“Wouldn’t you be? The woman’s reputation is off the charts. If you believe the stories — and after meeting her I’m not sure what to believe — then she can flatten an entire college.”
“She didn’t do that. The god did that.”
“The god they won’t talk about. Have you considered they made up that part so that people don’t band together to kill her out of fear?”
“No. She’s truthful.”
He cast me a sidelong look. “You like her.”
“I do. You like her, too.”
“I like the kid,” he corrected. “I find the kid hilarious. She’s a giant menace in the body of a waif. Who doesn’t like that?”
I laughed. “Sami is at that age where she can’t help herself from being obnoxious. She’s got all these hormones and she doesn’t know how to deal with them. She likes to push boundaries. It’s basically a science experiment to her.”
“Zoe likes to push boundaries, too.”
“She does,” I agreed without hesitation. “I have a feeling she was just like Sami at that age. That’s why she deals with things the way she does. She doesn’t fly off the handle. She accepts, exerts rules when necessary, and tries to talk to Sami on an adult level. That’s all Sami really wants, to be seen as an equal.”
“She’s still a child.”
“A child with the power in her fingertips to set off the magical equivalent of a nuclear bomb.”
Gunner sighed. “You can feel it when you’re around them, can’t you?”
“What?”
“Power. They’re unbelievably powerful. I mean, you’re powerful, too, but Zoe ...”
“She could do anything she sets her mind to. She’s a good person, though. She fights for the right side. She’s not a threat.”
“I didn’t say she was.” His grin was crooked. “I like how you’re suddenly Zoe’s biggest champion even though you barely know her. It’s kind of cute.”
His tone wasn’t condescending, so I didn’t snap at him. “Aric is her greatest champion. They have a bond that ... it’s miraculous to me.”
“You don’t think we have that bond?”
“I think they’ve been at it a little longer than us. If you’re worried, I somehow don’t feel bonded to you, don’t. We’re bonded. In fact, we’re bonded on a level I wasn’t sure I would ever be capable of experiencing. They’re different. It’s not that we won’t end up just as bonded as them, so don’t go getting weird on me. They’ve spent more than twenty years together, though. They have a magical child they would both die to protect. They’re ... amazing.”
To my surprise, he barked out a laugh. “Relationship goals?”
“Are you saying you don’t want to be like them in twenty years?”
“Of course not.” He shook his head. “I actually like them. Aric is basically shifter royalty and yet he’s down to earth. Shifters are taught they’re supposed to be powerful and in charge, yet his wife is stronger than him.”
That was an interesting observation. I was technically stronger than Gunner. Apparently I wasn’t the only one picking up on the parallels. “They’re a team.” I meant it. “Zoe would be just as lost without Aric as he would be without her. Neither one of them is more important than the other.”
Gunner’s eyes lit with amusement. “Are you worried that I think you’re more important than me?”
“I ... no.” Was I?
“Here’s the thing ...” He leaned close and stared directly into my eyes. “To me, you are more important. I’m guessing, or perhaps hoping, that to you I’m more important, too. That’s how a relationship works.”
I grasped what he was trying to say without the usual mental struggle I might otherwise engage in. “I just don’t want you to ever feel as if you’re being left behind,” I hedged. “Things are starting to change, and change fast, for us. Emma represents trouble.”
“She does indeed.”
“Then there’s Ezekiel. He could make things difficult.”
“Only if you shut me out.” Gunner slipped his arm around my back and anchored me to his side. “If you’re not ready to chase this, then we’ll wait. I get it. You’ve spent your entire life working this out in your head. I don’t want to push you. I also don’t want you taking this on yourself.” He kissed my forehead. “We’re a team, Scout. I want to be the same sort of team Aric and Zoe are. They realize they’re strongest when they’re working together.
“All of this Children of the Stars stuff is bound to weigh you down eventually.” He gave me a rueful smile. “I want to be the one to help carry the burden. That’s what I need from you. All you have to do is tell me what you need from me and I’ll make it happen.”
He couldn’t have said anything better. “I’m not sure yet. I need to think things through. For now, we need to focus on the vampires. They’re the most important thing. After ...”
“After,” he agreed, leaning in to give me a soft kiss. His expression was grave when he pulled back. “We have to strengthen the wards on this place to keep Emma out. She can’t just wander in whenever she wants.”
On that we could agree. “I know. I need to mull this over, chew on it a bit. There has to be a way.”
“Maybe Zoe can help you.”
“She’s not a witch.”
“You’re not strictly a witch either. You’re more. If you put your heads together, I’m sure you can come up with something.”
“I’ll talk to her,” I promised. “Right now, I’m starving. Can we move this conversation into the shower?”
His expression lit with wicked intent. “You read my mind.”
“Somehow I knew you were going to say that.”
HAWTHORNE HOLLOW WASN’T OVERLY LARGE, which meant there weren’t a lot of places to eat. What they lacked in choices, however, they made up for with quality. That included Mable’s Country Table, our favorite breakfast spot. The restaurant was busy when we entered an hour later but our favorite corner
