Page 62 of Brody
The change in topic caught me off guard.“But you didn’t go?”
She shook her head, eyes fixed on the dancing flames.“After my mother’s terminal diagnosis, I deferred for a year, thinking I’d go after…” She swallowed hard, the movement of her throat making something protective surge through me.“By the time she died, the scholarship had expired.No one knows that.Everyone assumes I chose Emory first.I let them think that.”
The significance of what she was sharing wasn’t lost on me.This wasn’t just information; it was trust, fragile and new.My wolf went absolutely still beneath my skin, as if afraid any movement might shatter this delicate moment.
“You stayed for her,” I said softly, the understanding washing over me.Stubborn Rozi had sacrificed her dreams for someone who might not have done the same for her.
“I stayed for someone who hardly ever saw me,” she admitted, her voice barely audible over the crackling fire.“Who spent her last months in her lab instead of with me.”She looked up, meeting my gaze with a vulnerability that stole my breath.“I’ve never told anyone that.Not even my closest colleagues.”
The trust she was showing me felt more intimate than if she’d stripped naked.This fiercely independent woman was letting me see her wounds, sharing a piece of herself she’d kept hidden from everyone else.
Carefully, moving slowly enough that she could pull away if she wanted, I reached across the space between us.Instead of touching her, which might have been too much too soon, I placed my hand palm up on the cushion that separated us.An invitation, not a demand.
“Thank you,” I said simply.“For trusting me with that.”
Rozi stared at my outstretched hand, conflict playing across her expressive features.For one breathtaking moment, I thought she might actually take it, might bridge the gulf between us with that simple touch.
Instead, she stood abruptly, breaking the spell that had fallen over us.“We should get some rest,” she said, professional distance sliding back into place.She picked up her backpack from where it lay beside the couch, slinging it over one shoulder with a practiced motion.
Disappointment settled heavy in my chest, but I understood.Years of carefully constructed walls wouldn’t come down in a single night.“You’re right,” I agreed, letting her retreat without pursuit.
She walked across the open living space toward the large bed that dominated the far corner, her silhouette outlined by the moonstones’ gentle glow.Without turning back, she said, “Your grandmother would have been proud of what you’ve built.Of how you’re trying to finish what she started.”
Before I could respond, she continued toward the bed, each step putting more distance between us.I stayed by the fire long after she’d gone, watching the flames dance and thinking of second chances I didn’t deserve but desperately wanted.Tomorrow, we’d continue to the COL, seeking a cure that might save unmated males throughout the Ridge.
But tonight, in this magical dwelling with its glowing gemstones and shared confidences, we’d begun to heal something just as vital, the broken bond between us that neither time nor distance had managed to destroy completely.
As I sat there contemplating our exchange, my gaze drifted to the steaming stone pool in the open bathing area.The gemstones embedded throughout the dwelling cast everything in a soft, intimate glow that reflected off the water’s surface in mesmerizing patterns.Rozi had paused at the bed, her attention caught by the waterfall flowing directly from the rock wall.
“That water looks incredible after a day of hiking,” she said, her voice carrying a hint of longing that broke through my reverie.
“It’s fed directly from the COL,” I explained.“The Fae built these dwellings at natural emergence points of the hot springs.No engineering required, just magic recognizing the water and inviting it in.”
“So this water actually comes from the Cradle of Life itself?”
I got up and walked closer to the pool.“That’s why these locations are so valuable to the Bane pack.The healing properties of the water are strongest here, closest to its source.”
Rozi approached the pool, crouching to trail her fingers through the steaming water.Her eyes caught on something at the edge of the pool, small glass bottles arranged on the stone ledge, their contents iridescent in the gemstone light.“What are these?”
“Fae bathing essences,” I replied, picking up one of the delicate bottles.“The Bane records mention they’re harvested from flowers that only bloom during full moons.The oils capture properties from the COL that regular water doesn’t hold.”I removed the stopper, allowing her to catch the scent, night-blooming jasmine layered over something wilder, more primal.“According to Fae lore, each person smells something different, based on what their body needs most.”
Her pupils dilated as she inhaled.“It smells like…” She paused, something vulnerable crossing her features.“Like home.Not any place I’ve ever lived, but somewhere I’ve been looking for.”
The simple admission sent warmth spreading through my chest.“That’s what the Fae believe, that the essences reveal what your soul is seeking.”
She held my gaze for a beat longer than necessary, something unspoken passing between us.“I’m going in,” she announced, her voice carrying a challenge beneath the casual words.“You’re welcome to join me.”
I forced my voice to remain steady despite the fire racing through my veins.“I’ve never been accused of shyness, Doctor.”
A smile played at the corners of her mouth.“That’s what I thought, wolfie.”
With deliberate movements, she began to undress, her eyes never leaving mine.There was nothing seductive about her actions, just the straightforward confidence of a woman who knew her own worth and wasn’t afraid to claim space.
I followed suit, removing my clothes with the same measured pace.Neither of us rushed; neither looked away.This wasn’t about seduction, but about seeing and being seen, simply acknowledging what existed between us without pretending the attraction wasn’t there.
CHAPTER15
BRODY
