“Where is she? Please tell me…” I begged, needing nothing more than to see her.
Dante’s gaze softened, and he reached for me, cradling me against his chest once more. I let him, finding his touch strangely soothing like I had known him my entire life. He laid us back down on his lush bed, the magic beginning to flow from him and into me.
“Unfortunately, we don’t know where she is yet, but Bjørn is searching for her as we speak. The very reason he missed dinner. He knew in the mountain that she was alive, but her trace was too volatile to follow. He’s been searching for her since we brought you here.”
So many questions whirled in my mind, especially what powers Bjørn had that allowed him to look for her. Still, that was not the first thing to spill from my mouth. “He would do that for me?”
Resting me on my back, he leaned into me, and a warm smile that seemed out of place in Dante’s sarcastic demeanor pulled at his lips. “We would do anything for you, Natasha.”
As he came even closer, the breath caught in my throat. Was he going to kiss me? Wait, why the hell was I always expectinghim to kiss me? My heartbeat immediately picked up a frantic speed. My wolf, however, wasverycomfortable under him.
That mischievous smirk of his returned, as though he could tell what I was thinking.
“Maybe you should return me to my room. This doesn’t seem like such a good idea...” I rasped, trying to think clearly.
Dante tilted his head in response, ignoring my mouth, and pressing his against my neck to leave another possessive kiss there. At the same time, shadows engulfed us, and everything blurred around me, except his face, until my body sank into the plush mattress where I woke up today. When things became clear once more, I glanced around him, realizing that nowwelay on “my” bed.
“This wasn’t exactly what I meant,” I protested.
Blinking, the Dark Witch faked ignorance. “I thought you wanted us on your bed.”
“No. I did not wantyouon my bed.”
He humorlessly chuckled at that, as though it was the most ridiculous thing he’d heard. “All women want me in their bed,” he assured.
I wasn’t certain what it was about his statement, but it made me want to smack him. I raised a brow at him. “And exactly, how many women’s beds have you been in?” My wolf’s growl escaped me.
Dante’s mouth opened to answer, but then he paused for a second, considering his reply.
“You know what? Don’t answer that,” I mumbled, pushing him off me, and immediately regretting the movement. My rib viciously stabbed my lung. Yep, it had to be broken.
“You need to stay still so I can finish healing you,” he chided. “Bones take a bit more time.”
Confusion wrinkled my forehead because I could still feel his magic flowing through me. “What have you been doing then?”
Reaching for my head, he slipped his hand into my hair, the action almost forcing my eyes to close from the sensations it caused. He brought a lock of my all-white hair to his nose and inhaled deeply. Sighing contentedly, he showed it to me. It was fully dry.
Eyes widening, I patted my clothes, realizing they were no longer soaked from the rain. “You were getting me dry?”
“I didn’t want you to get sick. I know you are more susceptible until you can fully shift.”
Awe… “Get off my bed.”
“Your wish is my command.” His delightful and infuriating smirk returned, the darkness engulfing us both.
“Damn it, Dante!”
Deep chuckles rang through the air, vibrating just under my hand, as we returned to his room, but his eyebrow rose in challenge. “I assume that is not what you meant? You need to be more specific.”
“Dante, I swear…” I warned, although I had trouble not letting the smile take over my lips. He was impossible.
“Will you stay still and let me heal you?” he sighed; all humor gone.
“Okay,” I whispered. “But after we are done?—”
“I’ll return you to your bed. You have my word.”
“Notwith the shadows…”
