Page 34 of Wolf Spell

“I’ve wanted to do that since I first met you. Necessity forces us apart, though. Elsa…”

I swallowed hard, trying to compose myself. He wasn’t the only one. I’d thought about him since I’d met him. When he’d drank my blood, broken, bloody, naked beneath me.

“Yes?”

“Next time I won’t want to stop. I want to tear your clothes off as it is. But we need to go. Shall we?”

He turned, his lips curved, warming his face. His eyes shone like a summer sky, his smile full of sex.

“Is that a promise, Lycaon, for next time?”

His face beamed.

I hadn’t seen him smile much, obviously, but it suited him. He could look imposing as hell, his size, his physique.But when he smiled, he lit up my heart.

Now he winked and said, “Yes.”

Headily I went to the bathroom to freshen up and compose myself. Splashing cold water on my face, I cringed. Dark circles under my eyes, so I used more cold water, and worried that Luke would be laughing downstairs.

But after lots of water, feeling refreshed, Lycaon went in after me. The smell of coffee led me down to the kitchen where Luke gazed up, his face partially hidden under his fringe.

“So Elsa, you approve? I heard you and Lycaon talking about my room. Just let me know if you ever want a first-hand tour,” he said with a grin.

“Bloody hell, you can’t keep it in your trousers, can you? Thanks Luke, but I’ll pass.”

“Ah, vanilla huh?”

“I’m not interested in one-night stands. A man like you, you’re worth so much more.” I broke his stare, reached for the coffee and added in some sugar from the bowl. A two-sugar day…

He leaned on the kitchen counter, smiling. “Ah, you’re looking for true love? I guess we all want that. Until I find it, I'm tasting everything, trying everything. It may surprise you but not long ago I was very reserved, in fact, I didn’t feel worthy of much.”

Now I frowned. “I mean, how was that possible? You’re intelligent, good looking and a dragon for God’s sake.”

A boyish grin on his face, he whispered, “Follow me. I have a gift for you, and you alone.”

I took another swig of coffee. I was feeling out of my depth, yet everyone assumed I knew what I was doing. Still, placing the mug down I followed him into his living room. Large historical paintings of knights and dragons crammed on the walls, which made me grin. I wondered if any of these represented his history. I mean, I had no idea how old he was.

“The dragons won, we always do,” he said as he caught me staring at the paintings. Crouching down, he pulled open a drawer from a wood-wormed chest of drawers. Rummaging around it, he fished something out.

“Here, take this.” Frowning, he continued, “I’m worried about you. Austin thinks highly of you, he’s a close friend.”

Lowering his voice, he stared past me, then back at me. “Take it. If you get into trouble, you need to recite this. I know you don’t have the power yet to transport out of trouble. This will give you that, though it’s not totally accurate. I used it when I began practising magic. Here’s the enchantment.”

A small amulet with the Seal of Solomon, the pentagram etched with runes around its circumference and a note with a simple spell.

“I like him,” he nodded to the door, “but be careful. Us shifters have a feral side, we’re part animal after all. We can’t always control that animal.”

“Thanks Luke. And I’m always careful. Mostly.”

“Mostly?Just watch yourself.”

Back in his kitchen, as I examined the amulet, Luke closed my fingers around it, leaning in. “Put it away for now. And take my advice.” He glanced up.

Lycaon bounded in, eyed Luke, then pulled up a bar stool and sat as close to me without actually sitting on my lap.

Luke leaned back against the sideboard. “Well, look at you two. Ironic. First Zale and Loren, now Elsa and Lycaon. You’re going to need some powerful magic to stop history from repeating itself. Many will actively hate you.God, I feel bad screwing up that spell. I’ll get on it, get the others back on their feet. Ellsworth Hall? Once I get these sleepy heads up and running, we’ll come find you. You’re going to need us, especially when you both shack up. And let’s be honest, you will. I can feel your attraction, your energy, so it’s only a matter of time.” He spluttered a laugh. “Unless you want to go upstairs now?”

“I don’t share. I’m an alpha.”

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