I’ll convince him another way. With something he can’t argue with, when the time comes. First I have to find out what Eric wants, because Aaron doesn’t know.
I make my face soft. I smile at him, though it feels like a mask settling over my features.
“Don’t tell my mom,” he says, his voice dropping. “Please?”
“And your sisters? Can I ask them?” I try to keep the desperation from my voice.
“Baby. Just don’t worry about it. I wouldn’t have introduced you if?—“
I kiss his lips before he can finish, soft, just enough to stop the words.
“Forget it, Aaron.” I say it against his mouth, the lie bitter on my tongue. “It’s my lion being overly cautious. He’s new to me, and he’s from a world I thought was a bad place. I’ve got much to unlearn about witches and warlocks.”
His hand cups my face, his thumb stroking slow. I almost forget what I’m doing.
“I don’t think much of what you’ve learned is worth unlearning,” he says, his eyes holding mine.
I look up at him, studying the face I’ve come to love so deeply, wondering how I can protect him from himself.
“You weren’t wrong when you told me witches and warlocks are selfish. We are. And you’ve had a front row seat to it.”
A laugh escapes me, small and strained. He has a way of saying the worst thing about himself and making it sound likehe’s flirting, of admitting to flaws as if they’re charming quirks rather than dangers.
I let myself look around the clearing. The sun is starting to come down through the trees on a slant.
Aaron buries his face in my neck. He nibbles. The moan I make is small and traitorous, and my head tilts back. He kisses up my throat. My body has already forgotten why I was angry.
“There’s something else I need to tell you,” he murmurs against me.
“Huh?” My thoughts feel scattered, divided between the immediate pleasure of his touch and the looming danger I can’t make him see.
He plants kisses along my cheek, then pulls back and cups my face in both hands, his expression suddenly serious.
“I should start by explaining the law of magic.”
I nod, my brain still half a step behind my body, struggling to focus.
“When magic is cast for self-gain,” he explains, “there are almost always consequences.”
“I don’t understand.” My tail swishes nervously behind me.
He sighs. “When I cast the shield over myself?—“
The wordshieldcoming out of his mouth makes my whole body tense, memories of betrayal and hurt rising fresh.
He cups my face quickly. “Shh. Baby. Let me finish.”
I let out a breath, forcing myself to listen.
“I lifted the shield,” he says. “Nothing is stopping us from making a cub.”
“Okay.” The word comes out cautious, uncertain.
He sighs and presses his forehead to mine.
“But because I messed with the natural order,” he says, “I’m stuck in a loop now.”
“What loop?” Alarm rises in me, my tail stiffening.
