I looked up at the sky. “But honestly, I think hockey helped me to learnhowto walk again, instead of making it harder. Being on the ice has always made me feel so secure. Skating with my prosthetic was like learning a new skill— like shooting pucks, or running defense. I don’t remember learning to walk, but I remember my first time on the ice with a hockey stick. I was able to relate to it far easier.”
She nodded. “That makes sense.”
Emma was quiet for a moment. I wondered what was on her mind before a chilly wind swept by and caused her to shiver. What had turned into a heavy snowfall was now becoming a full-on snowstorm. Emma shielded her eyes from the torrent of snow as I got to my feet. I couldn’t even see the school through the thick snowfall that was enveloping the school gardens.
“There’s a cottage on campus that’s not too far from here. It’s closer than the main campus. We should go there and wait the storm out,” I said.
“Fine by me.” Emma put her skates and mine into my hockey bag, then flung it on her back. I transformed into a wolven.
“Hop on. We’ll get there faster,” I said.
Emma paused, and I added, “Unless you want to freeze.”
Slowly, she grabbed my scruff. I knelt down so she could hoist herself onto my back. She sat comfortably behind my shoulder blades. Emma rubbed her gloves hands up and down my fur, and I resisted quivering. That felt really good.
“Hold on tight, so you don’t fall off,” I said. I crouched down in the snow and bounded forward. Emma startled on my back, then I felt her hands dig into my fur as I started racing through the snow. She flattened herself onto my form, her legs clinging to my sides. I felt her body move with mine as I raced across the gardens.
I didn’t have to adjust my strides, or slow down, or worry she would fall. She sat upon my back easily and rode upon my form like she’d been meant to do it her entire life.
And it made me feel lonely. This was how Marked and Companions should be. Always together, as one. Yet Emma and I could never be.
The snow was getting in my eyes and making it hard to see. Thankfully, the outline of the cottage came into view. I skidded to a stop in front of the door, and Emma swung off my back. I changed into a human and opened up the door. Once we were inside, Emma let the skate bag fall to the floor, and I immediately worked on getting a fire going in the fireplace. It sprung to life. A warm glow overtook the entire room. The cottage was small, no more than a kitchenette, a couch, a few armchairs and a double bed, but it was cozy— and far better than getting caught out in the cold.
“What’s this cottage even here for?” Emma asked.
“The groundskeeper used to live here, but he died a few years back. The new one lives in Dolinska, so this place has been sitting empty for awhile. The school keeps the electricity and water running to it, in case one of the staff needs a place to stay,” I explained.
I walked across the room and reached inside the refrigerator to pull out champagne and seafood. I grabbed a couple of boxes of pasta from the cupboards. “Surprise. I’m making you dinner. Scallop puttanesca.”
She gave me a sly grin. “Ethan Nowak, you planned to bring me here.”
“Maybe I did. Is that a crime?” I asked.
“I bet that snowstorm outside isn’t even real. It’s probably an illusion.” Emma crossed her arms.
“Actually, it’s not. I couldn’t conjure up something like that, anyway. Just a well-timed act of fate.” I smiled at her.
I filled up a pot with water to boil and worked on preparing the scallops. I got two glasses down from the cupboard and popped the champagne, pouring a glass. I handed one to her. She took it and looked around. “So… how many people come to fuck in this cottage?”
I chuckled. “About as many as you’d expect. Itisan empty cottage on a college campus, after all.”
“Uh-huh. And how many girls haveyoubrought in here?”
“None,” I said honestly. “I haven’t screwed around with anyone.”
She came into the kitchen as I mixed olive oil and lemon juice together. “Seriously? I thought you’d have been with hundreds of girls by now.”
I shook my head. “Arcanea are supposed to save themselves for their mates. But not everyone does. I wasn’t very interested in girls growing up, I suppose.” I began chopping cherry tomatoes and black olives in half.
“What about you and Chastity?” Emma challenged.
I put the knife down in thought. “Chastity was a formality.”
“That sounds romantic.” Emma snorted.
“You don’t understand. Growing up, people expected me to be withsomeone.I was a prince. I was expected to find a mate so I could succeed the throne when the time came. Then years passed, and I never did.” I shrugged as I cooked. “Chastity was who my mother wanted. She was an easy choice.”
“But you never loved her.”
