Page 100 of Wishing for a Werewolf
As soon as I get near, he straightens, pulling me to him. His hand tangles in my hair, tipping my head back for a kissthat makes my toes curl. “I missed you.”
“It’s only been a few hours since we saw each other.” He checked in at Your Bubbly Charm during his afternoon patrol but didn’t get to stay long, because the sprites came back.
“A few hours is too long,” he growls, kissing me again.
When we finally break apart to go inside, I shed my jacket in the house’s welcoming warmth. “What happened with the sprites?”
“I kept them from bespelling any humans until Severin got there.” Rune grunts. “He invited them to the palace and ordered all the shadow fae to return there for the evening for an impromptu party.”
“There’s a party?” Babybelle asks. “I want to go!”
“Not to this one, sweetie,” I say. “It’s a fae-only party.”
“But there’s no one here to play with,” she whines, sad that Riselda and the werepuppies went back to Faerie this morning.
As we head for the kitchen, Rune asks about my day, and I tell him about the multiple batches of specialty soap I made using all of my new equipment. “It’s amazing to have so many molds and supplies.”
We fall into an easy rhythm, cooking together as we do most evenings. Tonight I’m showing him how to make cheddar-topped shepherd’s pie with a brown-sugar-cinnamon apple crisp for dessert.
Once we have both dishes in the oven, I realize the house is quiet,tooquiet.
I catch Rune’s eye and send him a questioning look. “Babybelle?”
He cocks his head, his eyes narrowing, then leads me to the half-bath tucked under the stairs, where the mini-goat sits, chewing on what used to be a pretty hand towel.
“Babybelle! You promised!”
“No, I didn’t!” She jumps to her feet. “Rune’s house isn’t your cottage or the bookshop. I can chew up anything I want!”
Laughter bursts from me, and it takes a few moments before I can tell him what she said. Then I wave my hand over the sodden mess and say, “I wish the hand towel was like new again.” The hand wave isn’t strictly necessary, but a girl’s gotta have a little flash, right?
Magic ripples through me and spirals out to swirl around the fabric, which reknits before our eyes. I snatch the towel off the floor before she can get hold of it again. “You got off on a technicality this time, but don’t think you’re off the hook, little missy. I’m officially extending the no-chew rule to Rune’s house.”
“Ourhouse. If you like,” he says. “Just as soon as I can find a way to soundproof our bedroom.”
Oh! We haven’t talked about where we’ll live yet, spending most nights at my cottage while his family—and their keen fae hearing—was in the house.
“I’d like that.” I smile up at him as he wraps an arm around me, one massive hand spanning my entire lower back and making me shiver. “It’s close enough that I can get to the farm quickly.”
“There will be pack mates here regularly.” His golden eyes watch me closely. “Another group will arrive in a few days.”
“We’ll always have my cottage for a getaway,” I say.
“But what about me?” Babybelle headbutts my leg. “There aren’t any other goats here.”
“You’ll spend nights at the farm,” I say. “It’s right next door.”
“I can run her to the farm.” Rune gazes down at my familiar with a fond expression.
“I’ve got a different idea. Remember what happened with the rolling pumpkin the other day?” A group of non-magical kids separated one of the animated pumpkins from the rest and tried to grab it, thinking they were capturing a hedgehog to keep as a pet. I wished for the pumpkin to be safely with the rest, and it teleported across the green, none the worse for wear. After that, I teleported a few bugs for practice, and they were also okay.
I look at Babybelle. “Do you want to try a new magic trick?”
“Yes!”
“Okay, hold still. I wish Babybelle was in the kitchen.” Magic swirls through me, and she disappears with a pop, followed immediately by the sound of hooves striking hardwood from down the hall.
“It worked! I’m here!” Babybelle cries out as we hurry into the kitchen. She bounces back and forth between us. “Do it again!”
