The White Wolf (Half-Breed Book 1) by Brittany Comeaux Read Free Book Online Page B

nod to both of them, he then said, “Enjoy your stay.”
    “Thank you,” Varg answered.
    When the innkeeper departed, Varg shut the door behind him. He turned to see two inviting beds against the opposite wall and realized just how tired he was. He and Milea set their equipment on the side of the small room and lay on each a bed for a brief rest.
    “I suppose we should keep watch for when Horatius closes the tavern,” Milea said with a sigh.
    “I don't think I can move,” Varg mused. “I can't remember the last time I didn't sleep outside.”
    “Me neither,” Milea replied, “but I don't mind keeping watch first while you sleep a little.”
    “If you wait up, I will too,” Varg said.
    “As you wish,” Milea said.
    Milea sat up and stationed herself at the edge of the bed. She reached to the window in between them and opened a crack in the wooden frame. Fortunately the window faced Moonlighter's Manor, which made watching for Horatius all the more convenient.
    “How does it look?” Varg asked.
    “Looks quiet, but I think there are still people inside the tavern,” Milea said.
    “Horatius will probably make them leave soon since it's nearly closing time,” Varg said. “For now, I suppose there's nothing else to do but rest.”
    The silence that followed thickened the air as time passed. Minutes felt like hours as Varg and Milea shifted in their seats in agonizing anticipation. Varg wanted to look in Milea's direction, but was worried she would catch him and make the situation more awkward. After several more agonizingly quiet minutes, he dared himself to look anyway.
    Varg happened to catch a glance of Milea's face as she checked outside. The glare of the moon caught her eyes and Varg noticed for the first time that her eyes were the same color as the night sky. He soon found himself looking far longer than he intended, but he managed to break away before Milea met his glance.
    “Can I ask you something?” she suddenly said.
    Varg looked back to her and successfully hid his discomfort. “What is it?”
    “When we left Rivershire, you mentioned that you were much older than you looked. I've been thinking about it ever since we left,” Milea answered.
    “You want to know how old I am?” Varg finished her question.
    Milea nodded. “I'm curious.”
    Varg smiled and answered, “I can't tell you for sure, since I gave up counting around my three hundredth year, but I can tell you that I am around three hundred and fifty years old.”
    Milea seemed dumbstruck. “How can you not know for sure?”
    Varg shrugged, then answered, “Keeping count grew boring after a while. I know I've been a bounty hunter for more than three hundred years, and I was in my late thirties when I started.”
    “You've been a bounty hunter for over three hundred years?” Milea asked in bewilderment. “No wonder you're so legendary.”
    Varg shrugged his shoulders. “It's a living,”
    The silence resumed, but fortunately it was broken quickly by the sound of the tavern door opening. A quick peek outside confirmed that Horatius was expelling the last drunken patron from the tavern.
    Varg's eyes darted to Milea. “It's time.”
    They quickly grabbed their gear and crept out of the inn. The only sound that could be heard on the dark street was from the last drunks stumbling home for the night. Varg tip-toed through the alley between the inn and the tavern with Milea right behind him. He curved right until he found the back door. When he was sure no one could see them, he slowly creaked the door open.
    Horatius stood in the middle of the room inside and looked somberly at the duo when they entered. A lone candle was lit on the counter, which cast a dim light that illuminated Horatius's fatigued features.
    “You made it,” Horatius said, but something in his tone gave Varg the impression that he'd wished they hadn't arrived. “Come in and shut the door behind you.”
    “Horatius, what's going on?” Varg asked.
    “Shut the