Chapter 29
Aurelia
“You okay?”
The words trickled into my awareness, interrupting my whirling thoughts regarding that waxy stuff Granny had put over my product. I needed to find a well-stocked library and do some research so that I might discover both how it was made and how to negate the effects. Once I’d developed a remedy, I’d need to find a way to steal money out of Alexander’s pocket, as he was the only one who could run the organization in Granny’s absence.
I pulled away from Weston’s broad back for a moment, my focus shifting back to the present moment. “Yeah, thanks. Just thinking.”
“You’ve been very quiet. Did you read something in your journals that upset you?”
I went back to leaning against him, sitting behind him on his large, sturdy horse as we walked through the dense trees. I’d been reading those journals, poring over memories from a forgotten time, trying to find some clues of my own.
One thing had become clear: I’d been horribly unhappy in Granny’s village. It had been disguised in many parts, writingcheerful memories of my mother or counting my blessings that I’d found somewhere to live, but I’d been so very lonely. So heartbroken about my mom—just broken, period. No one had put out a hand to help me when I was struggling badly, not even when I had asked for help. Only Xarion had been friendly, but after meeting Hadriel, I realized Xarion had never truly been a friend. He’d been someone to pass the time with, the only person who would talk to me, and half our time together had been spent fielding cheap shots he sent my way, coloring our communication with the disdain shared by the village. I’d written it all down in my journal.
“I see now why everyone thinks my stories are so depressing,” I murmured, feeling no emotion about any of it. I’d clearly resigned myself to the life I lived. I’d made peace with it years ago. It was a survival tactic, I supposed. It shouldn’t have surprised me, and honestly, it didn’t—not really. I had made do because I’d had to. I still did.
“I understand now why I didn’t notice the realities of the village,” I said, peering through the trees. I half wondered if I’d see Alexander keeping pace with us. “I was also turning a blind eye to my own situation. Willful ignorance.”
I took a deep breath, slipping my hands under the hem of his shirt and sliding them along his torso.
“Enough about me. What about you?” I turned my head so that my chin was resting in the hollow between his shoulder blades. “I feel this overpowering urge to be with you, but I don’t know anything about you.” I traced the edges of his muscle. “How do you stay in such great shape?”
“I train with my pack constantly. The pack consists of more than just wolves. We have a lot of dragons that we work with, and they are incredibly powerful. I work hard to ensure we can form a cohesive unit.”
I circled one of his nipples with my pointer finger. “Do you like your nipples stimulated?”
He turned his head to the side and I could see his ear lifting with a smile. “Sometimes. Not as much as you do, I don’t think.”
“Hmm.” I pinched it a little and felt him shiver. “Maybe that’s something we should explore.”
“Maybe,” he whispered.
We hadn’t had sex since yesterday. Part of that was due to not having a tent. We’d had a bed, and even though he’d given me the option of sleeping alone, I’d chosen to have him beside me. We’d wrapped ourselves up in each other’s arms, but the rest of the pack was within sight. I wasn’t in the habit of putting on a show.
I resumed tracing his muscles, following the line of his bulging pec until it connected near his arm pit. On impulse, I tickled him.
He jumped and then twisted, letting out a gurgle of surprise and nearly knocking me off the horse in order to squirm away.
“Gods, don’t do that!” he said as I laughed, clutching onto him so that I didn’t fall. He chuckled, trying to get himself under control, out of breath. “Don’t do that.”
“You’re ticklish.”
“Isn’t everyone?”
“No.”
“You’re not ticklish?”
“No,” I repeated with a smile, and then tried tickling his sides.
He squirmed again, though not as out of control this time. He captured one of my hands with one of his and pressed my palm to his warm skin. “Seriously, stop!” His laughter was large and deep, his head thrown back. “I don’t want to throw you off the horse.”
I delighted in his unchecked mirth, his wide smile, so rare for this alpha. It felt good to bring it out of him, like I’d accomplished some great feat and received my prize.
“To be continued.” I flattened my palms to his sides.
“You’re not ticklish?” he asked again. I shook my head against his back in response. “Bullshit. You must be ticklish somewhere.”
