Zhuliya bends forward to inspect her art, careful not to disrupt the new ink. “Oh my gosh, Ilian, I think…I think it worked!”
“Of course it did, soyam. You’ve been taught by the best. I had no doubt you would be able to do it.”
“No, I mean, Aisyth gave me a map!”
Now it’s my turn to blink. I look from Zhuliya’s excited expression down to my tight. Sure enough, the swirling patterns bear the signature of my goddess.
Unease slithers through me, and I choose my words carefully. “Why did you want a map?”
Sensing my upset, Zhuliya quickly grabs my hand and kisses the tip of one claw. “It’s not what you think. I promise it’s not a map to her to sever our bond. It’s just something I asked her long ago.”
My mind goes back to that moment on the island when Zhuliya pulled Aisyth aside to talk to the goddess. Neither said anything about what Zhuliya wanted, and I had put it from my mind.
“What did you ask her?”
“For her help.”
“About?” I growl.
“I told her I wanted to learn to do tattoos like you and asked if she would give me directions to something special.”
Glancing at the ink on my thigh, I try to discern what my mate can possibly be talking about, but the beautiful white swoops reveal nothing.
“You’re purposely not answering me!”
Zhuliya shrugs.
“I enjoy driving you crazy.”
A laugh bursts from me. “Congratulations, you’ve succeeded. Now tell me, mate, what is this a map to?”
She stares deep into my gaze, her brown one misting with tears. “Ilian, it’s a cartogram to your people.”
For a moment, my mind blanks. Then, with a giant whoop, I pick up Zhuliya and twirl her around.
“Put me down, you beast, before you ruin your ink!”
I set her down, and she scowls at me primly while dressing the fresh tat. My stoyuk stirs at the sexy way Zhuliya silently reprimands me.
With shaking hands, I cup her face, pulling her away from her task. “Thank you. This is the greatest gift anyone’s ever given me—aside from when you agreed to stay my mate.”
“So are you up for another adventure?”
“Do you even have to ask? What do you think the tat was of?”
“My first impression—the Arctic Circle.”
“It would make sense for Ithaqua to move as far north as possible to avoid humans, but soyam, it will be far too cold for you.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
“Stop speaking in riddles, wench. What do you know that I don’t?”
“Aisyth told me to keep Ulyen’s fur and Ekana’s tear if we weren’t going to dissolve the bond. She said to combine the two to keep me warm for our next journey.”
“And what does that mean?”
“No idea. Wait here.”
Zhuliya sprints out of the room and into her office. A few seconds later, she returns with the two items.
Pulling the stopper on the vial, my mate tips Ekana’s tear over Ulyen’s fur. Instantly, her body is covered in a thick, black pelt.
She shrieks, tugging on it, but the fur doesn’t budge. “Ugh, Ilian, I think I just became part Ithaqua.”
“If it makes you feel better, I think you look stunning. It blends with your hair perfectly, even if it’s the shade of my depraved god.”
“Erm, thank you, but how do I remove it?”
“Aisyth will know. We’ll just have to ask her when we find my tribe.”
Excitement bubbles within me at the prospect.
“I’m going to be a fur queen until we find your family?!”
“Don’t worry. We’ll get it fixed. Let’s do some research on the ink and plan our journey.”
“Fine…but you better hope Aisyth fixes this.”
