Page 161 of The Hunger
I grinned at her and stole her frustration without touching her.
“Cut it out. I don’t want to be mellow right now.”
“It’s either my method or Oanen’s.”
“And I promise I won’t be fast,” Oanen said.
“That’s not what she said,” Fenris quipped, wrapping his arms around me.
I leaned back into his chest, enjoying the closeness and feeding lightly. A moment later, a high-pitched squeal came from the bathroom.
“Anything?” Megan asked, looking at me.
“Nothing. Zayn is a miracle worker.”
His anti-brownie-lust spell was what made it possible for me to keep my promise to Merri. That and Megan’s generous offer to hell gate us anywhere in the world we wanted to go.
“We’re ready,” Piepen said, flying into the room with Merri. Her messed hair and red lips gave away what they’d been doing.
I shook my head at the pair.
“Hurry up before he needs to go again,” Megan said, motioning to us.
We all stepped close as her wings flared into existence. There was only a mild rush of warmth as they wrapped around us. The lights went out, and it felt like we were falling fast for a moment before the air changed to cold then warm and fresh. The flames vanished, revealing a rolling hillside covered in rows of still dormant grape vines.
“Our chateau is just over this hill,” Megan said. “Ready?”
Merri looked around her and sniffled. Piepen quickly hugged her close and stroked her hair. I couldn’t hear what he softly whispered to her, but she nodded and pulled back to give him a watery smile. Then she looked at me.
“Thank you, Eliana. It’s everything.”
They flew off to look at the grapes, and Fenris took my hand.
“Never thought I’d see Italy because I told that little flitter to go find a girl. Think she’ll be pregnant before the trip’s over?”
“Why do you think I wanted the spell? She’ll hold out until we start touring China. She knows we’ll be home two weeks after that.”
“Twenty dollars says the Great Wall has sparkles on it before we leave,” Megan said.
The three of us quickly said we weren’t taking that bet.
The chateau came into view as we topped the hill, and for a moment, the sight of what lay before us stole my breath. Fenris stood there with me, his arms encircling my waist from behind.
“You’re not the only one who thought they’d never see Italy. I thought I’d never leave Uttira.”
He leaned in, brushing his lips over the back of my neck and breathing in my scent.
“Thank you for finally running for me. I hope the event itself was as impressive as getting to see Italy.”
I turned in his arms and ran my fingers along the scruff decorating his jaw.
“More impressive. Thank you for waiting until I was ready.”
“Always and forever,” he said tenderly.
Then he playfully licked my nose.
“Chase you to the chateau.”
