Rydstrom shrugged. "I think he was a shade shocked to see me inside, but honestly, I'd have done the same to him. It was a competition, and he desperately wanted that key."
In an uninterested tone, she said, "I suppose he must have loved his mate very much."
"I can't say for certain. I never had the opportunity to be around him and Mariah together. They were only together for a few weeks before she died."
"Mariah? She was fey?"
"Yes. A princess of the fey. Very beautiful, by all accounts."
Princess? Mari thought, running a hand over her matted hair. Beautiful?
Puzzling, but her Pig Pen appearance bothered her more than it had a moment earlier. Her hand shot down when Rydstrom regarded her quizzically. "How did she die?"
"I'd heard it was an accident in the woods."
"Then what did he mean when he said he was responsible for her death?"
"He was with her and blames himself."
"There's got to be more to the story than that."
"I'm sorry, Mariketa, but it's not my story to tell. And unfortunately, I can't recommend asking him about it either."
"Oh. Well, it's not like I'm going to stay up nights thinking about this."
"No? You seem curious about him."
"He's my enemy. It's a good idea to learn about him."
"You are right, of course. I will answer any questions I can."
She hesitated, then couldn't keep herself from asking, "What's he usually like? When not fighting for something?"
"He once was jovial, but he always did his own thing. Since his mate's death, he's been dying slowly, turning cold and indifferent. Some say crazed, even. I will admit he can be coarse, saying exactly what's on his mind, but the others were wrong tonight - he's never been needlessly cruel."
"Why does he hate witches so much?"
"I don't know the specifics, but I think his family was grievously hurt by one in some way. Besides, all Lykae mistrust witches. And I think they instinctively fear them a little."
"I can't see MacRieve fearing anything."
"True, he was always on the front line in battle, the first to meet the enemy. But with your kind... " He trailed off and lowered his voice. "I've seen him unconsciously ease across the street to give even a fortune-teller a wide berth. He was wholly unaware of it."
"No way!" When someone mumbled in sleep, she softened her tone to say, "So my attack tonight must have completely thrown him - pun intended."
He grinned, flashing his even white teeth and short fangs. "Yes, but that's the thing about Bowen - he'll shrug it off soon enough."
As she thought over what she'd learned, Rydstrom said, "There's one thing you should remember if you ever do happen upon him or another Lykae. If you want the key to understand them, know that they truly are like wolves. If you're around them enough, you can see it clearly."
"What do you mean?"
"Have you ever heard of the Lykae Instinct?"
She nodded. "They have a wolf spirit inside them or something. Makes them howl at the moon, bite their bed partners, scratch inappropriately, blah, blah."
He seemed pleased by her flippant answer for some reason. "It's a bit more complicated than that. But we'll talk some more tomorrow." He lay on his side and shut his eyes. "Get some sleep. The upcoming journey will be arduous... "
Hours later, Mari was still awake, hungrier and now shivering. Though she was abjectly miserable, she'd thought she would sleep through anything -
"Come tae me," she heard from a distance.
She shot upright, squinting into the shadows. At the entrance of the cave, warm amber eyes glowed in the darkness. He'd come back!
"Ah, you're excited about my return, then," he murmured. "Your heart sped up at the verra sound of my voice."
The nerve! "Only because I'm eager to throw you around some more. That'll never get old."
"You're cold and still soaked through."
"Nothing escapes you."
"I've something for you to eat."
At the thought of more gel packs or green bananas, she almost retched, but then the scent of something cooked, something heavenly, assailed her. "What is that smell?" she asked just as the others awakened one by one.
"Food for you, Mariketa," he answered. "A feast of it." Beside his spot at the edge of the cave, she spied what looked like grilled fish and crayfish, as well as some kind of roasted meat laid out on a smooth flank of wood. Succulent fruits lay in abundant piles, with not a green banana among them.
As her mouth watered, Rydstrom muttered, "Methinks your Lykae is trying to impress you. What he can't take, he'll tempt."
"Shut it, demon," she said, and he gave a half laugh.
"There's food enough for everyone, and I will bargain for it," MacRieve said.
"What do you want?" Tera asked, rubbing her eyes.
"As you likely overheard, it seems the wee witch might have cast more than one spell over me, a spell that makes me think of her as my mate. So I'm no' letting her out of my sight - I will be accompanying her on the trek out of the jungle and will fight anyone who tries to stand in my way. When I settle my plans for her and she agrees to them, you'll abide by them as well. No interfering."
"What plans for me?" Mari demanded, crossing her arms over her chest.
"You've three options, Mariketa. First, deny you cast the spell. Second, admit the truth and remove it. Or third, for the duration of our adventure here you'll vow no' to use magick near - or at - me again and you'll prepare to have yourself a mate."