Page 7 of Witch Unbound
I shrugged. “Maybe we knew each other in another life.”
He sat back on his stool, one arm braced on the back. “Uh-huh. You believe in that stuff?”
I sipped my drink and peered at him over the rim of the glass. “Don’t you?”
He looked thoughtful. “I’m not sure. I mean multi-verse theory would explain things like déjà vu.”
“It would explain why we connect so quickly to some people and not others too.” I took another sip. “Why we feel an immediate draw to them.”
He was studying me intently now. “Your eyes…I’ve never seen eyes quite that color, but I feel like…Like I’ve spent hours looking into them.” He blinked and gave a self-deprecating chuckle as if embarrassed by his own candor.
My pulse quickened. “That’s because you have, Rune.”
He sobered. “How do you know my name? Wait.” He narrowed his eyes. “Someone told you.”
“Not someone, you. You told me. In another life.”
“Oh, very good. I like it.” He picked up his beer and took a swig just as something inside me tugged hard.
I bit back a gasp. What was that?
He set down his glass, concern etched across his face. “Are you okay?”
No. No, I wasn’t, because my gut told me I was running out of time. Loke had said that Tarrifel would eject me. The tug had felt like someone yanking on my essence. There was no time for roundabout conversations. No time to ease him in.
The women who’d been on the prowl were gone. No one was watching us.
“Look, Rune. I’m going to tell you something, and it’s going to sound insane, but it’s true.”
He looked wary. “O-kay…”
“Thisisn’tyour world. You don’t belong here. You’re a shifter, a dire wolf shifter from my world. You’re my mate, and I’ve come to take you home.”
He nodded, his mouth turned down. “Okay…Riiight.”
Shit, I was losing him. “Your memories are still there, buried deep in your mind. Our connection is still alive, but it’s weakening. I don’t have much time before this world ejects me. I need you to remember who I am. Ineedyou to remember our home, our cabin with Tor, Leif, and Wren.” His expression shut down. I was losing him, and tears of frustration blurred my vision. “Rune, please. Remember me.”
He tucked in his chin and shook his head. “Honestly, for a moment there I thought we had a connection, but I seem to attract the crazy.”
Dammit. “I’m not crazy, Rune. Youhaveto listen to me.”
He climbed off his stool. “I think I’m going to head home now. You should do the same. Get some sleep.” He looked almost sorry. “Get some help…” He walked away, leaving me numb.
“Nice try, sweetie.”
I glanced up at the woman with a sleek bob and over-the-top red lipstick. There was something familiar about her, and then it hit me. A set of horns and a tail were all she needed to complete the picture.
“Simone?”
She winked. “The one and only. Prime hunting ground here, but that one…Oh, he’s not interested in any fun. Thought you might have snagged him, but he’s a slippery one.” She tapped her watch. “Time’s almost up. If I were you, I’d grab another drink and some cheesy nachos while you wait. They’re damn good here.”
“You know who I am?”
“Everyone knows what you are, sweetie. You’re the only one who doesn’t.”
As she sashayed away, it hit me that she’d saidwhatyou are, notwhoyou are.
Another tug in my chest propelled me out of my seat. Simone was right. Time was almost up. But I wasn’t ready to give up. Not yet.
