I had to admit, even though I wasn’t Star, I could appreciate how incredible this place was and the way it felt to be here. My eyes roamed the land below me, admiring the beauty of the snow-capped hills, the crystalline lake, and the sky-reaching pine trees that never seemed to end on the horizon.
It was easy to understand the love that inundated Hannes’s eyes when he spoke of his homeland, I hadn’t even been here two days and I was already falling for this magical place, I couldn’t even imagine what it felt like for him who had grown up here.
The silent exchange between Hannes and I as we looked into each other’s eyes returned, and so did the emotion that had captured me. I knew the hunky lumberjack/Wolf Shifter wasn’t meant for me—he was Star’s, or whatever—but in that moment, I’d wanted him to look at me like he did this forest.
As if I was the passion that kept him going, the one thing that held his heart.
“We need to start descending now.” André’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and I swerved a little, losing my balance again.
“Sorry. I’m fine. I got it.”
His gaze became slightly suspicious like he was trying to decipher what had distracted me, and I was ever so glad he wasn’t in my mind.
“Are you ready?”
“Ready,” I assured.
“Tilt your body forward and slow the flapping of your wings.”
Letting go of my hand, he did it first, beginning to descend toward the clearing. I followed his example, finding it surprisingly easy… until I bounced three times before my feet kept their grip on the ground. I tumbled forward and almost ate the frosted grass.
Ugh. Way to make me look bad wings. Assholes.
“That was amazing for your first flight!” Dante offered, kissing my lips after my wings retracted. All flames gone.
“It was fun,” I admitted, setting my sights back on Hannes. “I hope you are ready for me,” I announced, cracking my neck to show him I was ready.
“Let’s throw down!”Star hollered, and he bit his lower lip, trying not to laugh.
Damn. I loved it when he did that.
“Hotness alert!”
Shaking his head Hannes began to transform back into the Beast, until I lifted a finger, stopping him.
“Not necessary, Beasty boy. I don’t need to use my fire to kick your ass,” I assured, cleaning imaginary lint off my shoulder. “I can do it all by my lonesome.”
“Hey, I can also kick his ass… Can I slap it too while we are at it?”
Laughter erupted from him at that, and Dante and André finally caught on to it.
“Not fair!” Dante protested. “Why does he get to be in your mind, but we can’t?”
“Because he cheated,” I grunted. “He connected to Star through their pack link and now I can’t get him out.”
“In her defense, I am really good at cheating,” Hannes admitted, polishing his half-shifted crystal-like claws against the fur on his chest. He had paused mid-shift.
“Why would you ever need to cheat?” I asked, perplexed. “You grew up in a literal fairytale castle that sits on a magicalforest, with a family that adores you and would kill for you without questions or remorse. Let’s not forget the fortune and the private plane.Andyou are literally, an honest to the Goddess prince who will one day rule a very powerful race. What could you possibly need that you don’t already have or that wouldn’t be given to you before you even finish asking for it?”
“Don’t forget he’s also invincible and super steamy hot.”
“Are you calling me a privileged white man?”
The guys laughed while he grinned at me, seeming completely unfaced.
“I’m kind of serious though.”
“How dare you, Bitch? I thought you were just messing with him.”
