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“Muddy,” I corrected, glancing down at my body, which was covered in dirt from our tumble in the moss. “We need a bath. And clothes.”

“Hmm,” Carnon hummed, nuzzling against my neck. “I could come around to the bath. The clothes though,” he nipped playfully at my jaw, and I shivered with pleasure. “I could live without the clothes.”

“I doubt Herne would agree,” I said, gasping as his hand wandered low again, discovering my arousal.

Carnon growled, swiping his finger through my wetness with wicked intent. “One more round,” he said, pressing kisses to my throat as his fingers slid into me. “Then a bath.”

“Fine,” I agreed breathlessly, shamelessly moving against his hand as he gave me a serpentine smile. “But I hope you don’t intend to—”

He kissed me, effectively silencing my protest as he moved his fingers in me, bringing me to the edge of release before replacing his fingers with his hard length. It was a quick claiming, taking the edge off the intensity that spilled over from the previous night. Carnon pressed a final sensual kiss to my neck when we were done, making a noise of supreme contentment.

“We could just live in this clearing,” he suggested, stretching as he sat up and giving me an arch look.

“There are no macarons in this clearing,” I replied, stretching and wrapping my arms around myself. “So pass.”

Carnon chuckled, watching me with his arms crossed lazily as I picked at the tattered remains of my clothes. I looked up at him, a brow raised. “Any ideas for how to get back without scandalizing the whole Sacred City?” I asked.

Carnon smirked, shifting again into his beast form. The sight startled me less now that I had seen it a few times, and he slithered toward me, scooping me into his arms.

“I’ll slither fast,” he said, covering my most sensitive parts with his broad arms as he took us back to civilization. “But they already know, Red.”

“How?” I asked, settling into his broad arms.

“You were quite loud,” he purred, a sparkle of amusement in his eyes. “And they know well enough what those noises in this court mean.”

“Oh,” I said, blushing furiously red as he smirked down at me.

“Oh,” he agreed. “Hold on tight, Red.”

Carnon moved very fast as a snake beast, and I mentally congratulated myself for evading him for so long last night. I made him stop to retrieve my boots, which won me a kiss and a compliment for being adorable. He finally stopped at the edge of the forest, where Cerridwen was sitting on a boulder, examining her nails. Akela perked up beside her, greeting us with a welcoming howl.

“About time,” Cerridwen said, grinning as she stood. She pushed her curly hair back from her face, and held out a bundle of fabric. “Everything is ready, and I assumed you’d need these.”

I blushed crimson as Carnon lowered me, and I darted behind him with a little yelp. He laughed, reverting back to a male and taking the bundle from Cerridwen.

“A little warning, brother,” sighed Cerridwen, turning away to give us privacy.

“Warning like you gave us, sneaking around waiting for us?” Carnon asked, handing me the dress that Cerridwen had brought, which was similar in style to the clothes I had seen other females and women in the Court of Beasts wearing. I threw it over my head, soft brown fabric slipping easily over me in a loose, comfortable fit.

“I wasn’t sneaking,” retorted Cerridwen, still with her back to us as we dressed. “I assumed you’d be pleased that we all heard.”

“Gods,” I groaned, putting my red face in my hands.

Carnon chuckled, pulling on trousers and a loose shirt. He gave me a meaningful look as he looked me up and down, biting his bottom lip.

“Seriously?” I whispered, feigning annoyance. “You’re insatiable.”

“I know,” he replied quietly, putting his hands on my waist and giving me a peck on the lips. He turned to Cerridwen and said “It’s safe now, sister dear.”

“Good,” she said, whirling and beaming at us. “And congratulations!” She threw herself at us, wrapping us both in an enthusiastic embrace that was impressive for her short stature. Carnon spit feathers from his mouth, and I laughed.

“Thanks so much,” he said dryly, putting a protective arm around me as if he couldn’t stand anyone else being near me. “Is Herne livid?”

“Surprisingly, no,” Ceridwen replied, watching as Akela greeted me with a wet nose and a little whine. I bent to hug his furry head, and I got the strange impression that he was thinking,took you long enough.

“Well, I'm very sorry,” I replied to Akela, giving him a scratch behind his ears. “Obviously, I had to be sure.” He huffed, which I took for acceptance, and I looked up to see Cerridwen and Carnon staring at me. “What?” I asked.

“You can speak to him,” Carnon said. “Like I can speak to him.”