Page 105 of Found in Obscurity

Chapter twenty

Lorin

They stayed in theirbubble for a couple of days, celebrating and learning one another. The idea of going out with the soulbond still fresh made Kit growl and Lorin itchy. The walls of their home, their den, became sacred borders that they filled up with their love. Magic flowed between them as easily as sweet words and traded kisses.

Lorin wondered if there was a pathfinder spell to freeze a moment and live in it forever.

It was only when Sjena flew to the window and cawed that it came forcibly crashing down.

It was time.

They made their way into town slowly, with overnight bags packed and an unspoken understanding between them as they wound their way through the streets, enjoying their last few moments together before the world interrupted them.

Lorin was tempted to hide them away entirely, but he knew Kit didn’t want that. And Lorin didn’t want to have Kit lookingover his shoulder his whole life, feeling unsafe and insecure. He didn’t want Kit to feel the guilt of the dozens more shifters the witches might take and trap, even though it wasn’t his responsibility.

Kit was eager to explore the world with no more restrictions. He could stay out as long as he wanted. He didn’t have to hide who he was anymore. He was just another shifter familiar as far as anyone else was concerned. His past was the only thing locked up tight.

Lorin had grabbed them some hot drinks from the café on the way to his grandma’s house. They were bundled up tightly, almost unrecognizable in hats, gloves and scarfs, flakes of snow drifting around lazily. Kit had his arm hooked around Lorin’s puffy elbow, sliding away from him occasionally, only to slip right back beside him with a breathtaking smile despite the anxiety buzzing under the surface of his skin.

Lorin was enthralled with him.

So enthralled that he almost didn’t see the person on the path ahead of them.

“Woah there, lovebirds,” Millie said, cradling her belly and laughing. “Fragile load over here.”

“I’m so sorry!” Lorin gasped, skidding to a stop. “Are you okay?”

She rolled her eyes. “You didn’t even touch me. I just saw that you were preoccupied so I announced my presence pre-emptively. So no, your breathing in my direction is not harmful.”

Lorin flushed, thankfully hidden by his already pink cheeks, and Kit giggled. “Hi, Millie!”

“Hey, Kit.” She grinned and then nodded at their paper cups. “Already stopped by the café I see. Are there any donuts left in the place for me?”

“Maybe one,” Kit joked, then tilted his head. “Not working today?”

“I’m on my way there now,” she said. “I had the morning off to go check out some furniture stores a town over. Total bust.”

Lorin was hit with an image of her flipping through baby magazines. “Nursery furniture?”

She nodded. “It’s so expensive. You’d think I was planning a house renovation. They want people to take out loans just to afford it all, I swear.”

“I…uh…have some furniture if you want to take a look at it,” Lorin found himself saying.

Kit snapped his head around to him, his surprised gaze warming the side of Lorin’s face.

Millie’s eyes widened a little. “You do?”

Lorin took a deep breath and nodded. “It was my old stuff. Handmade by my dad. Really pretty. I don’t want anything for it. It’s just gathering dust right now, and I know they’d want it to go to a good home, so if you’re interested…”

She opened her mouth a few times. “Stars, I don’t know what to say…”

“You don’t have to!” Lorin said, cringing at himself. He didn’t want to force it on anyone.

“No!” she said quickly, reaching out and taking his gloved hand in hers, her eyes getting a little shiny. “I’d love to come look at it. I just meant that it seems too good to be true.”

“Fate,” Kit whispered, grinning at them both and radiating joy.

Millie laughed. “I guess so. But only if you’re completely sure. I know heirlooms can be hard to part with.”