I was a liar.
When I opened my eyes, Talis wore an expression that I’d recognise anywhere. He didn’t need words to tell me he thought I was full of shit. He might be right, but I wasn’t about to admit it.
I took a chance and reached for him, stroking along the silky softness of his ears. “I wish it was this easy all the time,” I whispered, burying my fingers in his thick fur.
He huffed but didn’t move away, so I kept my hands where they were, making the most of this while I could because something told me it wouldn’t be happening again.
“I miss you,” I whispered, meeting his eyes.
He moved closer, cold nose skimming the base of my throat, and for one glorious moment it was like before. Then he skipped away from me, shaking his head. His low growl echoed around the trees as he glared at me, and then he was gone, vanishing into the darkness.
I didn’t need to read his mind to understand that message.
Pretty sure it went something like… I miss you too, but also you can fuck right off.
The wind chose that moment to pick up, sending a gust of cold air swirling under my blanket. I shivered, suddenly feeling the chill. My hot chocolate was cold, Talis long gone, so there was no reason for me to stay out here. Not knowing if I’d just made things between us better or worse, I picked up my mug and turned to go back inside.
It was only when I closed the French doors behind me that I realised my mistake.
Sasha sat on the sofa, mug in hand.
Arse.
How did I forget the shifter in the room?
She watched me with a mix of amusement and pity. Couldn’t say I was a fan of either.
“What?”
“I’m not sure whether toawwat how cute the two of you were or slap you both forstillnot resolving anything.”
I met her raised eyebrow with one of my own. “If byresolvedyou meandeclare our undying love for each other, then that’s never going to happen.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I would’ve taken the two of you acting normal around each other, but good to know where your mind’s at.”
“Oh, fuck off.”
She laughed as I stalked past her into the kitchen.
* * *
The next fewdays seem to pass in slow motion.
Sasha did her best to keep us entertained, but with the gateways practically on lockdown, there wasn’t a lot for me to do this side of it, and I wasn’t allowed back through to the Fae Realm until they located Zh’alek.
On top of all that, I hadn’t seen Talis since our chat on the patio. Syl still did the handovers, and even though I’d sat outside a couple of times since, he hadn’t ventured close again.
Not that I was under house arrest or anything, but I knew the thought of me wandering around set everyone on edge, and I was already enough of a problem as it was. I didn’t even have Dathal to moan at because he was spending all of his spare time with Nick, and I didn’t want to interrupt that.
So by the time Saturday night rolled around, I was practically climbing the walls. Sasha wasn’t far behind me. Going to Midnight seemed like the most exciting thing to ever happen, and I didn’t even care that I’d have Rys and Gabriel tagging along as backup.
“Five minutes!” Sasha yelled up the stairs.
I took one last look in the mirror. Black jeans, black boots, sheer dark green shirt. A little more conservative than what I usually wore to Midnight, but it suited my mood to a T.
Sasha waited at the bottom of the stairs, her little black dress showing off all those lovely shifter muscles. I grinned when I noticed the biker boots she wore.
“You look good.”
