Page 27 of Wedding the Werepanther

When he opens his mouth, I brace for more innuendo, but instead he says, “Once you get dressed, I thought I’d take you to Cake My Day for breakfast.” Those clever eyes tell me he knows exactly how much I love the town’s bakery.

I’m no fool. The yummiest baked goods made by a fae brownie with hearth magic? Sign me the hell up. Even if this is all part of his game, the food will be excellent. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

When he doesn’t move, I flutter a hand at him, shooing him away.

The werepanther shoots me one last knowing grin, then glides from the room, his jeans hugging his firm ass. It’s flipping breathtaking to watch a guy as big as him move so silently and easily, like the best video game fighter to ever grace a screen.

The last of the mochaccino goes down smoothly, the sugar and caffeine jolt starting my brain. I’msonot a morning person, but I throw back the covers like a chipper Hallmark-movie heroine and hurry through getting ready, the temptation of donuts enough to speed up my normal slow start.

“Good morning,”Victoria spells out when I make it downstairs.

“Is it?” I snark.

“What does that mean?”

“It means I’m still upset with you.” I point at the wall. “That thing with the lights last night was not okay.”

The photos swirl around the parchment, shifting with unease.

“Victoria,” Shadow says, a hint of warning in his voice. “We talked about this.”

“I’m sorry.”The letters appear slowly, but they appear.

I let out a breath. “I forgive you.”

Applause comes from the kitchen, and the atmosphere brightens.

“Let’s get you that breakfast,” Shadow says, his green eyes glittering with amusement as he reads the T-shirt I picked:Don’t talk to me unless you’re willing to pay chocolate tax. “Thank you. I now know exactly what kind of donuts to get you.”

“How do you know I like donuts? I could like éclairs or chocolate croissants or something.” The town bakery has every yummy thing.

Instead of answering, his smile widens.

“Oh, right. You’ve been watching me for a few months.”

“No.” The werepanther steps closer, his voice deepening. “I’ve been watching you since the first day we met.”

My eyes widen. “That was over a year ago!”

“It was.” He tips his head.

“But… but… I didn’t notice.” Or is that true? Looking back, hehadbeen around for quite a while—I simply didn’t realize it had anything to do with me.

“I noticed,”Victoria writes.“He always made sure you got home okay.”

“Is that true?” I demand.

“It is.” Shadow says it like it’s a simple thing, no big deal.

A shiver of shock goes through me. Confused emotions swirl in my chest until it’s a little hard to breathe. I don’t know which I feel more: mad or glad. On the one hand, I’m an adult who can take care of myself. On the other, no guy has ever cared enough to be worried about me.

“Shall we?” He extends a hand. “I’m eager to pay the chocolate tax.”

I’m not going to figure him out this morning, especially on an empty stomach. And I sure as shit don’t plan to turn down donuts or the chance to see more fae magic.

The second his fingers wrap around mine, he pulls mesideways. Victoria’s familiar entryway disappears. Color disappears. Sound disappears. The world becomes a slightly darker path cutting through gray mist.

“This is so badass!” I’ve been on the shadow roads once before for a split second, when Shadow whisked me and Skyeto the fae dressmaker for the Valentine’s Day surprise Luke arranged for her.