I locked gazes with him, seeing not the wolf but the man from the photos Halle had shared with me. I’d been dying to ask him why he was stuck in wolf form but opted to wait until he offered the information. I was beginning to think telling me wasn’t on his agenda in the near future.
I reached out and sank my fingers into the fur at his neck. He closed his eyes and nuzzled my cheek with his nose.
“Why won’t you tell me, Rune?”
He stilled. Cora…
“I don’t want to push you, but—”
He pulled away from me. Then don’t.
Fuck. “I’m sorry.”
He dropped his head and closed his eyes. So am I. I want to share myself with you, Cora. You’re my mate and I feel things for you just like Leif and Tor, but I can’t be with you the way they can. I’ll never be able to be with you in that way. I won’t be able to hold you in my arms, or caress your cheek with my hand, or feel the silken strands of your hair slip between my fingers. Your decision to keep your relationship with us platonic came as a huge relief to me. Selfish, I know. But I don’t know if I’d have been able to see them with you in that way, knowing I could never have you like that, and be okay with it.
“But you won’t tell me why?”
I’m cursed, Cora. I can never shift into human form, and that’s all you need to know. Reliving it won’t change the facts. It is what it is.
There was pain in his voice and my heart ached for him. Fuck it, I didn’t need to know any more. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed my cheek into his silken fur.
I hugged him for long seconds, then pulled away and stood. “You wanna race back to the cabin?”
He chuffed. Race? As in you want to compete with me.
“Is that arrogance I hear in your tone, Mr. Holm?” I cocked my hip and rested my hand on it. “Just for that, I’m gonna kick your furry ass.”
He raised his head slightly, and I could imagine the arched brow. Impossible to kick ass when the ass is—
He bolted.
Shit! I bolted after him. The fucker. The cheating fucker. I tucked in my chin and pushed everything I had into the run. Thank God I’d opted for my low-heeled boots for this. They had an added rebound in the heel and the shock absorption gave me every advantage. Dammit he was fast, weaving between the trees with sinuous grace. There was no way I was catching up with him.
Enjoying eating my dust?
I didn’t have the breath to respond. But an idea formed in my mind and then I made a jump, materializing meters ahead of him.
Ha, eat my dust.
Not likely.
He’d heard?
You thought it pretty hard.
Nice.
He whizzed past me as we neared the track to the cabin.
Noo!
His laughter rang in my ears, a sexy baritone that resonated in my chest, sending warmth shooting through me. That laughter was like sunshine and kisses and hugs. It wrapped around me and squeezed.
My pace slowed as he shot ahead, because he’d laughed with me for the first time and it was as if someone had handed me a priceless gift.
He came to a halt on the track up ahead and turned to face me. Give up?
I sighed and allowed my shoulders to slump as I walked up to him. “You’re too damn fast.”
I noted his stance relax. Wait for it. I was almost abreast of him when I broke into a sprint down the track toward the cabin.
Once again, his laughter rang in my heart, filling me with joy and giving my feet wings.
And then the air around us fizzed and cracked.
Rune’s snarl ripped the air behind me. Ward breach.
What?
A whoosh rippled the air and a figure landed in front of me. Sapphire eyes locked onto me and smiled.
Conah?
Rune dashed past me and launched himself at the figure.
Fuck. “Rune, no!”
Conah’s eyes widened, then Rune’s huge body was slamming into him, jaws aimed for the reaper’s throat. My heart shot into my mouth, staunching my scream.
Conah’s wings flared, catching air and yanking him away from Rune and up into the air. He flew toward me and landed by my side. Rune twisted his body toward us. His golden gaze locked on Conah, lips pulling back to reveal vicious fangs.
I held out my hands. “It’s okay, Rune. This is Conah, my friend.”
The air around us fizzed and popped and Sloane, Poppy, and Jessie materialized around us.
Fucking hell. “It’s okay, guys, this is Conah.”
“Dammit, Conah,” Sloane said. “You know the fucking rules.”
She knew him?
“I thought I was on the guest list,” Conah said calmly.
Sloane rolled her eyes. “A year ago. We’ve updated the wards since.” Her gaze fell to me. “We had some issues with intruders.”
Rune padded toward us. Tell him I’m sorry I tried to kill him.
I winced at Conah. “Rune apologizes for trying to kill you.”
Conah looked down at Rune. “Apology accepted. I’d have done the same in your position.” He grinned. “Only difference is, I’d probably have succeeded.”
Rune chuffed. I like him.
“Jessie, reset the wards. You.” Sloane jabbed a finger at Conah. “Come with me. I assume you’re here to translate the book?”
Conah inclined his head. “I am. I should have done that to begin with; I forget sometimes how limited witches are when it comes to ancient languages.”
“You mean otherworld languages,” Sloane retorted.
Conah smiled. “That too.” He looked at me with a soft smile. “I’m here to help in any way I can, but I need a moment with Cora first.”
Sloane sighed. “That works, we need to refuel anyway. Meet me in the library in an hour.”
Jumping didn’t come naturally to them. It took a special incantation and tapped into their physical energy reserves. But an hour was enough time to hit the dining hall and fuel up.
She focused on me. “I’ll see you for training later.”
Shit. “I can’t
