Aaron leans down and presses his lips against my forehead. The kiss is gentle, nothing like the magic that was just tearing through him, and I close my eyes.
“Yes,” he says. Then he looks up at Tiana. “I’m sorry. I... I can’t explain what just happened there.”
Tiana holds up her bruised hand. “Oh, blow me. I’m still telling Mom.”
She turns and stomps toward the entrance and I watch her disappear through the doors cursing under her breath. I look up at Aaron.
“You are a very dangerous warlock,” I tell him.
He grins at me, dark and sharp, and my lion stirs because that smile should scare me and it doesn’t.
His hands slide to my thighs and he lifts me. “When it comes to you, Mara,” he says, “I am very dangerous.”
I lock my legs around his waist and wrap my arms around his neck. My tail comes around to stroke his cheek and I hold on as he carries me toward the entrance. I press my face into his neck and breathe him in—coffee, sandalwood, the fading edge of magic and blood.
I don’t know what’s coming or what broke open tonight that can’t be sealed back shut, but I’m going to be right here when it arrives.
Aaron carries me through the doors.
22
Aaron
Sam is examining Mara and my mind won’t stay in this room. My magic did things tonight that I can’t explain. My power just moved, like it already knew what needed to happen, and the fucked up part is it felt right. Like my magic has been waiting to do exactly that.
I don’t know what that makes me. I’m not sure I want to.
I’m leaned against the wall in the corner of the exam room next to the visitor’s chair. Claude showed up a few minutes ago to look at Tiana in the next room, and based on Sam’s continuous smirking, my sister has had some choice words about me. I don’t blame her.
My eyes haven’t left Mara since we walked in. She’s on the edge of the examination bed in Torin’s shirt with warlock blood still drying on her skin and her tail swaying behind her in agitation. Sam applies a bandage to the gash on her arm and she hisses at him. He smiles at her, unbothered.
“It’s okay, little lioness,” he tells her. “I’m just giving you some ointment for the wound.”
“It’s unnecessary.” Her ears flatten. “I’m already healing.”
“Stop, baby.” I push off the wall. “Let him take care of you.”
The thought does exactly what I should have known it would do. I shift where I stand, adjusting myself. I notice Mara and Sam both staring at me. Sam’s nostrils flare. Mara’s ears shoot up.
Shit. Shifters.
I need to get it together. I’m in a medical facility and I’m standing here getting hard.
“She’ll be fine, Mr. Blackwood,” Sam says, and the smirk on his face tells me he caught every goddamn bit of that.
Mara purses her lips and looks away. Her tail goes flat against the examination bed.
Sam grabs his chart and starts writing. After a moment he looks up at me and those fiery red eyes drop to my neck. I lift my hand and brush my fingers over my claim mark.
“You’ve completed the claiming process,” he realizes, and his brow furrows.
Mara looks up and nods. Doesn’t say a word.
Sam lets his chart fall to his side. He leans toward Mara and she hisses at him, sharp and defensive, like she already knows what he’s doing. He sniffs a few times. His brow furrows deeper.
Mara hisses again. Her tail lifts behind her and her whole posture goes stiff.
“It might be too soon,” Sam says carefully, “but have you noticed a change in your scent?”
