Page 35 of Wolf Spell

Luke shrugged, a cheeky grin on his lips. “How quaint. Suit yourself, you don’t know what you're missing. Still, you’re going to need a masking spell to get into Ellsworth Manor, and Elsa and I can do that now.”

He jutted his chin towards the door and still clutching my coffee, I followed him down to the cellar.

“Shouldn’t you help them first?” I peered over at Hakon.

He dismissed my comment with his hand. “They’re sleeping. Let them rest. I assume you two want to leave as soon as possible?”

Lycaon almost barked, “Yes. We do.”

“Ok then. This shouldn’t take too long, any thought’s Elsa, on how to mask yourselves?”

I glanced at Lycaon. “Well, it’s a coven, or a council. I’m guessing it’s mainly Lycaon who needs it, as I am technically, possibly still in a coven? Henbane, hemlock, mandrake… and…”

“Foxgloves?” Lycaon offered.

Luke’s face lit up, his smile beaming. “I like it. I don’t have foxgloves. Try again?”

“Bindweed? Good for curses and hexes?”

Luke winked at me. “You got it. Everything is arranged alphabetically. Bindweed first.” He eyed Lycaon. “I’m impressed, you know your herbs!”

Shrugging, Lycaon stood with his back to the wall at the bottom of the stairs. “I’m a werewolf, I’ve lived in forests.”

Lycaon’s nonchalant response seemed to suggest he didn’t want to discuss it further. Rolling his lips, wide-eyed, Luke strode over to the floor-ceiling shelves and ran his fingers across the wood.

I grinned at him as we got the other ingredients. He nudged me. “You love this bit I bet? You know, making, casting spells? That buzz, that power?”

“I do, Luke. Being able to help.”

He teased. “C’mon, it’s more than that. You have the ability to… well, never mind. Shall we?”

We took what we needed, dropping the herbs into a small wooden bowl, then Luke took them to his desk, passing by Marrock as he did so. “He looks cute when he’s sleeping! Bless…”

Lycaon stirred, then sat on the bottom stair, watching in silence.

Smacking his lips together as he mixed the ingredients, Luke eyed me. “You want to say it, or shall I?”

“Oh, you. I’ve only known you hours and already your magic is, well potent. I wish you could teach me!”

A smug smile, his brows rose. “I’m a dragon, potent is my middle name!”

I leaned into him. “Is that what the vampire told you?”

“That’s not all,” but before he could say anymore, Lycaon cleared his throat. I scratched my head, embarrassed and realised that biting my nails was the key to all things. The atmosphere shifted, now feeling strangely uncomfortable.

I hadn’t thought we were flirting? Maybe the king of wolves, being alone for so long, wasn't used to banter. In my experience, every other person, male or female, supes tease one another. Sometimes they flirt. A lot of them are old, but it’s usually just a laugh. An icebreaker. Plus, a lot of them do sleep around. No shame in that. I was just, well… boring, I guess. A one-man woman, like Luna. Becca and Josey liked to keep their options open. Who am I kidding? I’m usually single!

Casting a flame from his finger, Luke lit the mixture and recited what sounded like Latin over it. The smoke bellowed thick, woodsy and snaked from the copper bowl he’d transferred the spell into. Then he wafted it over me, still chanting, and moved to Lycaon, who stood up, towering above him.

Catching my glance, Lycaon’s pursed lips softened. As his eyes darted back to Luke, I flashed a glance over his body. I had to stop doing that. I couldn’t concentrate and I couldn’t control the ripples of lust thinking about him naked. But I figured, well, we could die soon, so…

As I brought my thoughts back to the moment at hand, I felt Lycaon’s stare on me. He wet his bottom lip, fire in his eyes that made me feel…

“Would you two stop that? Either stop it, or go upstairs right now! Bloody hell, magic in the air, literally, how can I concentrate!” Luke laughed as he stole back to his desk, placing the copper bowl down. “Feel free to use the chains on him Elsa. I bloody would!”

Both Lycaon and I instinctively looked at the floor, like kids being scolded.

I held back a chuckle but muttered, “Taming the beast?”

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