Page 21 of Wolf Trap

Austin interrupted, “Look you guys, do you need any help?” He glanced around the room. “I could help you ward your home.”

Confusion swam around my head. I looked at Lycaon. “No, no, stay. I mean, we will have to be careful outside.”

Catching Austin’s eye, I said, “Thank you. We’ll be fine. I really need some rest before I collapse.”

Lycaon’s eyes sparkled, his face softer. Truth was I feared him, but also, I couldn’t imagine being without him.

His eyes imploring, Austin rolled his lips. “Alright. Just be easy with each other, will you? Adara possessing your man,that’s difficult for both of you. Elsa feels wary, scared and Lycaon...”

“Yes?”

“For a man like you, having your power taken from you and then Adara using you, you losing control, well... Just be kind to each other. Find the strength to work, to pull together. You seem formidable when you’re both on the same team. I’ll be back in a few hours.”

As Austin left,I got up to go upstairs. “If I don’t lie down, I’ll fall down. You coming?”

Lycaon’s lips curled into a small grin as he responded, “If I’m still breathing, then yes.”

Slipping off his boots, Lycaon made his way to the kitchen, calling, “I noticed the mage got out of making coffee. Here, you go on up, I’ll bring you a cup upstairs. Do you have any wood? I’ll put some over the window. I can feel the breeze down here.”

Sleepily, I stood in the doorway. “There’s some wood in the shed, the small shed. Thanks, I’m really too exhausted to care, though,” I shivered, “I am freezing now.”

His brows met. “Shall I put the heating on? There’s a switch?”

“No. My heating comes from my wood-burning stove and I’m too tired.”

A small smile on his lips he said, “I like it, a bit of self-sufficiency. Go on up, get into bed, and leave the rest to me.”

I didn’t argue. As I lugged my tired legs upstairs, the wind bit at my fingers. I wanted to shower but was too tired, so stripping off my jumper, socks and jeans, I hunkered under the duvet and slept like the dead.

I wokeup to the scent of coffee, and his soft words. Gleaming Lycaon smiled, “Here, thought you’d like this. Don’t worry, I slept downstairs and took the liberty of getting a shower.”

Warmth engulfed me. He’d fixed several thin boards of wood to the window and the heating was on.

Sleepily I said, “You didn’t have to sleep down there, what, on the small sofa?”

“No, I found some bedding and slept in your dining room. I’m used to sleeping on the ground, but a flagstone floor, well, that’s hard for anything.”

I caught a faint whiff of blood in the air. Unnerved, I stared at him.

“Ah, I slept in wolf form. Useful for such things, also for guarding you.”

“Thank you.” Shuffling up in bed, I took the coffee, that sweet nutty taste hitting my taste buds like instant comfort and energy.

He turned and walked away. “Lycaon, thank you.”

Shooting me a small smile, he winked. “Any time. I expect Austin will be here soon.”

Blinking rapidly, I turned to see the time. Almost midday, how had I slept so long? Lycaon went downstairs and I could hear him busying himself in the kitchen. My body ached, but not from all I’d been through, but how the energy had shifted between us. I glanced at the empty space beside me.

Dragging myself out of bed, I hit the shower. After washing all the filth from me and cleaning my teeth, I dressed and went down to find him.

With his feet on the footstool, he was slouched out on the sofa, reading a book.

The scent of breakfast hung in the air.

“There’s an egg and bacon sandwich for you in the kitchen, and I made some more coffee.”

That pretty much outweighed the darker monster side of him.

---