“Exceptional,” Var breathed, both excitement and terror flickering in his eyes. “Magnificent.”
His voice brought me back to the situation at hand and away from the pride welling in my chest. I could marvel in that later.
He tapped his chin. “So much better than I expected.”
“How dare you.”
He laughed out loud. “Oh, Ylva. You’re everything I hoped you would be and more.”
Anger raged through me. “Why are you still talking?”
The old man smoothed his cape and shot me a look of pity. “Don’t be so pissy. I wasn’t actually going to hurt your wolf. I only did it to help. This.” He gestured to me. “You found your inner wings.”
“Shut up,” I growled.
“Now, now. Is that really how you’re going to thank me?”
My anger hissed. “Thank you? You stole my wolf. You flogged me. You threatened to hur
