Mr. Tastaren swallows hard.He's sweating, nervous and worried, but he translates, but his tone makes me think he didn't translate my words with the intensity I wanted.The foreigner narrows his good eye.I don't think I'll have an answer either, but after all he says a couple of dry words.— He says there's nothing on the island, girl — Mr. Tastaren weighs each word carefully, making a strange noise in his throat as he tries to clarify his voice. — The Prince says... there is nothing. All the... all the women... they're... — he shakes his face, speechless.— Did they kill them? — I demand, trembling. — Did those damn foreigners kill them all?Without thinking I squeeze my hand in my tunic pocket, holding the aconite seeds tightly.Mr. Tastaren asks, but the foreigner doesn't answer, he just looks at me silently. A horrible silence that I know I will never forget until the end of my life.“The grace of the Goddess must be buried with us lest it be used again for the infamous purpose o

Clear.The door opens before I get to it and a wolf is standing there, holding a wooden box.The injured stranger opens it, then turns to me.At first I don't know what that pile of metal is, but it doesn't look threatening, so I just watch as the Prince kneels and passes two rings around my ankles. He barely closes them and then I understand: they are to arrest me. He's holding me like a real prisoner!Reflexively I slap him hard across the face as he starts to stand, then move forward and try to hit him harder.The wolf in black at the door drops the wooden box and tries to hold me back, but the stranger growls a harsh sentence at him, making him back away. He himself holds me by the arms. When he speaks he's very, very close to me, and I see that his teeth are huge fangs, all of them, like a real wolf, and it's hard to admit, but it really scares me for a moment.I scream and so does he, even though neither knows what the other is saying.For a second I think the foreigner is going

A moment later my captor holds my chains, so I am forced to follow him and I notice that the wolves that welcomed us look at the chains with curiosity and a little annoyance.The hallways are made of stone, and there are doors and conversations everywhere.I have the impression that many people live here in the fortress.Wolves, I remember. I'm among wolves. Not people.A man appears to be leading our group, gesturing from side to side, showing things to my captor that he observes with interest. We see rooms and courtyards decorated with carved stone and flowers I don't know in vases as big as me, covered in paintings. There are hot water pools where young girls and boys of various ages dip their feet while chatting. There's also an entire wing where the smell of food simmers in the air.The guide points to the ceiling and says a bunch more things, explaining what's above us, I imagine.I would like to pay attention. I'm curious. But most of all I'm tired.I rub my eyes and hide a yaw

It's hunger and thirst, I know. Reflexively, I almost pick up the glass that the maid left on the floor near my foot, but I change my mind in time, which doesn't go unnoticed by that damned, lonely red eye that stares at me. I snort at him.The Prince frowns and his upper lip lifts a little as if he were going to growl, but he gives up with a grimace.He's trying to be as diplomatic as he can, and I think he's trying very hard to do so, although not enough to make your heart explode in your chest, I'm sorry.“Did he tell you I was that?” An Oracle? — I ask Reeina, and my throat feels raw, dry as beach sand.She consults the man first, and he nods for her to continue giving me information.— Yes. His Grace says that the guard who came to pick him up on the island knew that — the girl continues translating while he speaks. — They had been warned by informants on the mainland to stay away from that island, because there... hm... — she pauses, uneasy, but the man makes a move for her to c

I wonder if wolves have books in my language.For the first time I think that perhaps I could learn your language to occupy my days until the best moment presents itself for my plan.I need to wait until my blood stops flowing before receiving visitors, but after all, when the door finally opens, it is not the pleasant Reeina who appears, but the stranger, the Prince of wolves.I'm in bed, braiding my hair, when he walks in.His stature is even more imposing and menacing than I remembered. Maybe because he was covered in so many dark, metal-filled clothes.He looks at me and I look into that single blood-colored eye.For no reason I remember seeing him in the bathrooms. I remember his slender, strong body... and the women helping him bathe...— Follow me, Kim.The accent is strong and harsh, but firm.I swallow my surprise.- Where?The Prince looks at my legs.— There's something I want-... — he stops for a moment. — show you — the tone is more hesitant here.The possibility of leavi