Page 114 of Witch Unexpected
* * *
The smellof cooking meat and the sound of voices greeted me as I drew closer to the house. Smoke drifted up from behind the log cabin. I followed the path round to the back to find Leif, Rune, and Halle sitting around a barbecue pit while Tor played chef.
I looked up at the cabin, expecting to see the devastation of broken panes and smashed windows, but the windows were intact, and there was no evidence of the carnage that had taken place a few hours ago.
The guys had been hard at work it seemed, and now it was food time.
The shifters didn’t let cold weather stop them cooking outdoors but watching them lounging in T-shirts made gooseflesh break out across my skin. Yeah, I was keeping my jacket on.
Conversation ceased as I approached, and all eyes were on me, but my attention was on Tor as I waited for him to react to my presence and ask the burning question I saw in the others’ eyes.
I waited, allowing my gaze to skim over his form. He’d donned a black, sleeveless T, gray joggers, and sneakers. The T-shirt showcased the ink on his shoulders and upper back, symbols I didn’t recognize. They hugged his skin, begging to be touched.
“What are they doing with her?” His voice was a low gravelly rumble that made my stomach flutter.
“Blackmore Prison.”
His shoulders relaxed. “Grab a beer and take a seat. Food will be ready in ten minutes.”
* * *
It was gettingcold enough for my breath to fog in front of my face, but these four were unaffected by the chill. Leif built up a fire anyway, and we sat around it, eating, drinking, and chatting. Rune took up the bench beside me and laid his head on my lap.
Leif chuckled. “Staking your claim, huh?”
Rune opened one eye lazily and then peeled his lip back as if to say,you fucking know it.
“He’s pissed he couldn’t be with you in the city,” Halle said. “Says he would have whooped Tor’s ass for attacking you.”
Leif choked on his beer. “Excuse me?”
“You wish, old man,” Tor said. “I’d have kicked your ass.”
Rune chuffed.
“I won’t translate that,” Halle said with a twinkle in her eye.
The guys didn’t need Halle to know what Rune was saying, she was there for me, and I appreciated that.
“Is Rune older than you guys?”
“No,” Leif said. “He’s actually the youngest, but he’s also the wisest. Even when we were kids, he’d be the sensible one, avoiding the stuff that would get us into trouble, or making up for any shit we caused.”
“Like the lemon cake?”
Rune’s ears pricked up.
Tor groaned. “I could have killed you both that day,” he grumbled.
“You don’t fuck with Tor and his sleep.” Leif swigged his beer with a smile.
“What about you, Cora?” Leif asked. “Any pet hates we should know about?”
His question threw me. I’d never really thought about it, but now that he asked…
“Lies and betrayal. I can’t stand them. If you fuck up, just tell me. I’ll be pissed, but I’ll get over it. If you fuck up and lie to me about it, then we’re done.” I looked from Leif to Tor then down at Rune, who was watching me with bright hazel eyes. “If this thing between us is going to work, then you need to promise you won’t lie to me. No lies, no secrets. Those are the quickest ways to kill our friendship, and that will be the core of our relationship.”
Tor’s eyes narrowed. “Just friendship?”
