower. Mel feels me move and loosens her grip.

“Is that too much?”

“No. That’s good.”

Her cheek rests against mine while the men wait behind us. They can wait.

When she finally lets me go, I keep hold of her hand. She wipes beneath one eye with the heel of the other.

“Keer came in and told me you were with the Gulon. Just that. Apparently names and details were too much trouble.”

I look over her shoulder at my brother.

“He’s called Rauk.”

“I gathered there’d be a name.” She turns toward him, still holding my hand, and has to tip her head right back to find his face. She gives him a little wave with her free hand anyway. “Hi! I’m Mel. If you ever hurt Kestria, I’ll be the one putting you to sleep for the stitching, but you won’t be waking back up.”