Page 16 of Maneater

“Umm, I guess I find him attractive.”

“Uh-huh. And?”

I proceed to explain what happened, ending at the point when the healer left.

“So,” I continue, “he’ll be fine physically, but is probably going to freak out when he wakes up. What should I tell him?”

“Definitely not the truth. You’re good at making up stories, playing the part when dealing with humans. We all are. Lean into your tall tale skills.”

Darien stirs, and I tense. “What about the other part?”

“There are other parts?”

Boone’s tone has changed from just the facts, ma’am to how can I get this guy off the phone.

“The attraction part.”

I hear mumbling that sounds a bit like ‘why me’, before he answers. “Look, Rex. If your spirit is drawn to him, there’s not a whole helluva lot you can do about it. How many times have you bitched at me about there not being any Howlers left for you to hook up with?”

I huff. “I’m not planning on ‘hooking up’ with him. You know I’m not a one-and-done kind of guy.”

Boone sighs again. He does that a lot around me. “Whatever. Call it what you want. My point is that maybe fate has intervened and worked out your chronically single dilemma.”

I chew my bottom lip. Is that possible? “Maybe I could ask him to come to the solstice with me, see how he reacts to everyone.”

Boone mutters something unintelligible. “Maybe you can wait until he’s conscious before you map out your future together. Look, I’ve gotta go. It’ll all work out the way it’s supposed to. Call me if the situation goes south and we have to do a charm spell so he forgets you exist.”

My stomach clenches. The idea of Darien forgetting I exist is too awful to contemplate.

“Okay, I will.” I clear my throat. “Don’t tell the other guys yet, though. I know I’ve been kind of judgey about forming relationships with humans.”

“Ya think?” Boone chuckles. “Don’t worry about it. Your secret’s safe with me.”

After we say our goodbyes, I return my attention to Darien. I place a chair by the bed so I can keep an eye on him. Clover hops over, then rises up on her hind legs when I sit down. This is her sign that she wants cuddles, so I scoop her up in my arms and place her on my lap.

I give her some scritches behind the ears as I contemplate what I should say when Darien wakes up. I’m in my human form, and he sort of knows me from when we met the week before. But that won’t be much reassurance when he realizes he’s in my bed.

Although I’m sure he’ll remember running from the mountain lion. And me. I’m not sure how much of getting zapped by an invisible barrier he’ll recall, so that’s the part that will need a plausible explanation. I ponder this as Clover curls up and yawns.

I find it interesting that she didn’t run and hide when I brought Darien inside, not to mention relaxing in my lap right next to him. It’s as if she senses that Darien belongs right where he is.

Shut up.

I can’t seem to help myself. Something about Tarek’s call has caused a shift inside me. And what I said to Boone is the absolute truth. I don’t want to hook up. If I can’t have the real thing—or at least the promise of the real thing—then I don’t want to waste my time.

Darien groans softly, and I gulp. Oh boy. He’s coming around. I’m in my human form, so that part is okay. But the part where he’s undressed in my bed in a cave and me sitting next to him with a bunny on my lap might give him pause.

“Hey, Clover.” I gave her a little jiggle. “Sorry, honey. I have to put you down.” One of Clover’s eyes pops open, and her nose twitches. “I know, I’m sorry. But I just washed your blankie so it’s nice and clean for you.”

I place a grumbling Clover in her bed, the very style I’ll be taking to the solstice. They’re one of my biggest sellers. I tuck the blanket around her, and she promptly goes back to sleep.

Right as I turn around, I’m met with Darien’s wide eyes. He’s sitting up, supporting himself on his elbows, mouth agape as he stares at me in confusion.

“Uh…” He blinks several times. “What’s going on?”

I cross, then uncross my arms. “How’s your head? Does it hurt?”

I’m not ready to answer his question right away. I need more time to work my way up to the awful truth, which I hope he won’t think is too awful.