Page 20

“Ravena?” Tharion asks, but I’m already gone.

I leap up and race across the tavern, grabbing the first mug of beer I can get my hands on. I grab it and chug it down, trying to put out the scorching blaze in my mouth.

It seems to do the trick, but it takes the whole mug.

When I’m done, I lower the beer and find myself standing in front of a table of confused werewolves. The whole restaurant is quiet. Everyone is staring at me in silence.

Beer has dribbled down my chin and onto my shirt.

I laugh nervously as I turn to everyone. “I recommend the Dragonfire Poppers,” I say with a thumbs up. “Five stars.”

Everyone laughs and then gets back to their conversations. A purple demon calls the waitress over and orders a plate of them.

I awkwardly return the empty beer mug to the werewolf I stole it from. “I’ll replace that,” I say, laughing nervously as he stares at me. “Enjoy your meals.”

I quickly hurry back to our table where Tharion is waiting with a concerned look.

“That was humiliating,” I mutter as I slide back into the booth, hunching down in shame.

Tharion just grins at me like he’s amused by it all.

“I can’t wait to tell our kids that one,” he says, taking a popper and tossing it into his mouth. He doesn’t run across the restaurant screaming and getting everyone’s attention. No, he just chews and swallows it like a normal person.

“Kids?” I eventually say when it hits. “We can have kids?”

“Of course,” he says. “You have a vagina and I have a penis.”

“Oh!” I say, feeling my cheeks burning. “Yeah, I noticed that.”

“We’ll put them to good use.”

He says it so casually as he looks at the menu and grabs another popper. I take my menu too, but I’m peeking at him over it, wondering what the heck is going on.

How did my life take such a wild, unexpected turn?

Now that he’s distracted, I start to study his face. He has kind eyes and beautiful features. They’re all so big and powerful, but now that I’m getting to know him, they don’t seem so intimidating. More like majestic and grand.

My eyes slowly rise to the two giant horns curling out of his hairline. Curiosity burns through me. I’ve never touched horns before.

“Oh!” I say in panic when I look back down and find his eyes on me. “Sorry.”

I drop my eyes to the menu, but I can’t see any of it. It’s all a blur. Reading feels impossible right now. I can’t seem to focus on anything.

“Were you looking at my horns?”

“What? Me? No…”

“Would you like to touch them?”

My eyes widen. “Could I? I mean… I don’t have to… but if you don’t mind…”

I’m rambling again.

He just lowers his head, giving me access. My pulse races as I reach out and touch them. They’re so hard, but of course they are. What was I expecting? They’re horns.

“They’re cool,” I say when I’m done exploring.

He lifts his head with a smile.