Robin shook his head, a half-amused expression on his face. “Munchie recently took up archery, and he doesn’t have that much control yet. I didn’t trust that he’d always hit the target at the ranch. This way people can shift and run around the ranch without fear of a wayward arrow hitting them.”
“And here I thought that you’d brought it to protect me.” The words slipped from me naturally, more teasing and softer than I would have liked. Dammit, I was being lulled into comfort—the feeling of us that had always been so natural and easy.
Robin’s face turned serious. “I’ll always be there for you, Mar. I couldn’t stop myself even if I wanted to.” He pulled another arrow, nocked it, and let it fly.
My heart clenched as the sound of the arrow whizzing through the air dimmed and the white and blue tail feathers disappeared into the night. He kept catching me off guard with his sweet words and gestures.
“Remember when we got stranded outside Santa Fe on a road like this?” Robin asked, clearly unaware that I was feeling all the feels.
I pulled myself together quickly and looked around. “We could be in the same place, if it wasn’t for those.” I pointed at the bright lights of Vegas in the distance.
“Those lights.” Robin wrinkled his nose. “I know people get all nostalgic over their hometown, but not me. I feel that way about some people and the orphanage, but honestly, I could do without ever returning here.” He shot me an uncertain glance. “Actually, I’ve been meaning to ask why you came back. Of all the places on the planet, why come back to Vegas?”
I stopped walking. He mimicked me, and our gazes locked. “Where else could I have gone, Rob? I didn’t have anyone to turn to for help. At least here, I knew how to survive.”
“How could you say that you didn’t have anyone, Mar? I proposed to you, andyouleft.”
I shrugged, trying to pretend like a well of frustration wasn’t rising inside me. The muscles of my face tightened though, betraying my false cool persona.
“You didn’t come for me, that’s how. I thought you’d come running after me, promising to change, just like in the movies. That you’dbegfor another chance, say you’d never stoop so low again.” A sob broke my voice. “But all I got was . . . silence. So yeah, I came home. It was what I knew.”
He threw his bow to the ground, making me jump. “I didn’t come after you because I wasn’t good enough!” His voice echoed through the vast nothing that surrounded us.
I blinked, not comprehending his words. “What do you mean not good enough?”
“For you,” Robin said, his gaze locked on the ground. His fists curled into tight balls. “I wasn’t good enough for you. I never was. And that night . . . well, you drove that point home, Mar.”
I took a step toward him, and the sound of the gravel moving underfoot seemed to jolt him out of his trance. He looked up, and I jerked backward. His eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
“I only wanted to be with you, Mar. I wanted to love you and give you everything that you deserved. I know I did it the wrong way—that I was a total idiot.” He shook his head and dragged a hand over his eyes. It came back wet. “When I stole that ring, and you denied my proposal, it hurt, but dammit, you wereright. It didn’t take long for me to see that you deserved better. If I wanted you, I needed to do better, be better.” He reached forward and took my hand.
Electricity shot up and down my arm. I shivered as all my nerves lit up in a way that I hadn’t felt in far too long. His hand was cool and dry, but supple. Just like it had been all those years ago, when he’d been mine. My heart cracked open. Back then, we’d truly lived. Although we were orphans, together we were strong. The world had been ours for the taking.
A memory of Robin’s hands running up and down my body pierced my mind. Heat flared through me. His eyes hadn’t left mine, and I felt a pull to be closer to him. I bit my lip, as I trembled. My body yearned for his touch, it had for years. Until this moment, I’d been able to ignore that yearning. No longer.
Even if it would break the parts of me, I’d spent months painstakingly pulling back together, I wanted Robin.
And from the familiar look in his eyes and the scent of his arousal, I was sure he felt the same way. But did I dare let him in? Even for a moment?
“Mar,” Robin breathed.
A world of desire flooded me. I couldn’t deny the pull he had on me.Maybe this can work—as a one time thing. Closure, perhaps?
Half of me, probably the half that had downed too many drinks while catching up with old friends, believed the lie. The other half thought it was the stupidest idea I’d ever had. But honestly, the way my body was humming, I wasn’t sure if I cared.
“Mar? Are you okay?” Robin’s voice was low and raspy.
“Let’s shift,” I blurted out.
A shifter’s most primal nature came out when they shifted. If I was going to deny reason, which I desperately wanted to do, releasing my fox would make it much easier. If I was in my fox aspect, and did something I’d later regret, it would be easier to forgive myself.
“Shift . . .” Robin’s eyes grew wide. “Are you sure?”
In answer, I gave in to my magic. Fur sprouted from my skin, and my body contorted, shrinking in on itself. My nose and ears elongated, and claws grew where nails had been. A tail sprouted, and magic made my clothes and anything I carried disappear temporarily.
I fell to all fours and shook, reveling in the sensation of air flowing through each follicle of my fur. I sniffed at the air, taking in the aromas of the night. Although shifters had a sensitive sense of smell in human form, it was nothing compared to their animal form.
Sand, rubber burning at least a mile away, cactus water, and finally, the scent of another fox tantalized my nostrils. I turned to find a red and white fox, his tail and ears raised, his fur gleaming, and his head cocked to one side.
