Page 69 of Wolf's Bane
“No,” she lied.
He chuckled again because she was a terrible liar and he could always tell. “It’s not exciting. A sudden snowstorm caught me unprepared, and I sought shelter in a beast’s den. That was that.”
“That was that,” she repeated. “Luis spent all night hunting the beast that attacked me.”
“Yes.”
The house neared. She patted his chest to make him halt. “Wait. Before we go inside. I need you to know that I do not care about your condition.”
“You’d be a damn fool not to care.”
“I don’t understand how you are the way you are. Every day I discover that I understood very little.” So much had been kept from her either intentionally or from plain neglect. “But I’m your anchor, however it happened.”
“I never intended—”
“Will you please stop interrupting me? I’m trying to tell you I love you and that I don’t care how I get to have you. I’m not letting you go.”
He fell silent. She held her breath, wanting to hide her face. She said itagain.
He didn’t have to say it back. Honestly. She just needed enough restraint to stop blabbering about her emotions.
“I did not intend to make another declaration, but I felt compelled to state my case as plainly as possible. You are exceedingly stubborn,” she said, mustering what remained of her dignity.
“You won’t let me go?”
“No. You’re mine and I will marry you, then I’ll bind you legally and with whatever this—”don’t say witchcraft, don’t say witchcraft“—mystical, definitely not magical, connection is.” She grimaced, because that was worse than witchcraft.
“Your father won’t like it.”
“I fail to find myself caring.”
“Are you at least going to ask me to marry you? Or shall I just accept your decree about our engagement?”
“I already asked you.”
His brow furrowed as he remembered the details of their engagement. “You were eleven.”
“You have yet to decline my proposal. I consider us quite engaged.” She beamed her most charming smile up at him.
“I think you’re spoiled and too used to getting your way.” His grumble at echoes from an earlier, angrier conversation. Now his tone sounded light, almost teasing.
Good. She enjoyed him like this.
“And I won’t keep it a secret this time,” she said.
His brow furrowed. “I asked Godwin for permission, you know.”
She could imagine how that conversation went. “I continue to find insufficient reason to seek Papa’s permission.”
He stood still, as if envisioning the moment Godwin learned of their engagement. “Let’s get you cleaned and seen by a doctor. Then I’ll give you an answer,” he finally said.
“Alek! I waited all night. You promised we’d talk in the morning.”
“We talked. This is us conversing. Mostly you prattled, and I listened.”
“You honestly plan to make me wait?” She knew his answer. Had always known on some level. The thread between them hummed, warm and golden.
“You waited years. An hour or two is nothing in comparison.”
