“It’s called a Royal Huntress. It appears beautiful, yet fragile. It’s happy to drink the flower’s nectar but will devour it to protect itself. A Huntress knows how to incite the flower into defensiveness and uses that reaction to its advantage. It takes its fill from the bloom and then escapes.” His lips gently kissed my ear, and I bit back a groan. “You’re my butterfly, my Royal Huntress. But this time, you are well and truly caught.”
His butterfly? My mouth was dry. I wanted to believe I was his, but life had taught me repeatedly that people took what they wanted and then discarded me. I was terrified he’d do the same…
“Stop overthinking it, Butterfly.” His arm came around my shoulders, leaning me into his warmth.
His whispered words and closeness sent heat flooding my whole body, but at the same time, there was a kind of peace inside my soul. A feeling I’d never had with anyone else. Maybe it was time to be brave. “I don’t want to escape. Not anymore.”
“Good. You are still healing. You will have ups and downs, and I will be here for you, but I meant what I said; I will not have sex with you until you are ready.”
I rubbed a hand down my face. “So what was last night? Persuasion?”
He smiled against my hair. “Maybe. I’m not a saint, and once you’re stronger and we have addressed your demons, I will fight with everything in my arsenal to win your heart and your trust.” With that, he kissed my hair and stood before helping me to my feet. “For now, Finchley has prepared us some lunch. We will eat, and then I’ll take you into the forest and teach you how to survive there. If you’re not too tired, we’ll walk into the village, about three miles that way, to see what groceries and other essentials are there.”
I nodded and followed him inside, still trying to process that he wanted towinmy heart and my trust. Since I’d liberated myself from my father, I’d convinced myself I was a strong, independent female who could survive on her own. Perhaps I was just an old-fashioned girl because the thought of Stone winning my heart, my respect, and my trust had a smile stretching my lips that I couldn’t hide.
Chapter 14
Stone
The sound of a pan hitting the metallic hot plate roused me from my fitful sleep. There was no threat, so I didn’t bother jumping up. I’d sensed Finchley coming in about thirty minutes ago and stoking the fire I’d kept going all night. It wasn’t that the Spring Kingdom was cold, but we were nearer to Winter’s borders, so it could be cool at night, and I didn’t want Shannon to get up and be chilled.
I rubbed my face with my hands. Gods, I was tired. My wolf constantly urged me to go to Shannon and take what we both needed. He’d always been a damned handful to dominate, but since we’d been in Faery, with our soul mate by our side, he’d been pushing hard for me to claim Shannon so he could bond with his soul mate, too.
I reassured him that we would, but for now, a shift and hunting in the woods to provide food was the best I could do. Shannon and I need to talk about her demons because I sure as shit wasn’t losing her to booze again. I’d pretty much made it clear that sex with someone else was out, but I wanted to makesure she was strong enough to resist the lure of drowning her demons with that poison.
“I thought you’d never wake up,” Finchley chirped. She fluttered around the kitchen area, using magic to move the pots and pans. Smiling, I inhaled the smell of pancakes, my stomach growling loudly and my mouth watering. It wasn’t the first time I’d seen Finchley use her magic, but it was the first time in a while. My smile stretched. It reminded me of one of the Disney films—Beauty and the Beast that I’d watched with Owen’s and Connor’s kids.
“What are you smiling at me like that for?”
I pushed away the ache of missing my brothers and their families and shrugged. “No reason. It’s just good to see you again. To be back here.”
Finchley cocked her head. “Do you miss her?”
“Gwen?”
She nodded, biting her tiny bottom lip.
I exhaled through my nose and stretched, loosening my stiff muscles. The sofa was comfortable but not meant for someone my size. “Every day, but the pain has lessened over the years. Being here reminds me of our happier times, short though they were.”
There was a grunt from the bedroom door right before Shannon walked through the living space, stomping between us with her head and shoulders hunched down the entire time.
Finchley shot a questioning look my way. “Oh, good morning, Miss Butterfly. Would you like some pancakes?”
Shannon grunted but didn’t acknowledge either of us. Instead, she stormed to the front door and pulled. When it didn’t open, she tugged harder. I pulled my magic away from the lock, and when she tried it again, she stumbled back with the force of her pull. Without a word, she disappeared.
Finchley sighed. “That girl has issues.”
“She does. Many of them. She also has no idea about Fae customs and manners, so I apologise on her behalf for her rudeness.”
In Faery, if someone made you food, it was a sign of their respect and a sign of yours to accept it and eat it. Shannon might not understand that yet, but she soon would.
Outside was indeed chilly, and Shan only wore a t-shirt, so I sent my magic into the house. It was easy to grab the armoured and insulated jacket I’d raided from Vent’s armoury for her and bring it to me as I followed her. Worry and frustration had me cursing when I realised how far from the cottage she’d gone. Not only had she insulted Finchley, but she’d disobeyed my orders not to go into the forest. Snarling, I shifted and released a howl. Her scent was sharper and easier to follow in wolf form, so I didn’t hold back. I just ran. Minutes later, I heard her crashing through the forest. I was only feet away when she stopped and sank to the ground, sobbing. I halted, my heart tearing in two at the pain in those sobs. She sat on her backside and curled her arms around her knees.
Still in wolf form, I sat before her, dropped the jacket from my mouth, and nudged her hand. She stopped rocking and lifted her tear-stained gaze to my face. My wolf noted her wet cheeks and must have remembered my words to her. He got up and licked every bit of wetness from her cheeks before laving her hands.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, wetness trickling down her cheeks again.
My wolf cocked his head, and I could sense his confusion. I didn’t push him to recede, wondering if it was easier for her to talk to me in this form. But I, too, wondered what her apology was for.
