“Sure.”
Jenna scrambled up the tree, sniffing limbs as she climbed. My head was tilted to the sky by the time she called out that Fenris wasn’t up there and looked down at me.
Her eyes widened.
“Don’t turn around,” she shouted.
“Why?”
Hands settled on my shoulders.
“Because I’m naked,” Fenris said. “So what’s a girl like you doing in a woods like this?”
I rolled my eyes but stayed looking up at the tree as Jenna scrambled down.
“Looking for you. I forgot your comment about playing hide-and-seek when I said yes, though.”
“Not a fan of seeking? If you’d rather hide, I’m willing to seek,” he said playfully.
“Yes, we’d love to hide,” Jenna said, landing in front of me.
She gave me a pleading look.
“Sorry. My toes are frozen.”
Fenris chuckled. “Chicken. You know I have the advantage.”
“What advantage? Nakedness?”
He leaned in close to my neck and inhaled deeply.
“Smell,” he whispered.
My eyes went black, and since I was facing Jenna, there was no hiding my reaction to Fenris. Her mouth dropped open, and I cringed, swamped in guilt and ravenous hunger.
“Do you think you’re special?” I asked. “You’re not the only one who can find prey.”
“Who said anything about prey? We’re talking hide-and-seek.”
I closed my eyes, struggling not to inhale lungful after lungful of his sweet scent.
“Fenris, back up.”
“I think you should listen to her, Fenris,” Jenna said anxiously.
He sighed, and I held very still, willing myself not to turn around and jump on him like I’d done in the cave. A tremble coursed through me, and Fenris’s hands briefly tightened on my shoulders.
“As soon as I do, Eliana will run, and then I won’t learn why she was out here in the first place.”
“I just wanted to tell you that Elbner’s been fed,” Jenna said.
“That doesn’t explain why Eliana is here, helping you look for me.”
Jenna didn’t answer, and I knew she wouldn’t. I inhaled the scent of her shame and felt some of my hunger recede. Poor Jenna, so twisted up for Fenris. Poor Fenris and me, so desperate for an escape from all the pressure people were putting on us.
I opened my eyes. Although each ridge and groove of the bark behind Jenna stood out in stark clarity, I knew I had enough control to step away from Fenris.
“I’m out here because I ran into Jenna at Megan’s. You should have told me Elbner was being impossible, Fenris. Both of you stood out in the cold for no reason.”
