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Sariel flushed as I chuckled. “Jesus, woman, will you watch how you speak? We have company.”
“Speaking of company,” Credence started, ignoring Sariel, “how much longer are you two gonna pretend you’re not soulmates?”
Sariel blinked. “Huh?”
“What?” I squeaked.
“Don’t pretend, boy,” she said, wagging her finger at her grandson. “I’ve told you all about soulmates. Doyouknow anything about soulmates, girl?”
I nodded jerkily. “Johnny told me enough to know that wecan’tbe soulmates. Sariel and I have been traveling together for days. If we were soulmates, wouldn’t close proximity have set everything into motion by now?”
Credence made a contemplative noise. I glanced at Sariel from the corner of my eye to find him already looking at me.“Sariel said you can’t shift on command? Is there something going on with you and your wolf?”
I squinted at Sariel. He’d certainly beenchattywhile I’d been knitting away. “She’s a little unpredictable, that’s all. I usually shift when I’m experiencing strong emotions. Grief, anger, fear… the works.”
Credence smiled. “Nothing a cemented bond won’t fix.”
“We can’t be soulmates,” Sariel said. “We can’t. I’d know if she was my soulmate.”
“Not if you’re determined to pretend you’re not even attracted to her. Bonds can be blocked mentally. Aria has no actual control over her wolf, and you despised her because you thought she was a fallen-blood wolf. Maybe some part of you still does,” Credence pointed out grimly. “Both those are enough to block a bond from settling into place.”
“Wouldn’t I have at least sensed her? I mean, she’s right there, and I feel—”
“Don’t say ‘nothing,’ because I see the way you two look at each other when you think no one is watching. It’snotnothing.”
My cheeks flamed at her bluntness.
Sariel swiped his palm over his face in frustration. “We spent hours in a car with each other. You’re trying to tell me that after being in that close proximity for almost six consecutive hours before we stopped for a break or gas, I wouldn’t be able to recognize my soulmate?”
Credence raised a brow at him. “Ignore howyoufeel for a second, Sariel. How does yourangelfeel?”
His expression clouded. I felt like he was communicating with the winged being that resided within him.
“I…” He started, then turned to look at me. From his expression, I knew that Credence was right.
“And how does your wolf feel about Sariel, Aria?”
“She wants to roll around and marinate in his scent,” I blurted out. Sariel’s eyebrows disappeared into his hairline. “She likes him… alot.”
Credence smiled knowingly. “I’m sure she does. And who else does she like that much?”
I opened my mouth to say my sister, but that would be a lie. She didn’t get as excited as when Sariel was around for anyone else.
I closed my mouth. Credence clasped her hands together.
I could feel Sariel’s eyes on me. His expression was inscrutable, and he observed me as though he was seeing me for the first time. I couldn’t look at him. This new development should have made me giddy, because maybe Sariel felt a little of what I felt for him, but how would I know it wasn’t just the bond talking and working its otherworldly magic?
The reality was that Sariel had experienced cruelty at the hands of some fallen-blood wolves, and it had affected him in a way that now shaped his judgment of them negatively. He would never consider dating me just on principle, since I was half of what starred in his nightmares. Every moment he spent with me, I was a living, breathing reminder that his brother was killed by savage, untamed, cursed wolves.
“Enough of that,” Credence said. “You two can talk more about this in the morning. Maybe Sariel will take you down to the creek. It’s a beautiful sight.”
Sariel swallowed loudly, and I licked my lips nervously. “Okay,” I agreed.
“Good, good.” She stood and went to a locked cabinet in the back of the kitchen, which she unlocked and pulled a bottle of whiskey out of. “For this particular conversation, we’re gonna need something strong.”
Sariel hopped up to help her get the glasses. He handed me one eventually. Credence took a large gulp when they’d resettled, the bottle of whiskey on the center table between us.
“I have reason to believe your father is trafficking your kind,” she stated bluntly.
