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I couldn’t suppress a wince. That was both creepy and appropriate.
“Fine. Gobble. Why did you take her from me?”
“She seemed tasty.”
“Enough with the tasty thing.” It gave me the creepy-crawlies.
“She’s not food and you know it. She was under my protection.” Lucas’ growl echoed across the mountain. “Or are you willingly and knowingly violating our pact?”
Pact? The wolves and fey had a pact?
“No! I didn’t break a pact! I didn’t know she was your mate.”
“You did and you took her from me. If you don’t leave us be, the pack will bring this matter to your prince.”
Gobble sputtered words in a language I didn’t know. It favored voiceless dental fricative and sibilant sounds. When he finally started speaking English again, his voice was wheedling. “She said you were looking for the mages. They’ve not been here in many years, but I remember where they were. I can help along the way.”
I doubted his intentions were anything but selfish, but if he had the gift of travel… “We might need him.”
“Take us there directly if you’re so eager to help.” Lucas’ words were half growl.
“Lazy wolf. You must do some of it on your own.”
“Her brother is dying. Time is something we don’t have.”
“Then it’s good that I can keep you from getting lost.”
Lucas growled again. “I’m going to shift, Claudia. You can take your hand down in a second, but don’t stray far from me. Understand?”
“I didn’t stray in the first place,” I muttered the words, not that Lucas would appreciate the distinction.
Something brushed against my legs and I lowered my hand. Lucas stood in front of me in his wolf form, speckled black and brown. Maybe I should’ve been cautious, but he looked so soft. Before I could stop myself, I was brushing my fingers through his fur.
I knew that wolves didn’t purr, but Lucas came close, making a deep rumbling sound at the back of his throat.
As we walked back to our campsite, Gobble flitted around us in his little pixie form. I couldn’t stop thinking about Gobble identifying me as Lucas’ mate. I hadn’t let myself think about it too much, but what did that really mean? Was I really considering turning?
If I didn’t, what would that mean for Lucas? Would he end up being like Muraco? Alone for centuries because his mate chose not to risk being bitten? Could I do that to him?
Did I even want to be mated to a wolf in the first place? It was a serious decision that needed a lot of thought. Mates didn’t divorce, as far as I knew. It was a serious commitment and if the mess with Matt had proven anything to me it was that rushing in didn’t work.
Then again, comparing Matt and Lucas was impossible. They didn’t compare. Not in any way. I trusted Lucas.
But was I ready to commit to more than that?
Lost in my thoughts, I almost tripped over a root, but Lucas was there before I could fall, pushing against me with his fur.
“Thanks.” I brushed a hand against his head and he made a rumbling noise. I didn’t speak wolf, but I could guess what he meant. “I’m fine. Just a little tired.”
It was way more complicated than I could handle right now. The long day of hiking through the mountain, the stress of worrying over Raphael, and now this fey kidnapping added up to a whole bunch of exhaustion.
When we got back to the tent, I crawled straight inside. There was a blanket, and I spread it over my body, not caring about changing. Lucas butted inside in his wolf form, and settled down half on top of me. He rested his head on my stomach.
I knew that this wasn’t a big dog—that it was Lucas—but my brain was too tired to register it or care anymore. I scratched behind his ears and closed my eyes.
“Good boy,” I said, as I fell asleep.
I felt a wet lick against my cheek just before darkness took hold of me, but I couldn’t move enough to do anything about it if I wanted to.
