Page 17 of Destined to the Lycan (The Shadow Realms #3)

I shrugged and started exploring the place. It held an undeniable masculine edge, the typical hunting lodge all made of wood, with some animal skull decorations, carpets made of fur, and sturdy furniture more focused on functionality than fashion.

Three couches, four chairs, and a handful of cushiony stools provided ample seating in the living area which faced a large fireplace.

At the other end of the room, four round tables, each with enough chairs to seat ten people filled the large space across from the kitchen area.

To my pleasant surprise, it had a gas stove.

The cupboards offered all the necessities, including dishes, pots and utensils, and basic spices.

As I headed down the corridor, my confusion at seeing five doors when Remus stated there were only two bedrooms on this floor was quickly dissipated.

One of them acted as an armory with a variety of hunting paraphernalia, including bows, arrows, traps, daggers, fishing equipment, and even some camping gear.

The next room appeared to serve as a processing room for butchering meat and cleaning or treating the hides.

The third was a fairly small water closet, which I swiftly made use of.

My instinctive desire to replace the unscented soap with one of the fragrant ones I made faded as swiftly as it popped into my head. Hunters would never want to add unnatural scents to them that might reveal their presence to their prey.

The unremarkable bedrooms were clean and on the small side.

Rather, the massive bed eating up most of the space made them look smaller than they actually were.

The only other furniture in the room was a set of nightstands, a chair in the corner, and a small console on top of which to put one’s belongings.

None of the rooms contained a closet or chest of drawers.

After some deliberation, I chose one of the upstairs bedrooms at the back of the house which had a stunning view of the backyard and the luminous trail that led to the river a short distance away.

Not knowing how long Remus would be gone, I sauntered back downstairs and started a fire in the hearth. I lit the stove and heated some of Misty’s cider with cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar. Too bad I didn’t find any allspice, but this would do.

I was just finishing that task when the front door opened. Startled, I spun around to see Remus walk in proudly holding up two sizable rabbits.

“I’m back,” he said with a grin.

“Wow! That was fast!” I exclaimed, a strange warmth spreading in my chest at his mere presence.

The rational part of me wanted to believe that relief at no longer being alone in this strange place prompted it.

But another part of me acknowledged that there was more to it.

I just liked being around him. Remus had a way of making me feel safe even without doing anything.

And the way he looked at me when he thought I wasn’t paying attention had my stomach fluttering in the most pleasant way.

“There’s a reason why I’m our pack’s best hunter,” he replied, puffing out his chest while approaching me. “But something smells wonderful.”

“I made some hot spiced cider for us,” I said timidly. “If you’d like, I’ll pour your cup while you unload your catch.”

The powerful emotion that fleeted over his features had my stomach do a couple of backflips. I realized then that people didn’t normally do sweet things for him. The urge to spoil him instantly surged deep within.

“I would love a cup,” he said almost timidly.

“Perfect! Mulled cider coming right up!” I replied in a semi theatrical manner that had him chuckling.

I loved how it softened his face and gave him an almost boyish edge. As he turned towards the corridor to head to the processing room, he glanced at the hearth before looking back at me with an impressed expression.

“And you also got a nice fire going!”

It was my turn to puff out my chest smugly. “I may not be much of a fighter or a hunter, but you’ll soon discover that I have many other talents.”

“I do not doubt it, my… Amara.”

I almost chuckled at his embarrassed look when he caught himself right before he would call me his mate again. It was so damn adorable. Nothing could describe how endearing it was to see the sweet and vulnerable side of such a strong and otherwise intimidating man.

He cleared his throat and mumbled something unintelligible while gesturing clumsily towards the butchering room. I watched him almost escape, a silly grin stretching my lips. As I began to fill two cups with the cider, a wave of dizziness crashed over me.

I promptly put down the pot, some of the hot beverage splashing over the counter.

Both palms resting over the cool wooden surface, I took in a couple of deep breaths.

My throat constricted, and my chest felt as if a heavy weight had settled on top of it, making it nearly impossible for me to breathe.

My innards twisted as what felt like a sharp dagger repeatedly stabbed them.

My pained gasp was no more than a whisper, a hiccup at best.

Then in an instant, all the symptoms disappeared as quickly as they had manifested themselves.

I knew the poison coursing through me had not vanished.

And yet, the absence of blatant symptoms other than the constant tiredness had almost lulled me into thinking I would be relatively normal until I received the cure.

But the reality was that my health would steadily decline with each passing day.

Remus’s harness no longer felt like a somewhat excessive kind gesture.

Will I even be healthy enough to perform the ritual?

The reality of my grim situation struck me hard. I was indeed living on borrowed time.

Taking a deep breath, I took a few steps in front of the counter to make sure that crisis had fully passed. I finished filling the cups then gingerly made my way to the butchering room. I found Remus making quick work of cleaning the rabbits.

Unaware of what had transpired, he beamed at me, his golden gaze softening as he watched me approach. He put down his knife and reached for a cloth to wipe his hands.

“No!” I exclaimed, stopping him before he could pick it up. “I got it.”

Surprised, he watched me approach with undisguised curiosity. I put my cup down at the corner of the table and wrapped both of my hands around his cup. Stopping in front of him, I lifted the tin mug to his lips.

Once again, the powerful emotion that had wrecked me earlier descended over his handsome features. It was a potent mix of wonder, affection, and gratitude laced with a hint of possessiveness and disbelief. He leaned forward and took a few sips. The whole time, his gaze never strayed from mine.

A purr vibrated through his broad chest.

“Delicious,” he said, his voice a little deeper than normal as he licked his lips.

“Glad you like it,” I said, a whirlwind of emotions raging through me.

I really liked Remus. Why had I just met him now?

What if the next few days were all that we would ever have?

The connection between us couldn’t be denied.

I wanted to explore it all, not rush through it or be cheated of what might have been.

But this brief episode in the kitchen was a stark reminder that life was fleeting and to never take anything for granted.

“More?” I asked.

He nodded. I lifted the cup to his lips so he could drink some more.

This time, a few drops trickled at the corner of his mouth.

Without thinking, I wiped it with my thumb, then licked it off my finger.

I froze for a split second once I realized what I had done.

Seeing the white of his eyes darken, as if storm clouds had rushed in, lit a flame in the pit of my stomach.

Despite my embarrassment, I didn’t avert my eyes as his gaze bore into mine. A silent communication passed between us. Neither of us commented about what I had done, but something undeniably shifted between us.

And that was fine by me.

I smiled. Remus glanced at my lips, his desire to kiss me almost palpable. I silently encouraged him to proceed, but he simply reciprocated the smile then resumed cleaning the meat.

That, too, was fine by me.

Many other men would have jumped at the first opportunity to get frisky. His restraint spoke volumes about the type of male he was, making me feel even safer with him. A healthy dose of sexual tension also had its perks.

Remus paused every so often so that I could give him another sip.

We talked amiably as he completed his work.

Although the cider had a low alcoholic concentration, it still helped me relax and loosen up a little.

I loved the keen interest he displayed as I told him about my chandler and perfumer business.

“You know, mages often come in the mountains seeking some rare reagents for their rituals,” Remus said pensively as we returned to the kitchen.

“We have several plants and creatures that are highly coveted. Once everything is settled, I’ll be happy to bring you the ones that could benefit your business.

We even have a phoenix that drops by from time to time. ”

“That would be amazing!”

He grinned, pleased by my reaction.

“I should do the cooking since you hunted and cleaned the rabbits,” I offered, pointing at his catches as he laid them on the counter.

He firmly shook his head. “It’s my duty to provide and care for you. And you made us mulled cider and started the fire.”

I snorted. “That’s hardly comparable! It took little effort!”

“As does hunting for me. You even noted how quickly I did it.”

He chuckled when I scrunched my face, failing to find a counterargument.

“Now stop fretting and rest,” he said in a falsely severe tone as he gestured at one of the tall stools by the counter for me to sit on. “How do you like your meat?”