He rolled his eyes at her.“Did you change your own diapers too?”
“Pssht, please. I was potty trained.”
The grin on her mate’s face was contagious. Wadim had a playfulness about him that made her feel comfortable, as if she’d known him her whole life. She liked how he understood her sense of humor and liked it even more that he could dish out his own jibes right back to her.
“Are you two done playing goo-goo eyes at each other?” Rachel asked as she transferred the contents of the beaker to a glass and then sat it down on the table in front of Zara. “Drink that,” Rachel said with a smirk.
“I totally knew you were kidding about the whole dancing naked under the moon,” Zara said as she picked up the glass and took a sniff of the mysterious drink. It didn’t smell like grape. Rather, it reminded her of pine cones. Not exactly what she would want to put in her mouth. But it could be worse.
“Sure, you did,” Rachel said, folding her arms across her chest and leaning back against the table.
“What will happen? Are you sure this isn’t going to go terribly wrong and wind up killing me? Or maybe turn me back into a wolf and I get stuck like that forever?” Zara asked.
“Yes, that,” Wadim said, pointing to her. “What she said. Is there a possibility that could happen?”
Rachel sighed. “Do you really think I would give her something that might kill her?” she asked Wadim and then looked at Zara. “There’s no chance the potion could kill you. It’s made with some harmless plants mixed with a few secret ingredients. I can’t exactly divulge those, or Peri would kill me. But they’re perfectly safe. Just trust me. And it won’t force you to phase. The potion will have the opposite effect. It will keep you from phasing.”
“For how long?” Zara asked.
“After you drink it, I will place my hand on your chest, and I will use my magic to bind your wolf magic. I’ve written the spell so that it will dissipate upon completion of the Blood Rites,” Rachel explained.
“What does that mean?” the girl asked.
“It means you stay human until you and I do the nasty,” Wadim cut in, waggling his eyebrows at her. Zara’s eyes grew wide.
“Stop teasing your mate,” Rachel scolded. “There is nothing nasty about the Blood Rites,” she said to Zara in a soothing voice. “Once you and this adolescent book-Nazi complete the bonding ceremony, you will be able to phase as normal. Being mated should calm the wolf raging inside of you. Hopefully, with your mate’s steadying influence, you will then be able to phase to your wolf and back like normal.”
“Hopefully?” Zara asked with raised eyebrows.
“A situation like yours doesn’t come along very often. Peri and I have a lot of experience dealing with weird supernatural maladies, but we don’t know everything. The mate bond is mysterious. Still, I’m certain this will work. There’s nothing to worry about. The Great Luna doesn’t make mistakes. She wouldn’t have given you to this lout if she didn’t think he could handle you.”
“Hey, I’m not a lout,” said Wadim, a faux hurt look on his face. “An adolescent book-Nazi? Maybe, but not a lout.”
“Would you prefer hooligan?” Rachel asked.
Wadim appeared to think deeply for a moment. “I think I would. Hooligan has an air of gravitas that I think I’m due. Think about it. People will say, ‘Look, there goes Wadim, the library hooligan.’ Sounds much better than ‘Look, there goes Wadim, the library lout.’”
Rachel narrowed her eyes on him. “Were you and Jen somehow separated at birth and then somehow separated through time as well?” Before he could answer she shook her head and waved him off. “Fine, whatever, hooligan. Just get your girl to drink.”
Wadim turned to Zara.Go ahead, Z. I’ll be right here, no matter what happens. The potion could turn you into Mr. Hyde and I wouldn’t care. I’m yours and I’m not going anywhere.
Zara nodded at him, smiled, and said, “Bottoms up,” then she put the glass to her lips and tilted it back, pouring the liquid into her mouth. She barely registered the earthy taste as the drink hit the back of her throat, and she swallowed quickly. Zara put the glass down on the counter and waited to see if something happened.
Rachel stepped closer, pressed her hand to Zara’s chest, and closed her eyes. Zara watched the healer intently and forced herself not to push Rachel away when she felt the invasion of the healer’s magic inside of her. Zara’s veins began to warm as though hotliquid was being poured into them, starting at her chest and making its way down through her body. The outside of her body felt cool, and she shivered at the contrasting temperatures.
Rachel stepped back and dropped her hand, watching Zara intently. “How do you feel?”
“Like you poured hot chocolate into my veins,” Zara admitted. All of a sudden, she felt an emptiness insider her. The sensation was surreal. She hadn’t even realized there’d been something previously filling the empty hole. “And I feel like something is missing inside of me. Like a part of me is gone.”
Rachel nodded. “You won’t be able to feel your wolf while the spell is active. Even though you haven’t known her long, she was already a part of you. Being separated from her soul will feel odd to you now. If it becomes painful, I need you to let me know.”
Zara felt her energy level suddenly plummet and weariness settle over her. Wadim must have felt it, as well, through their bond because he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her down from the stool.
“Come on, beautiful,” he murmured quietly. “You need some rest.” He looked at Rachel and said, “Thank you for your help, healer. It will not be forgotten.”
Rachel bowed her head at them and smiled. “It’s what I’m here for.”
After a few twists and turns, Zara and Wadim reached the hall that led to the archive stairs. All of a sudden, Wadim stopped. Zara took another step before pausing and turning back to him. Quickly, he scooped her up into his arms and nuzzled her neck.
