* * *
It was a good thing for hisBredhrenthat they couldn’t read his thoughts right now, otherwise they would be blasted with every expletive Col knew. Although Barric was probably immune, as he had taught Col most of them.
Col should have realized from the discussion earlier that Barric and Merek would think nothing of revealing themselves in wolf form to Katie. In fact, they probably made a point of it, given their stance in whether or not she should be told.
His fists clenched at Barric’s readiness to take on the role of mate-bonding with Katie if Col wasn’t willing to. But he stayed himself, because the decision to tell or not to tell, or even when, was taken from him. And what was happening now was critical.
She had called them by name. Sheknew. But what next?
The twoBredhrenran up to Katie, still frozen behind him. He would not have let them approach if they meant her harm. Nay, he would not have let themliveif they posed a danger.
He needed to see how she would react to them. And then to him.
Barric, that steaming piece of dung, was sniffing and rubbing his head against her. Merek, the rotting canker sore, was pushing his head against her as well. Col’s knuckles tightened under the strain. If either of them pressed themselves any closer to her sex, then Col would be bringing back one or both wolf carcasses to the house.
But then Katie lifted her hand…and tentatively began stroking their fur, scratching first Merek, then Barric behind their ears, underneath their chins. Merek’s tail was wagging like a pup, and Barric started licking Katie’s hand.
That was enough.
Col let out a loud growl and Katie looked up at him in surprise. The two got the hint, though, and with short barks that he knew were laughs, they shot off in unison into the dense growth of the woods.
Leaving Col alone with Katie, and the questions that filled her eyes.
“It’s not just Barric and Merek, is it, Col?” she asked. He couldn’t read her expression. Was she looking at him differently? He didn’t know what to say, the words stuck in his ever-tightening throat.
And then she took his hands into her smaller ones. And kissed his knuckles, much as he would hers.
“Are you one as well?”
Goddess, she was not disgusted, or fleeing him with fear. He nodded mutely, still not trusting himself to speak.
“And Aylwyn? Tybalt? Simon?”
He grimaced at the sound of Aylwyn’s name. What a cruelty, if she was accepting of theirShiftwerenatures, but still preferred the blondWaryeor. He cleared his throat.
“Aye, but not Simon. Nor Miller Armstrong.”
“Ah,” she said. And was silent.
“Do you— do you wish to be with Aylwyn?” He braced himself. He would accept her answer, even if it killed him.
And he nearly died with the astonishment in her voice.
“Aylwyn? Why would you think I want to be with Aylwyn?” Her eyes were filled with incredulity, and she squeezed his hands. “Col, look at me.”
He forced himself to raise his head, and meet her intense gaze.
“I like all of you, and Aylwyn was the first to make me feel comfortable, but that’s not the same as the feelings I have for you, Col. I—” She blinked, her lashes tapping against her cheeks as she tried to find the right words. “You make me feel precious and desired, and beautiful, Col. Only you.”
The lightness that filled him at that moment threatened to lift him up and fly him into the celestial firmament itself.
“I wouldst show you how precious and desired and beautiful you are, Katie Cooper, or Lily.”
He liked using that private name with her.Only you, Col. He did not know the power of hearing those words from a woman. And not just any woman. From Lily.HisLily.
She tugged at him, pulling him down to sit on a soft patch of long grass beside her. He folded her into him, marveling anew at how well she fit.
“That’s part of the reason why you’re here, living with Simon, isn’t it?” Katie—no, Lily,hisLily asked.
