Page 88 of Tethered to the World
As they walked, Mason began pointing at plants and trees, using scientific names she had no hope of remembering, explaining how the plants could be used, which ones were medicine, which ones were poison, which ones were edible, and which were a combination of all three.
It wasn’t long before she became hopelessly lost, but Mason’s steps were sure and confident, everything about him relaxed, his smile coming more easily, his eyes alive.
“You love being outdoors. Why did you leave your home and come to the university?”
She wished she’d kept her mouth shut when his peaceful expression closed down and his smile fell away.
“I’m sorry, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want.”
He only shrugged. “You’re bound to find out eventually. I’m a half-breed. I’m not good for much to my people—I’m half their size and even less in terms of strength. I’m the weakling—which, if you know trolls, means I’m lucky I wasn’t eaten at birth. I’m worthless.”
Annora stopped dead and put her hands on her hips. It only took him a moment to notice she’d stopped following, and he turned around to face her, worry etched on his face.
She could only shake her head. “Please don’t tell me that you believe their bullshit.” She was so furious she was shaking.
“Annora—”
“Don’t Annora me! You will never convince me that they’re anything but idiots. You are one of the most intelligent, kind, wonderful people I know.” She couldn’t help noticing the way he flinched at each word.
What the actual fuck did they do to him?!
It wasn’t shyness or embarrassment, either. He actually appeared to be ashamed.
She began pacing, feeling the darkness rise in her, wanting to hunt down his family and punish them, and then glanced at his face and quickly switched tactics. “How do you know so much about plants?”
He shrugged, relieved at the change of subject. “I take a lot of classes. Plants—the outdoors—interest me. I pick up things easily.”
“No fucking kidding.” She peered up at him, calmer now he was talking. “What degree are you working toward?”
“A master’s in botany and wildlife management, a minor in husbandry and a few other things.” He looked away, his voice trailing off, and he began to walk the path again.
She had to scramble to catch up with him, his long strides quickly leaving her in his wake. She managed to plant herself in his path, barely avoiding getting mowed over in the process, and she glared up at him. “You know what I think? Smart is sexy.”
He stood frozen for a heartbeat, then something changed in his expression. One second he was standing several feet away, the next he was right in front of her. He bent, grabbing the back of her thighs then hauled her upright with an ease that made her feel weightless.
Then his mouth was on hers.
There was no finesse or gentleness, only ravenous hunger.
Unable to not touch him, she snaked her fingers into his hair, the strands wrapping around her like a caress. When her fingers gently brushed against the crown of his horns, a growl erupted from his chest, the intensity ratcheting up the desire a thousand degrees.
Her back hit a tree hard enough to jolt a groan of pleasure out of her, the rough bark digging into her spine, awaking all her nerve endings, making her feel things more deeply and powerfully. Fire burned along her veins, the need to be closer like an addiction.
Then a series of howls exploded around them.
Wolves.
Mason stiffened. Even before he pulled away and set her down, he began to shift, becoming massive as his human body practically exploded into his troll form. He lifted his head, sniffed the air, then turned toward her. “Run!”
Her eyes widened as at least a dozen wolves charged out of the trees. Annora hesitated, not wanting to leave him. “I can ghost us.”
But Mason wasn’t listening, barreling toward the wolves until he crashed into them. Three wolves went flying a good ten feet, a few yipping after what must have felt like being hit by a freight train. Then the wolves began to tear at him even as he picked them up, one by one, and ripped them apart.
She backed up, not wanting to leave him. Then he gave a roar of pain. Blood began to trickle down his body as claws and teeth slashed at him. She frantically scanned the area, picked up a hefty branch, ready to wade into the fight, when another wave of wolves streamed out of the trees.
Though he tried to stop them, it was obvious their main focus was getting to her.
Tears of frustration and anger flooded her eyes as she turned on her heel and ran.
