Total pages in book: 182
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
In answer to her questions, I smiled down on her. “I had to read your journals, remember? We had to hash out your life. I looked through your things and remembered what I saw out of duty; I was on the job, and I’m damn good at it. You’re just playing catch-up. You organized my whole room but left my books alone, right? You clearly knew I didn’t like those messed with.”
The wheels turned behind those beautiful, glistening eyes.
“And you would’ve withheld from the royals that I let you escape on our journey, even though the king threatened to make you talk.” I kissed her nose. “You didn’t feel hurt because you planned to take the pain instead of letting them go after me. Give yourself a break, Little Wolf. This is all new to you. Take it slow.”
“Patience,” she breathed, using the word I had with her earlier. She looked at my lips. “I have to pick out some glass, but then I want—no, need—you to take me slow.”
I kissed her, long and languidly, afraid to run my hands over her lest I make it that much harder to take out the shards of glass. I couldn’t imagine having glass sticking out of me and just leaving it there because I knew the healing process would inevitably force it out. I couldn’t imagine ignoring pain of that magnitude.
“She’ll be dangerous to herself in battle,” my wolf said. “Her wolf won’t feel pain like other shifters and has an incredible drive for action and violence. I think she wants to make up for all the memories of the abuse she suffered in human form when she was suppressed and had no choice but to take it.”
“You know all about that.”
“Many years of experience have taught me to temper it, same as you. She is fully grown, with a lot of power. She’s going to be a handful.”
“That’s your problem. I look after the human, you look after the wolf.”
His growl made me smile.
“What?” she murmured against my lips as a knock sounded at the exterior door.
“Expecting someone?” we asked together, and she laughed.
“Obviously I wasn’t. I didn’t even know where I lived.” She pulled out of my arms and, with one last longing look at her new artsy sanctuary, headed for the door. “I’ll need food to cook. Oh! I need to get some books on baking. I used to love bak—”
Her words cut off, and I saw why. Hannon waited at the door in a smart dress shirt that showed off his broad shoulders. His snug pants showcased his powerful legs. He didn’t have my stature, but he was no slouch.
My wolf prowled restlessly, but only recognition came through the bond. Her smile was friendly. I tempered the urge to rush forward and throw him out of here on his ass.
“Hey.” Hannon’s smile was intimate. “Arleth would like to plant that Moonfire Lily, and asked that you come and give your insight. I believe you have some time before your first shift?”
He looked at me then for confirmation. There were no obvious traces of rivalry, but he was clearly paying no mind to my primal true mate claim. It was a dangerous line to walk in the shifter world.
“Oh . . .” Aurelia glanced back at me, traces of guilt in the bond, looking suddenly unsure.
“Go.” I stopped beside her, my hard eyes on Hannon, and bent to kiss her head. “Have fun, baby. I’ll see you later. Stay safe—no more glass explosions.”
She laughed, relieved, watching me go. “See you later.”
I winked at her. Outwardly, I remained unaffected by another male vying for her attention. I didn’t want her to think I was trying to cage her as Granny had done. If she needed to flirt and see what was out there, I’d endure it for her sake.
Inwardly I wanted to rip his pretty face off and shove it up his ass before killing him again, and again, and again, waiting for him to come back to life each time before re-teaching the lesson: do not fuck around with my mate. Touch her and you will fucking die.
Chapter 20
Hadriel
It was my turn for Aurelia duty, and I was more nervous for it than I’d ever been. She used to be so easy to watch, pliant and mostly placid, doing what was necessary and mostly following the rules. Now that she had her wolf, everything had gone tits up. I didn’t know my head from my balls at this point, not to mention she got up at the ass-crack of dawn and had more energy than a vibrating demon butt plug set on high. I wasn’t made for a detail like this. I was supposed to have retired when Finley had settled down. Thank the gods that Vemar had no trouble handling things, or I’d be in over my head.