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quicker.
    “Just wait,” he whispered. She went quiet again and within moments, a falcon landed on a low branch near her. It watched Anya carefully. A low growl echoed through the trees and rolled up her backbone.
    “Yvan…” she whispered nervously. A large brown bear ambled through the trees toward them and Anya’s body went into fight or flight mode.
    “Relax, Anya,” Yvan took her hand, “it’s not going to hurt us.” Anya was glued to the rock in pure fear as the bear drew closer to her. Its amber brown eyes watched her thoughtfully. It stopped a few centimetres from her. Its hot breath was on her face and she glimpsed at white, sharp teeth. A long red tongue shot out and licked her up her neck and cheek. Yvan burst out laughing at her horrified expression.
    “Yvan, what the hell?” Anya demanded as she attempted to wipe the slobber from her skin.
    “Should I tell her, Chayton?” Yvan asked the falcon. It gave an amused screech in reply. Anya looked at the bird and the bear as realisation dawned on her.
    “You asshole, Honaw!” she squealed and smacked him on the muzzle. He rolled onto its back with a series of husky sounds emanating from him.
    “And you!” she turned on Yvan. “You are as bad he is!” He laughed harder as she attacked him. Honaw’s big bear head being pushed between them broke them up. Anya hugged him around his neck as best as she could, his fur tickling her face and his warm musty smell filling her nose. “I’m so glad you’re alive,” she whispered and the pain that filled, eased, even if it was only for a moment.

Chapter Four - Helping Hand
    Anya woke as Søren’s hand clamped over her mouth to stop her from screaming.
    “Shhh,” he whispered next to her ear.
    “What are you doing here?” she asked when he lifted his hand. Her eyes focussed on him and saw he was glowing very softly in the scant light.
    “Ruthann sent me to get you because he needs your help. You can stop staring at me like I’m here to murder you.”
    “What does he need my help for?” Anya sat up and rubbed her eyes.
    “To heal Aramis. You’re the only human that’s ever been invited to such a thing. He wants you to participate.”
    “Okay, I’m coming. Do I need anything?”
    “Maybe put on some clothes,” Søren’s eyes drifted down to the thin sheet that covered her.
    “What a good idea. Can you please wait outside?”
    “If it would make you feel better.”
    “It would,” Anya said a little too quickly. He grinned and she gripped the sheet tighter to her.
    “Be quick,” he said as he left the room, shutting the door behind him. Anya quickly pulled on a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt and met Søren out in the hall.
    “May I ask why Ruthann chooses this time of night to perform miracles?” Anya asked as she yawned.
    “Not miracles just frođleikr . Ruthann likes to work his power when the old day and the new day meet. He is traditional.”
    “Ruthann’s so old, he is tradition.”
    “He only has a few hundred years on Aramis and me.” Anya looked up at his perfectly unlined face.
    “That’s creepy.”
    “No, that’s immortality.”
    “So you’ll stay looking beautiful forever, lucky you.”
    “You think I’m beautiful?”
    “Only on the outside,” she teased. “All of the Álfr are beautiful. I have yet to see an ugly one.”
    “That’s because we have the ugly ones killed at birth,” Søren replied.
    Anya stopped suddenly, “Are you kidding me? That’s so barbaric…” Søren started to laugh loudly. That sound made her blood fizz and ears crackle.
    “You’re such an asshole,” Anya said as she punched him in the arm. He barely noticed which made her want to hit him harder.
    “I couldn’t resist, you fall for anything.” They tuned down their mirth when they reached Aramis’s chambers. Ruthann sat next to Aramis’s bed drinking wine, a small silver box in his hand. Aramis was sitting up but he was still looking a little grey. It was a good thing