Page 21 of Ransomed to the World
She cleared her throat, pursing her lips, and gave him an assessing look. “I can wait for you for however long you need, just don’t pull away from me. You will give me a kiss every morning and every evening.” She hesitated, suddenly uncertain. “Or if that’s too much, you will hold my hand.”
She turned over her arm, revealing the tattoo etched into her skin, and ran her thumb over the top. “And if you ever doubt how I feel, all you have to do is check our connection.”
A moment later, a wave of love swept through her, so strong that her throat tightened. Logan tipped up her face and pressed his forehead against hers. “Never doubt my love. I will never leave you. You are not your uncle. You didn’t hurt me. You would never hurt me. My heart knows the truth, but my mind might take a bit longer.”
“I can wait.” Annora resisted the urge to melt against him. “I can wait forever if you need it.”
“I wouldn’t go that far.” A huff of laughter escaped him, and he gave her a cheeky grin. “I just want things to be perfect between us. I’ve been a fuckup my whole life, and I want there to be more than that between us. You’re different from the women of my past. You matter, so I want to go slowly and do everything properly. I want to make sure that when we move our relationship to the next stage, the ghosts of our pasts are gone. I want—” He shook his head. “I need your memories of us to be happy.”
“You silly man.” Annora cupped his face in her hands. “Just being with you makes me happy.”
She then stepped back and held out her hand, waiting for him to link their fingers together. The thick tension that had gathered around him the past few weeks fell away, leaving behind the mischievous kitsune who had captured her heart.
“Since neither of us are going anywhere, what do you say we find some trolls and kick their asses?”
His answering smile revealed very sharp, very pointy teeth, vengeance sharpening his expression. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Chapter Seven
It was early afternoon when they encountered the first signs of trolls…when a troop of five troll soldiers began to follow them.
Annora felt like they were being herded.
To ensure they would arrive?
Or make sure that they didn’t see something they shouldn’t?
Either way, after the attack on Xander, she didn’t trust them an inch.
Loulou and Willa remained behind with the wolves, so only she and the guys were going to meet with the trolls. The wolves were ordered to follow at a distance and keep an eye out for more traps. If they ran into trouble, they were supposed to send up a signal.
What signal, she didn’t know. Logan just smirked and said that she wouldn’t be able to miss it.
She wanted to roll her eyes at his secrets, but she was happy to have him back to his usual impish self to put up much of a fuss. Just to be sure, she ordered Prem to stay back with the wolves, and if they were attacked, he was to inform her immediately.
Loulou had crossed her arms and tapped her foot, looking ready to protest, when Prem darted in front of her, leaned back on his haunches, and put his front paws together to beg.
Loulou scooped him up in her arms, tickled him under the chin, then turned her glare on Annora, accusing her of putting him up to it.
Despite her denials, Annora didn’t think the bunny believed her. She pouted for a bit until Prem rolled onto his back and presented his belly for rubs. Loulou melted, grumbling under her breath as she stomped off.
In that instant, Annora would swear that Prem looked up at her and winked.
Pushing thoughts of the little devil away, she followed the guys as they continued on their way. If it wasn’t for the threat hanging over their heads, it would’ve been almost nice to be able to spend time alone with the men. They didn’t chat, but their nearness was enough to make her happy.
And if everything went well, she would be able to claim Mason as one of them by the end of the day. Excitement zipped through her at the thought. Oh, he was hers either way, but underneath his big, scary exterior, Mason was worried he would lose her.
If this was what he needed to take away that doubt, she would do it.
Not that she knew what claiming him entailed.
The ass has been suspiciously quiet about that from the start.
Mason became progressively grimmer with every step, his expressive hair slicked back, his muscles bulking up until he towered over everyone. He didn’t do it on purpose, but it was more like his protective instincts had come to the fore, forcing him into his troll form.
Annora caught glimpses of the others through the trees.
His family…if you could call them that.
