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God, I love my team.

I needed to be back on form asap.

I don’t want to be traded.

I had to be a bit more careful when I approached the arch because a few people, an older couple and a family with three young kids, hung out at the labyrinth. Then I was through. It was as if a tremor ran through the land.

Is this his doorbell?

Barely five minutes later a slightly dishevelled Jules came down the forest path. It looked like he’d gotten dressed haphazardly, and his hair was a little rumpled.

Shit, did I wake him up?

For a moment I imagined him in sleep mode whenever I wasn’t there.

That’s silly, Nik. He has the chickens and Barney and his house and garden to take care of!

“Bunny!” A dazzling smile set his face alight when he spotted me. “You’re back!”

He came right up to me, a little too close to still be in the friendzone. Without thinking, I flung my arms around him.

Jules froze.

Oh shit.

“Damn, I’m sorry.” I let go immediately and took a step back. “Sorry, Jules. I was so happy to see you and…I shouldn’t have hugged you without asking.” My cheeks burned.

“It’s…hello, Bunny,” he croaked.

“I’m sorry.”I wasn’t.“It’s something humans do when they see each other…but I suppose it’s not your thing.”

“No, I don’t want to forget about it. I wanted to hug you, too, Bunny. It felt very nice.” Jules cleared his throat when his voice cracked on the last words.

“Come here,” I mumbled, taking a step closer.

Still stunned from how good it had felt to hold him in my arms, I took a step forward and flung my arms around him again.

Again, Jules stilled.

“You okay?” I whispered.

“No one has ever done that, Nikolai,” he admitted in a soft voice.

“Done what?”

Twenty-seven

Jules

“Nobodyhaseverhuggedme before.”

“Ever?” Nikolai pulled back, warm brown eyes wide with shock.

“Well, I can’t remember being hugged,” I clarified, unable to tear my gaze away but needing to look away from him.Now. “Maybe my mother. But not in the last four hundred years.”

“I’m sorry for overstepping. If you hate it, I—” His voice broke off, when he realised I was still holding onto him and not letting go.

“Please, can you… this feels…”