Page 32 of Shadow Master
“And you’d just be fine? If I were taken, if I were out there being held by fomorians, you’d be cool, calm, and collected?” I jabbed a finger at his chest, not giving him a break to answer me. “Like fuck you would.”
I turned on my heel and strode away from him.
Luckily for him, he didn’t follow me.
* * *
Devon foundme staring out at the night from the top of the rise. My body tensed, and anger flared through me. His wolf had pinned me and licked me.
I rounded on him. “What the fuck was that, eh?”
He stood with his head bowed. “I’m sorry. The wolf … It likes the way you smell.”
“The wolf. Not you?”
He ran a hand over his head. “Fuck, Justice. You’re an attractive woman. You smell fucking amazing, and my urge to protect you, my warm feelings toward you, got intensified for a minute. I’m sorry I crossed the line. The full moon can have that effect.”
He looked so miserable and contrite that my anger melted.
I sighed. “Things got a little muddled for me too for a minute.”
“You liked it?” He stepped closer, his breath warm on my cheek.
I turned my head to look into his eyes. “Yeah, it felt good. But we’re friends, Devon. Just friends.”
“No,” he said. “We’re more than friends. We’re a team. A unit.” He smiled. “I promise to keep my wolf in check and not lick you again.”
I relaxed and gave him a sideways hug. “Thank you.”
“Justice!” Lloyd came jogging up to me. “Academy called. The runes are ready.”
My heart skipped a beat.
Looked like I’d be heading into fomorian territory sooner than expected.
Twelve
My skin burned where Latrou etched the rune. This was no simple inked drawing, this was a brand into my skin like the one the violet-eyed man had drawn, except Latrou used weaver power to do it.
We’d gathered in the ballroom now that it was empty. The weavers had retired for the evening. Their training was done, and tomorrow, they’d be allocated to troops in the mist. Yeah, the plan was coming together.
Orion was perched against the podium, his inquisitive gaze on Latrou as she drew the rune. Why he had to be here was a mystery. The other council members didn’t seem to be interested. In fact, the fucking council was keeping well out of the way. I hadn’t seen hide nor hair of Baron. Just as well, because if he spoke to me, made any kind of negative comment, I’d forget he’d raised me and punch him.
Kash stood to one side, rubbing his forearm where he’d already been marked. The symbol looked like an intricate knot. Latrou finished marking me and studied her handiwork.
“It’s good.” Helseth beamed at her.
The two women exchanged a fond look.
“That’s it?” Orion asked.
Latrou sighed. “No. Now we activate the runes.” She ran a thumb over the mark as it sank into my skin. “Yes, this is good.”
“You must link hands.” Helseth ushered me and Kash together.
Kash took my hands, and my palms began to tingle. “Do you feel that?”
“Yes.”
