Page 36 of Our Dark Winter Wish

‘Is this yours?’ she asks.

‘It is. Taken from the back, so it won’t affect my bite too much. Don’t worry.’

I love how he knows to settle her fears straight away. Probably a Mate thing. He heard her or something. That bubble of jealousy pops up again, and I wish I could hear her as he does. That I could feel her. He takes the necklace and places it around her neck. ‘It’s a custom in my pack. We give one to our Mate as a gift. It’s a promise that I will always be there to defend, protect and adore you. You will carry me with you everywhere, and I will be with you always.’

The fang settles between her breasts, and she looks ready to cry.

‘You pulled out one of your fangs for me?’

‘It’s also poisonous,’ he adds.

That makes me feel exceptionally uneasy. I’m not too keen on having something that could kill her dangling around her neck.

‘Not to you. You’re immune from it because you’re my Mate. But if the need arises, you can use it to scratch or pierce your enemies’ skin, and it will paralyse them for an hour or so.’

‘What, because a lethal snake, a dream walker, shadow master and a wolf isn’t enough protection?’ Dorian laughs. ‘Never mind the fact that she’s a powerful earth witch?’

‘She can never be too protected,’ Archie shrugs.

Very true.

‘I love it, Archie. Thank you.’ She throws her arms around him and kisses him over and over.

He’s beaming.

Dorian hands out his next. I get an oak bookmark hand-carved with an incredible night sky design. Archie receives a pouch with an adjustable string so he can carry his clothes on his leg when he shifts. And Pix gets a hairclip.

She examines it, admiring the detail he’s added. And then she pulls out a hidden spike-looking thing. A tiny weapon hidden in the beauty.

‘You made her a hidden dagger in a hair clip?’ I ask, almost too amused at his overbearing protectiveness.

‘You just teased me because I gave her a poisonous fang!’ Archie scoffs indignantly.

‘It’s mainly a hair clip,’ Dorian shrugs, sitting back and enjoying another sip of his gift. ‘But if she gets in a tight spot, she can also jab it in someone’s eye.’

‘I love it, Dorian,’ she smiles, allowing him to offer yet another form of protection. She sees his need to control and keep her close, so she scoops up her silver curls and secures it all in the clip. She then swiftly pulls out that silver needle and rests it at Dorian’s throat.

He grins up at her, utterly brimming with pride.

‘See? A secret weapon,’ he says. ‘Much like you.’

She leans down to kiss him before sitting between his legs.

‘Your turn,’ Archie says, holding out his hands expectantly in my direction.

I have been dreading this. I’m utterly shit at gifts.

‘I made one gift for all of you,’ I reply, hating that I feel myself start to redden under their gaze. I nod at the rolled-up piece of parchment under the tree.

Archie pulls it out and opens it up.

I wait for the teasing. For the mocking.

He holds it up for Dorian and Pixie to see, and they both lean forward to get a better look.

I seriously dislike their furrowed brows. They hate it. It was a stupid, last-minute idea. Then they all look up at me.

‘Did you draw this?’ Pixie asks.

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