Maeryn beamed. He’d never seen her smile like that. The way her eyes crinkled at the corners, the small dimples appearing in her cheeks. Absolutely gorgeous.
“Really? I may pet her?”
“Go ahead.” Raine gestured to the wolf.
Maeryn rose and approached, kneeling before Sabriel, and nervously reached out to touch her head. When Sabriel allowed it, she threaded her fingers deeper into her silver fur. “Oh my. What soft fur you have,” she hummed.
Sabriel wagged her tail, pleased.
Raine could not stop studying Maeryn’s face as she beheld Sabriel with fascination. Her bright yellow eyes contrasting her crimson complexion, the flame tattoos on her neck, her full pouty lips with that shiny gold lip ring. Her pert nose. Her short, curly hair he suddenly had the urge to run his fingers through.
They hadn’t spent much time together since their initial introduction—when he had tried to flirt and failed miserably—until this mission. He didn’t know what came over him that day, but every time she was around, he couldn’t help but be drawn to her. Couldn’t help but desire to be in her presence.
He hadn’t been this intrigued by someone since he lost Finnick.
And if he was being honest with himself…it scared him.
“What does Sabriel’s voice sound like now?”
“What?”
“You said she had a childlike voice when she found you. Is that how it is now?”
“No. Now she sounds like a cruel old woman.”
Sabriel’s lip curled, a low rumble in the back of her throat. Maeryn jerked her hand back as if she was afraid Sabriel would bite.
“Sorry,” Raine said. “She was growling at me, not you. She didn’t appreciate my teasing. Her voice has a beautiful deeper feminine tone.”
Not an old lady.
“No. Not an old lady.”
Maeryn’s lips quirked in amusement. “She does not like it when you tease her?”
Raine shrugged. “I tease everyone. She’s used to it now. Besides, she teases me back.”
How dare you. I am the model of sophistication.
Moments later, Luna appeared, walked right up to Maeryn, and flopped in her lap. Maeryn froze. “Oh! What should I do? Is she…will she bite me…”
Raine couldn’t help but laugh at Maeryn’s sudden panic.
“Do not laugh at me, captain…”
“My apologies,” he said with a smirk. “Luna likes almost everyone. She won’t hurt you. She only lets Casimir pick her up, but she’ll let anyone snuggle with her.”
Maeryn’s shoulders relaxed as she stroked Luna’s white fur. The cat immediately began to purr and knead her paws in satisfaction. “She is quite beautiful.”
Luna gave a friendly chirp.
“So, you grew up in hiding…does that mean you’ve never been to Igneothenia?”
Maeryn shook her head, expression solemn. “I have not. I am eager to lead our forces to take back my home. Though I guess I never really had a true home…”
Raine met her eyes. “Home is wherever your friends are. Your family…and family doesn’t always have to be blood.”
She seemed to ponder on that. “I’ve seen how you are withthe others. You all love each other like family…even if you are not all related…”
