“Yep. He entered it in my phone.”
“Thank you. You can text it to me after I drop you off.”
“Not a chance, goldilocks. The druids you’re looking for are in Drys Woods. We’re almost there.”
“Fenris, there’s no reason for you to—”
“Tegan didn’t give exact coordinates. If you want to find them, you’ll need my nose.”
I gave a long-suffering sigh. “Fine.”
“Is it so hard to accept my help?”
“It usually doesn’t end well for me.”
“Ouch. I helped with Piepen, and that’s going well.”
I snorted. “Never mind that he keeps coming back or that his girlfriend’s little sister woke me up this morning to check out the competition.”
“Okay. Well, I helped get your mom out of the house.”
“The whole point of getting my mom to leave was so that she and Adira would quit teaming up on me. Instead, Mom’s stolen someone’s house, is building a nightclub so I can feed the way she thinks I need to feed, and Adira has decided her network of spies isn’t enough and slapped a tracking spell on me.”
I immediately regretted my annoyed outburst.
“I’m sorry, Fenris. None of that is your fault. I think that I’m just frustrated that any attempt I make to help myself only makes things worse.”
“That happens when you’re still trying to follow everyone else’s rules. Maybe it’s time for you to focus on what makes you happy.”
He pulled to the shoulder beside a long stretch of trees and surprised me by turning off the car and getting out.
“What are you doing?”
“We’re here.” He closed the door and went to my trunk. I scrambled out in time to watch him remove one of Oanen’s spare shirts. The whole drive I hadn’t noticed the naked expanse of Fenris’s chest. But now as he lifted an arm to put the shirt on, I couldn’t stop staring. I almost drooled when he didn’t bother buttoning the front but reached into the trunk instead.
“Here. This jacket’s warmer.” He handed me one of Oanen’s thick, winter coats. The thing almost went to my knees.
“I never understood why Oanen insisted on leaving this in the car. He never wore it.”
Fenris gave me an odd look.
“It was for you. In case Adira ever forced you into wearing anything too uncomfortable.”
I slipped into the jacket, missing Oanen. He’d been a true griffin guardian, hovering over me constantly to the point I’d wanted to scream sometimes. But he’d always watched out for me. Even against Adira.
“I miss him. Megan too.”
Fenris sighed wistfully.
“She was the best hugger. His were only passable at best.”
“You are far too free with your hugs.”
“Are you saying you want all my hugs for yourself?” He grinned at me and slowly opened his arms, which widened the gap in his still unbuttoned shirt.
Any playful response I might have made died at the sight of Fenris’s sun-kissed skin. It bound my attention more tightly than any druid’s spell. Wisps of steam lifted from his chest, but he didn’t close his arms and wrap himself in the shirt. He waited to see what I would do, his muscles twitching the longer he held out his arms.
I swallowed hard and forced my gaze from the lustful display. I meant to turn my back on him but, instead, took a step closer. While he might be immune to my natural charms, it was oddly discomforting to realize I was far from immune to his.
