Hadrius had not returned throughout the evening.
River remained in the room, pacing back and forth, unable to still the lengthy juddering of her heart. She paused at one end of the room and gnawed on her fingernail, unconsciously biting too hard and drawing blood.
The pain was sharp and instant, briefly drawing her from the dark well of thoughts. She cursed lowly and made for his bathroom, carefully washing it in the bowl of water before tearing a thin strip from the hem of her skirt and wrapping it around her thumb.
The pacing continued. It did not stop until the familiar discordant sounds of voices echoed from the outside as the beasts began to return, howls of their wolves echoed from the mountains and hills, resonant laughter. Nothing that gave evidence of tension.
River’s shoulder
