Page 27 of Gold & Shadow

“Is this because we…” I trailed off, feeling stupidly naive.

“Fucked?” Orson suggested, his grin a little terrifying as I turned scarlet. “No. The other way around, actually.”

“You suspected before,” I said, remembering his words before we had fully acted on our desires. “You called me ‘shah-reh’ then.”

“Kjære,” Orson corrected, as if that somehow fixed my mis-pronunciation. “It’s spelled K-J—“

“Nope, don’t spell it,” I groaned, putting a hand over my face. “Not if it starts withtwosilent letters.”

“The third letter isn’t even a letter,” Orson growled, pushing my hand away from my face. “It’s a ligature.”

“I will not be learning bear language today,” I declared, feeling a headache begin at my temples. “This is a lot to take in.”

“It is,” Orson said gently.

He licked my cheek, and I laughed. “Elves don’t have mates,” I pointed out, thinking of my father and mother.

“They don’t,” Orson agreed, shifting more firmly over me as if worried I might bolt. “I told you, we are primal beings. Far less civilized than you elves.”

“Technically only a half-elf,” I reminded him.

Orson chuckled, the sound mostly a growl, rolling and pulling me into his chest. “I could be wrong, Lis,” he said, resting his maw on the top of my head. Despite being a bear, he still smelled like cinnamon and pine. “But if I’m not, and you decide youdon’twant this, I’ll figure out a way to tame my more…primitive urges.”

“What kinds of primitive urges?” I asked, trying to keep my tone teasing rather than ravenously curious.

“Like the urge to drag you to my den and bed you until you’re with child,” he growled.

“What?!” I exclaimed, my voice verging on a shriek as I shifted back.

“Sorry,” Orson sighed, giving me a look that might have been apologetic. It was hard to tell as a bear. “It’s a bear thing. Mating is all very wrapped up in sex and offspring. It’s why wehave a baculum.”

“Did you…” My eyes widened as I tried to count days. No, I should be fine. “Remind me to have Izzy make me the strongest birth control elixir she can when we see her,” I said, flopping back down next to him.

“When?“ Orson asked, draping his paw over me possessively. “I haven’t scared you off then, after nearly eating you and threatening to impregnate you?”

“Well, when you put it like that,” I teased, pretending to roll away. Orson caught me and rolled me back into his side.

“Truly though, Lis,” he said, his eyes big and brown and a little more feral than usual in this form. “Why aren’t you running for the hills?”

I kissed his nose. “I suppose it’s because I like you. I want to see where this goes.”

“I’d like that too,” Orson said, a rumbling noise of approval in his chest as he butted my cheek.

“But you might decide thatyou’dbe better off running when you meet my sisters.”

Chapter 14

“Melisande Nightshade!” my eldest sister scolded, the rolling pin in her hand brandished like a weapon.

We had left for my cottage that same evening, Orson carrying me on his back. He had argued for going straight to Victor.

“What if I attack them?” he asked, nudging at my shoulder as I packed.

“I’ll bind you with my shadows,” I said evenly, giving him a smirk. “I’m veryprotective.”

“I’m dangerous, Lis,” he growled.

“So am I, Orson,” I argued, holding his muzzle in my hands to keep his eyes on me. “We would be fools to take on Victor Gold alone.”