I want to spend the weekend with him, getting high off him. I wasn’t lying when I said I could bathe in his scent. It’s so delicious. But he said he was overdue for a visit with his foster brother. In the end, it worked out really well, because I am loath to leave him. So much so that I almost canceled on my brother. But Arbor insisted it was fine, that he was busy anyway.
So here I am, spending the next few days away from Arbor. Fucking hate it. I feel unusually despondent over it.
Not that I say that, but Forest must read it on my face. He scoffs and runs a hand over his mouth.
“You’re so fucked.”
I sigh loudly. “Yeah.”
He chuckles and turns his gaze out to the road I turn onto.
“How does it feel to be in love?”
“Don’t know if I am.”
“You totally are, dude.”
I mull that over and then discard it for the time being. Realizing I’m in love with Arbor is not something I want to decide when I’m on a trip away from him.
“So, what are you going up north for? Did the clan invite you back?” I ask my brother, trying to turn the subject away from me.
Forest huffs. “Is that why you offered to drive me? Wanted to start an interrogation with me while I’m stuck in the car with you?”
“No, just curious about what’s been going on in your life.”
He stares out the window as we drive down the highway. “Yeah, well, I’ve been visiting the shaman. He’s been…helping me out with a few things I need.”
My fingers flex on the steering wheel. “What stuff?”
“Nosy much?”
“It’s a long drive. Humor me.”
“You don’t need to know, just that what he provides makes my life easier.”
I want to press, want to know what he needs so badly, but I’m pretty sure he doesn’t want me to know. And that’s fair. It’s probably something he’s not comfortable sharing.
“Can’t believe you’re going back to the Crimson Howlers. All I heard was the bad shit.”
Forest shifts in his seat and shrugs. “They’re not so bad.”
I eye him. “Guess not, but I remember how miserable Skye was after the unbonding.”
“Me too.”
He eyes me and then adds, “You gonna bond with Arbor?”
I feel my heart flutter in my chest. “He’s part fae. Not sure how that works.”
“Hm.” He pulls out his phone and starts typing a text. He taps his foot a few times and then lets out an amused sound.
“Just so you know, they can bond. The fae part of him will also need to accept it.”
“Who told you this?”
“The shaman.”
“Fuck him. I don’t trust that piece of shit.”
