Direbound

The next morning, Egith’s training focuses on strategic abilities, which require complete synchronization between rider and direwolf. Anassa, however, ignores Meryn. Later in the session, Meryn questions why culling is necessary, given how Bonded pairs are so rare. Egith states that their training was devised by the direwolves themselves and not the king. Culling is a necessary means to ensure a strong pack.

After class, Meryn finds Anassa, who takes issue with how Meryn blocks her at a whim. Without an open channel, she states that she can’t protect Meryn. They argue, and during their argument, Anassa reveals that she has already found her mate. She won’t, however, reveal her mate’s identity to Meryn. Meryn attempts to smooth over their fight by compromising and allowing access as much as she can, except for her intimate moments with Killian. That night, Meryn has a nightmare in which her mother, with pitch-black eyes, tells her that Nocturn is calling and asks whether Meryn is listening. Meryn wakes up in the arena at the convergence of all the gutters, exactly where her mother was in her dream.