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“Thinking I was hot enough to make a move on you.”
I didn’t know how to answer.
“Which I won’t. I’m just being honest.” He glanced at the window. “Not that I’m the kind of man built for one person. I’m more of a free spirit, operating outside of the traditional relationship norms, you know?”
“Oh.”
“I love to run free, to love free, and fuck free.” He folded his arms. “I think I am being too honest here.”
“No worries. At least I’ve learned something else about you.”
He faced me again. “Look at us, two executioners bonding over beer and toast.”
There was an easy, breezy energy about Declan. I’d seen his forceful side in how he reined in his beta wolf, Jenny. This was the other side, one I really liked in a totally platonic way.
Still, I didn’t want to discuss this anymore. “What are you making notes about?”
He picked up the paper. “Potential routes to the Elf Domain, then from there to the Wolf Domain. Calculations, a headache scribbled right here on the parchment.”
“We can ask Medusa to help with the travel.”
He sipped more beer. “She’s not here. I’m uneasy. I like to plan when I’m uneasy.”
“She will be here,” I said for reassurance. For him and for me.
“Not to be negative, but you don’t know that. And we can’t wait around here for her to show up.”
Hmmm. The easy, breezy vibes died. “I know. I’m not saying we should.”
He nodded. “As much as I want to help you, I’ve pissed around here for too long. I need to get to my pack. Free them.”
“How can you without Medusa?” The Lost Valley was locked down, basically impossible to escape.
He didn’t have an answer.
“Honestly, I think Medusa will help you. Silvanus can find me.”
Ha! How’s the staying away from each other thing going?
Damn. When would this exhausting gauntlet of ugh end?
Silence fell between us.
“I think we should set off tonight,” Declan broke it.
“Okay.”
“We can’t stay here.” He glowered at the kitchen. “I can smell Gramps, too. I always smell him. He’s the ghost that’ll never quit.” His lips twitched at the corners. “I really hated that man.”
“I’m sorry.”
He growled. “He was ashamed of who he was, ashamed of me. Rotten to the core. No physical abuse, but lots of verbal attacks that hurt more than any punch. It started the moment he took me in after my parents died.” He sighed, closing his eyes. “Let’s not do this now.”
I reached for comforting words. “I’m so sorry. And you listened to me whine on. I can listen to your real pain.”
He kept his eyes closed. “You have real pain, Paris. Plus, you don’t know me well enough to be my sounding board.” He opened his eyes, offering a weak smile. “Anyway, I’ve talked this out with Jenny a lot over the years.”
I rubbed the back of my neck. “Right.”
