The thundering noise drew closer until Glider’s three shadows fell over her and a long nose appeared by her shoulder. It sniffed delicately at her ear, like a very cold feather, and Chandni squealed.

‘Yes, Glider, it’s me.’

The Dogkin took her shoulder in her mouth and gently spun her round. Three human eyes and one canine one looked at her like disappointed parents.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said.

‘You promised me, Chand,’ said Varg. ‘You gave your word.’

‘When I told Lord Rochant what I’d done, he commanded me to leave, immediately. I haven’t even been back to my room. It was all so sudden, I didn’t have time to think.’

‘I guess it’s different for you,’ Varg replied, his arms folded.

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘Forget it,’ he muttered.

‘I’ve apologized. What else do you want me to say?’

‘Nothing. I just … I wouldn’t have forgotten you, that’s all.’

She sighed and walked over. He was too high for her to reach, so she put a hand on his ankle instead. ‘It might be better if you do. Lord Rochant’s decree was final. I’m not coming back.’

‘We’ll come with you.’

‘Oh Varg, you don’t even know where I’m going.’

‘We don’t care, do we, Glider?’ Glider barked agreement. ‘It don’t matter if we’re in a castle or in some village somewhere, or just in the wagon! Don’t you get it, Chand? I want to be with you. That’s all I’ve wanted since we first met.’

‘When we first met, you told me to—’

‘Yeah,’ he said quickly, ‘but pretty soon after that, I got to caring for you.’

‘And I care for you too, you know that.’

He leaned down and plucked her off the bridge and put her down beside him on the front of the wagon. The warmth of his thigh was pleasant against hers. He wanted her, she could see it in his eyes, feel it in the way his hands moved naturally to rest on her arm and hip.

She kissed him. Because it might be the last chance she’d get. Because in that instant, doing anything else seemed like madness. On another day, Glider’s enthusiastic barking might have embarrassed her, but she did not care. Nobody could see them. And what if they could? It won’t matter soon either way.

With that thought, she pulled back, only to find Varg following after, drawn along with her lips. His eyes were closed, an expression of absolute peace on his face. After all this time, he is still adorable.

She stopped his advance with a finger. ‘I shouldn’t have done that.’

‘Bollocks. It was great. You should do it again.’