Page 26 of Wounded Mate
Bela gasps, and his cheeks flush sweetly. “Does that mean the others may have heard us?”
It’s a cute expression on him. I’m enamored. “We weren’t all that loud, but I believe in us.” I wink and wriggle closer. “Want to try again?”
“Valius!” A scandalous look. “Really?”
“Why not? It’s not as if everyone here isn’t used to such noises. And I’ve been told I moan very prettily.”
“I’m sure you do.”
If we aren’t going to be able to stay together, I want to make the best of the time we have now. “You have a lot to learn frombedding an incubus.” I run my tongue along the shell of his ear. “Let me show you.”
“Oh my.”
Chapter Thirteen
Bela
In my wolf form,my injury hardly affects me. I’m all but healed after another night spent in Valius’s restorative company. The thought that we’re on our way to potentially break the curse I’ve lived under for more than half my life fills me with new energy. With my mate at my side, I feel as if I could do anything.
Valius walks at a fast clip, and I trot next to him. It’s a beautiful day, sunshine and blue skies with big white puffy clouds breezing by overhead.
The perfect day to break a curse.
I haven’t been this hopeful since wishing my new baby sibling would be a girl. I so wanted a baby sister to take care of.
But the closer we get, the more doubt creeps in. What if Sebastian says no? What if he says yes, but it doesn’t work? What if he and Dominus are horrified by my very presence, as so many have been before them?
I shake it off, fur trembling from my head down my shoulders in a rolling wave that ends in a full-butt waggle.
Next to me, Valius chuckles. “That feel good?”
I send up an affirmative yap, which he answers with a brilliant grin, white teeth gleaming.
“It looked like it felt good.”
We arrive at a charming white farmhouse surrounded by green fields and a pasture of grazing goats. Porches hug the home on all sides, and standing at the rail are two men, side by side. One of them is so tall his head nearly bumps the rafters. That must be Dominus. Valius warned me he was quite big.
They weren’t expecting us. They couldn’t be. We sent no messenger, but Valius assured me a drop-in visit wouldn’t be unwelcome. Yet somehow, they share a knowing glance as the smaller of the two goes to open the gate for us.
“Valius.” He smiles. He doesn’t look like a faerie, with his honey-blond hair and brown eyes, but I’ve never met one, so it’s not fair to say I would know what to expect. “Greetings.”
They share an embrace, and though I’ve never been the jealous type, I hold in a possessive growl at the sight of another man hugging my mate. I’ve got to get over that and quick. My mate is an incubus, and can hug who he likes.
“Sebastian, this is my Bela. Bela, Sebastian.” Valius gestures to the imposing man on the porch. “And that’s Dominus.”
It’s an odd feeling to be introduced to someone when you can’t speak for yourself. I bob my head, lifting my snout to each of them, but I’m too nervous to shift.
Even though these are Valius’s friends, and we’re going to ask for their help, shifting in front of anyone is frightening. Nine times out of ten, it goes poorly. If I’m lucky, the reaction is disgust. If I’m unlucky, it’s outright hostility, like Mantis Pack. The moon knows I can’t live through that twice.
“Hello, Valius, Bela.” Dominus nods toward me. His physicality might be intimidating, but his expression isn’t. He shoots us a friendly smile. His silver hair shines in the sunlight. “Come on in. To what do we owe this welcome visit?”
Valius understands my predicament and handles the conversation for both of us. “We’ve come to ask a favor of Sebastian. And I’ve brought goodies from Rizpah as a bribe to sweeten our chances.” He holds up our satchel, which Rizpah has filled with honey cakes and candied nuts.
“Ah, how could I say no when Rizpah herself is in on the scheme?” Sebastian holds the front door open for us, and we relocate inside.
It seems everyone knows and respects the powers of Rizpah, the only human among them. I’ll bet there’s a story or two there. Maybe one day, I’ll get to hear them.
I pad through the threshold. It’s a small home but lovely. A little alcove of a kitchen to the left, an inviting den to the right with furniture arranged around a hearth.
