Page 83 of The Hunger
Kelsey: Understood and looking forward to it. See you tomorrow!
I sent another message to Mom.
Me: Want to have dinner with me tomorrow and hear how the meeting with the Council went?
Mom: As if you need to ask. Your father and I look forward to dinner. Bring Fenris if you can.
I didn’t respond to that. Given Raiden’s attitude toward me, I wasn’t entirely sure when I’d be able to see Fenris again. My hunger rose sharply at the thought, and my vision sharpened with my need to see him.
Debating if I should try calling him or not, I opened the door and stumbled a step when I saw Fenris sitting on the floor against my bed. As soon as I entered, he rose gracefully and came to me.
“I’m sorry for what my dad said. He’s only freaking out because he doesn’t believe this is real. Apparently, I’m the boy who cried wolf in his eyes. But he does like you, Eliana.”
I nodded and leaned into Fenris’s embrace.
“He told me I was a good person and asked that I send you home when I see you next. He also said that there’s a reason the elders push for wolves to be mated young.” I pulled back to look at him. “Why is that?”
“As we mature, our instincts to hunt grow stronger. A mate ties us to our humanity, so we’re less likely to hunt humans. The elders often send older, unmated wolves away to remote strongholds to prevent that. I think he’s worried he’ll need to do that with me soon.”
The thing inside of me twisted at the thought of losing Fenris.
“That won’t ever happen,” I said.
Fenris grinned at me.
“Dad just needs to be around you when you’re like this.”
I tried to duck my head, but Fenris caught my chin.
“It’s not only in your eyes, Eliana. One whiff of how you really feel for me, and he wouldn’t doubt that this is real. This is the version of yourself you need to show the world.”
“I’m barely comfortable showing this version of myself to you. Showing the world might be a ways off.”
He licked my nose.
“I know. And I don’t mind the wait, but I am looking forward to the moment when it arrives. So, tell me what I missed while you get ready for bed.”
While changing in the relative privacy of the closet, I told him about the Kraken and the need for mermaid help. When I reemerged, Fenris was already under the covers.
“I’m not sure that Megan going with Adira is a smart idea,” he said.
“I briefly thought the same, but the mermaids are in just as much danger as the rest of us if the god isn’t appeased.”
“I wish she would have found out which one it is. I’m hoping for Oden.”
“Of course you are. I’d rather none of them were awake. They may have made us, but I like being my own person and doing my own thing. The idea of a god returning and controlling our actions again is terrifying.”
I slid under the covers with Fenris and snuggled up to his side.
“I’m glad you’re not sending me home,” he said, wrapping an arm around me.
“I’m selfish and hungry like that.”
“You’re the least selfish person I know. Take what you need, Eliana. And if you feel like paying up on my two minutes of scratching while you eat, I won’t mind a bit.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
I was licking the frosting off a slice of triple-layer lemon cake when the buzz of my phone invaded my lovely dream. No matter how hard I fought to stay where I was, the second buzz pulled me out of heaven and into the real world. I tipped my head up to look at Fenris, closed my mouth, and tried to roll off of him.
