I wish I hadn’t upset him. A Bowie who’s unable to meet my gaze—favoring the ground instead—isn’t the Bowie I’ve grown accustomed to. “That’s all right. You don’t have to.”
“I will,” he says, voice soft. “I’ll tell you.”
I take the one step that exists between us and tuck myself into his space. Nuzzling my nose into the soft spot where jaw becomes throat, I breathe his delicious scent. I don’t know how to calm using words, but touch comes naturally. I hold his waist and will him to feel better. To forget I asked.
His arms come around my back, and his muscles unclench. He tilts his chin to allow me more room. I use it to press my cheek to his neck, mixing my scent with his. I whisper into his ear, “Tell me when you’re ready. Or don’t. I understand.”
He takes my cheeks gently in his cool hands and draws my face in front of his so he can look at me. His eyes have darkened, deep blue and storm filled. They shift from my eyes to my mouth.
For the span of a few heartbeats, I think he’s going to kiss me, but the moment passes like dandelion seeds on the wind. Instead, he says, “Thank you. For being so patient with me.”
I’m all warm and tingly. A nod is all I can manage.
He releases my face and steps back. “You’re going to shift?”
Right, that was the plan. “I should. I’m faster as a wolf, and you’ve proven you can outpace me even when I’m on four feet.”
Bowie winks. “Someday, we’ll have to race.”
“I’m not that dumb. I already know you’ll win.”
His finger lands on my lips. “You aren’t dumb at all. Don’t say that.”
I smile behind his finger. He removes it. I thrust my folded shirt into his hand to put in our pack. “Let’s see how fast we can make it to Debrecen.”
He rolls his shoulders and cracks his knuckles. “You’re on.”
My eyes go wide. “Wait, I didn’t mean a race.”
“I’ll give you a head start.”
“No, we aren’t racing.”
“So, no head start?”
“Bowie!”
“Fine, fine. Onward, mighty Beans. I shall follow in your wake.”
I roll my eyes and rouse the wolf. “Come along, then.”
Chapter 10
My instinct proves correct as the scent trail follows the public road and leads straight to the city of Debrecen. Even better, the trail of the girl who was first taken east converged partway, meaning we’re now on the scent of all three missing girls from Varad.
We’ve been traveling all night. It’s early morning, and we have only an hour or so before sunrise. Since the hour is wildly inappropriate for us to call on the families who’ve lost girls from this area, we’re forced to call it a night and find a place to sleep for the day.
I shift back to my human form, hiding my tail in my pants and my ears beneath a black hat so people won’t be startled by a wolf roaming their city. I can’t hear as well with my ears smushed flat, but the city is mostly quiet anyway. It’s too early for birdsong or roosters, and most people are still asleep in their beds.
“Where will we hide?” I ask Bowie, wondering if we can walk into an inn at this hour.
“There is an establishment that caters to our kind near the heart of the city.”
Our kind.What does he mean by that? Are there other werewolves here? And do people know about them?
He continues, “A meeting place of sorts run by a”—here Bowie hesitates—“brother of mine called Ivaz. We can take a room for the day.”
“You and Catherine have a brother?”
