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Chapter Twenty

Isobella had long since gotten over any embarrassment about public nudity after her first few spells involving the entire coven. Doing a ritual skyclad meant a better connection, a free flow of power from the elements through the body. So it rattled her that her body was so affected now. The heat from the coals in the brazier had nothing on the blaze coursing through her body. Though Edmond’s attention was focused on the wall behind her, she burned from the inside so hot she might spontaneously combust. Because of him. Because she was naked in front of him.

Isobella had never had this reaction to any man. It was all she could do to remain standing there, not ten feet from him, and not race across the room and climb him like…well, like he was a damn tree. An oak. Solid and dependable. And sexy as hell. He wanted her too. She’d have to be blind not to notice the tenting in his breeches. Though he appeared to be ignoring it just fine.

“When you are ready, Isobella.”

The deep rumble of his voice, the roughness of it, had tingles rippling across her naked flesh. What would it do to her if he were to talk dir— Isobella shut the thought down as she clamped her thighs together. They’d never touched beyond necessity, purely platonic, and she was gearing up to shoot straight for third base. A home run, even.

“Call your wolf forward.”

She sucked in a deep breath, digging deep for every bit of her witch training to keep her grounded and focused on why they were here, in this room. Ironic she was learning about control while this situation, her naked and locked in a room with him, pushed her boundaries and tested her restraint.

She could do this.

Isobella dragged her attention away from Edmond, closed her eyes and focused inward. She found her center, the place in her mind that was Isobella alone. Her wolf prowled. Damn the beast inside was powerful, intimidating. Had presence. In a small, quavering voice, she called her wolf from the darkness.

The triumph of her wolf rang in her ears as she surged forward. There was no trying about it. Isobella couldn’t stop her. Couldn’t slow her down. Her wolf was front and center, ripping through her bones and transforming on the fly. A furious bundle of fur, claws and fangs, Isobella barreled into Edmond, heedless of her tremulous commands.

Oh, God. I’ve lost control. Edmond!

Edmond caught her and flipped her around, her back to his chest, her claws and teeth connecting with nothing but air. Deep inside, the rage of her wolf overshadowed Isobella’s relief. Her wolf howled, fighting to be free, refusing to be bound. She twisted, she turned, but Edmond’s hold was too strong, caging her against his chest.

“Easy now, girl,” he soothed. “You want to run. You want to be free. I understand, but you need to be patient.”

Her wolf fought harder, almost slipping from his grasp. He shifted his grip and settled on the cot, trapping her on his lap.

“Bella, listen to me. Find your center and call her back in.”

Warmth seeped through her fur. From Edmond and his broad chest. From strong arms that encased her and held her close. She sucked in his scent—musky, intoxicating. It surrounded her, as surely as his arms did. Her wolf’s flailing eased a little, and she ceased her howls and growls, sinking into him. Her snarl remained.

“There you go, beautiful girl.” His large hand stroked her fur. “I have you, and I will not let you go.”

The deep rumble of his voice was a lullaby, smoothing away the sharp edges of her frustration, her desire to be in his arms competing with her need to be free, to run.

“Never have I seen a wolf with fur that curled.” He dipped his fingers deep into her fur, letting her curls flow over his fingers like water. “You are a beautiful woman, Isobella, and your wolf is exquisite.”

Her wolf preened under his attentions.

Beautiful? Exquisite? She’d been all raging wolf and slathering beast a moment ago.

“You are strong, Bella. You can do this. I have faith in you. I know this is hard, but I have seen your strength, your power. It is there inside you. Feel it, acknowledge it. Let it shine through.”

He continued to stroke her fur, offering soothing words, cajoling her. Her wolf was enthralled by his voice. That such a warrior, one who’d taken on so many to save her, thought she was strong, humbled Isobella. With each word that rumbled up in his chest, vibrating against her back, her wolf calmed a little more, until she settled in his lap, passive and pliant.

“That is my girl.”

His girl? Her wolf soaked it up. Isobella questioned its truth, though she liked the sound of it.

“Call her back in now, Isobella. Shift back.”

Her wolf didn’t want to go. It liked Edmond. Liked the way he held her, tempering his strength and engulfing her with his big body. He could so easily crush her, yet he didn’t. He could’ve shifted, faced her wolf with his own. If he were anything like Gabriel, he’d be huge. But he hadn’t.

She rubbed the top of her head against his chin. He chuckled. Her wolf liked that too. She let out a lupine croon, vocalizing her appreciation, and squirmed closer.

“I know, chaton. I like you, too. But I need Isobella back now. I need you to shift.”

In her mind, Isobella pushed harder, a ridiculous surge of jealousy at the intimacy between Edmond and her wolf giving her a boost. With a resigned chuff, her wolf retreated, slinking back into the depths of her mind, taking with her her shape, her tail and her fur, leaving only a satisfied purr behind.