Page 34 of Witch Untold
Please don’t say people, please don’t say people.
“Hmmm … Cake? Can Wren have cake, Cora?”
“Oh, thank you!” Dorothy rushed past me and picked Wren up. “I knew you weren’t a monster.”
“Huh?” Wren glared at Dorothy. “Wren not a monster.”
He looked so affronted and so fucking cute that I couldn’t help myself. I bridged the distance between us and scooped him out of Dorothy’s ethereal arms.
I hugged him to me, reveling in his uniquely Wren aroma. “You’re not a monster, buddy. You’re fine. Absolutely fine.”
He nuzzled into me, his body vibrating with joy. “Can Wren have cake now?”
“Yeah, buddy, you can have as much cake as you want.”
* * *
Wren was okay.Conah had been wrong. Rare, for sure, but not unheard of, especially if Wren was different to the mogwai Conah had read about.
My tiny fae buddy clung to my back as I made my way to the atrium to meet Sloane and Lauris. The guys had been out when I’d gotten home to change. I’d layered up as best I could and slipped on my purple sheepskin boots with decorative buttons and a black wool lining. The tops could be folded over to create a large cuff, making the boots even cuter.
Wren insisted on coming to see me off at the atrium, and because I didn’t want him trekking back to the cabin alone, I’d called Tor. He’d promised one of the guys would meet us there to bring Wren home.
“Is Cora sure Wren can’t come?” he whispered in my ear.
I bit back a smile and reached over my shoulder to stroke his head. “I’m sure. It’s much too dangerous.” I needed to be focused, and I couldn’t do that if I was worrying about protecting him. He was brave, for sure. He’d saved my ass when I was attacked by the revenant, but he’d almost died doing it. No, he needed to stay here. “Tor, Leif, and Rune will take care of you until I get back.”
“But… Who will protect Cora?”
“I’ll be fine. I have Sloane, Lauris, potions, and a sword.” I patted the pommel of my blade. “I’ll be okay.”
Wren sighed, then lapsed into silence.
The atrium came into view and so did my crimson-haired mate. The Rover was parked by the gazebo and Leif leaned up against it, arms crossed, gunmetal blues fixed on me as I approached.
Fuck. He was probably going to attempt to talk me out of going. I didn’t have time for an argument or a heated discussion.
My wariness must have shown on my face because Leif held up his hands in surrender. “Not here to talk you out of going.”
“Good. Because you’d be wasting your breath.” I smiled to soften my words and didn’t stop until we were almost chest to chest.
“I know.” He sighed. “I wanted to see you before you left. I want you to know I’m sorry for being an ass earlier. The thought of you in danger fucks with my head. Especially when you’ll be so far away that I can’t get to you.”
I slid my hands up his chest and leaned in, tipping my chin up so my lips grazed his jaw. “I’ve been doing dangerous shit for years, Leif. I’m not a damsel. You need to remember that.” I pushed up on tiptoes and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “I’m going to be fine. I got this.” I sounded confident, cool, and kick-ass, even though my stomach was trembling. “Do what you can to help Anna prepare for retaliation from the Sons of Adam.”
Leif brushed his lips across mine. “Tor’s on it. The area around the mansion will be crawling with shifters.” He kissed the corner of my mouth, speaking against my skin. “Anna’s given us special dispensation to enter the grounds if the Sons of Adam attack.”
I turned my head slightly, angling for another kiss. “They’ll be no match for shifters and gargoyles.”
“No. They won’t.” He pulled back slightly, his expression serious, telling me he wasn’t going to be distracted by my feminine wiles. “We can’t kill them, but we can fight them off with a show of power. Make them think twice about coming for you. I won’t let them have you.”
Except I was going to them.
Leif’s eyes dimmed, telling me he was thinking the same thing.
“If you’re done canoodling…” Sloane stood in the doorway to the atrium wrapped in a thick fur-lined coat and heavy-soled winter sheepskin boots with what looked like a merino wool lining and cuff. Her hands were gloved and the lower half of her face was covered by a scarf. She looked me over. “Seriously?”
“I wrapped up.”
