Page 24

Vuk

T he moon has long since disappeared from sight, leaving the cave without its ethereal silvery glow when my knot finally slips free of Hana’s tight body. Whining softly at the loss, she curls up in my lap so all of her is pressed to all of me.

I lost track of how many times I took her throughout the night. Even now, my cock is trying to rise for her, but when I knotted her this last time, she moaned from pain, rather than pleasure. So, I’m careful with her as I gently stroke my hand down her back. Her silver back.

My mate is a beautiful lycan. Her hair is still a wild cloud of dark curls.

Most of it has escaped her braid, falling around her shoulders and down her back.

Her eyes are still dark and sharp, although they reflect gold in certain lights now.

She is strong and has adapted much faster to her new form than I expected.

She’s much larger now than she was as a human, but her head still barely reaches my shoulders.

What surprises me the most is the small part of me misses the small helpless human I’ve grown to adore.

“This is nice,” she sighs, snuggling deeper into my arms .

I rest my cheek against the top of her head and grunt my agreement. This is nice.

“Oh.” Her head pops up so she can look at me. “I meant to ask you. What was up with the glowing trees?”

My brows drop into a deep frown. “What glowing trees?”

“You know. When you were…” she waves her hand and her eyes dart shyly to the caves entrance. “When you had me up against the tree, behind you there were strange shapes glowing in a line along the tr?—”

I’m on my feet and pulling at her before she can finish. Racing with her trailing behind me through the forest and back to the tree.

I’ve been so focused on my mate I forgot all about the barrier and the strange runes. Even when I was fucking my mate practically right on top of it.

“Vuk! What’s going on?” she shouts at me, but I don’t stop. I can’t. I need to see if it’s still intact. I need to know if we can get out.

The forest goes by in a blur until I skid to a stop in front of the gnarled tree. Nothing is out of place. The line of birch trees are all dark, with no sign of the glowing runes.

“Vuk, if you don’t talk to me, I’m gonna?—”

I spin around to face her. “Can you see them?”

“Can I see—what?”

“The runes,” I point to the trees. “Can you see them?”

She scans the trees, and slowly shakes her head. “No, there’s nothing. But I swear I saw them.”

I turn to face the trees again and let go of her hand. There’s only one way to test if the barrier is still intact then.

Taking a deep breath, I start walking.

“I wouldn’t if I were you,” a voice calls from the darkness.

I freeze, my nostrils flaring, but I detect no scent. That alone should be cause for concern, added that whoever the voice belongs to is also not triggering any kind of instinctual warning. Which has my hackles rising.

“Who’s there,” I snarl, backing up to place myself in front of Hana.

Something in the shadows move, but I can’t get a good look at whoever—or whatever—is hiding in them. It’s as if the darkness itself is shrouding it from me.

Baring my teeth, I growl loudly in warning.

“Oh, calm down ye big growly beast.” A stocky human with wild red hair wearing worn human clothes steps out of the trees, rolling his eyes dramatically.

My nostrils flare again and this time I catch his strange scent. I step closer to Hana, giving him another warning growl. This is no human. Whatever this creature is, he’s wasn’t hiding within the shadows, he was a part of them.

“Who are you?” I demand. Or should I be asking what ?

The figure cocks his head to the side. “Oh, I suppose ye wouldn’t remember me. Since ye were havin’ a wee nap when I took ye.”

The fur across my back bristles and I bare my teeth at him.

This is the creature that took me. Who stole me from my home.

I want to attack. To tear him apart for what he did, but Hana’s hand against my back soothes me a bit.

At least enough so for me to realize I need to get some answers before I end him.

“Explain,” I grit through my clenched teeth.

“Well, there was quite a lot of money bein’ offered for ye. And a soul fer me troubles!” The strange man shoves his hands in his pockets, rocking back on the heels of his beat-up work boots. “It’s rare te get those offered up freely, so you can imagine why I couldn’t pass it up.”

At his mention of a soul, I realize what I’m dealing with. The hunter mentioned losing his soul, but I didn’t realize what he meant at the time. This creature is something far more sinister than I could have expected.

Reaching behind me, I draw Hana closer.

“What would a soul eater want with a lycan?”

The creature tips his head back with a laugh, “Figured me out so fast? And I thought I was bein’ canny. It’s not yer soul I was after. Ye’r just collateral, I’m afraid.”

My fur bristles again and Hana smooths it down. Lending me her calm strength before I do something stupid.

The soul eater blows out a breath, “Fer what it’s worth, I’m sorry ye were caught up in this.

” He looks past me. “And yer girl here. Ye were in the wrong place at the right time when I opened the portal for the hunter, lest ye think I was goin’ for ye specifically.

" He drops his head and kicks at the ground before looking up again with a sheepish smile. "Sayin’ that, I owe ye my thanks for disposing of that hunter fer me.”

“You’re not angry that I got to the hunter before you did?” Relief washes over me. The last thing I need, especially newly mated as I am, is to anger a soul eater.

The strange little man shakes his head. “Ye see, he voided his contract by offerin’ me a corrupted soul.

He’d already poisoned it with black magic, makin’ it useless te me.

That kind of dark magic latches on like a parasite, infecting everything it touches.

If I would have tried to draw out his soul, I would have ended up just like him. ”

Behind me, Hana lets out a soft gasp, fingers tightening against my back. Reaching behind me, I press my palm reassuringly against her hip. I know what she’s thinking. She’s worried I could have been infected too, but I was never in any danger, I cannot touch another being’s soul.

“I appreciate the apology,” I say, turning back to the soul eater. “But why bring me through the portal if you knew he was corrupted? And how do I get back?”

“I didna know until ye were already through.” The soul eater scuffs his foot against the forest floor, then looks up at me from under his lashes.

“As for sendin’ ye back, that’s not usually part o’ the gig.

Although, seein’ as I owe ye, for doing the dirty work of dispatching that human for me. I’m willin’ te grant ye a favor.”

I lift my brows in surprise. Soul eaters are wily demons, known to be tricksters, but if you can gain one’s regard it’s believed to be good luck. But can I trust this one?

“And what favors can you offer me, soul eater?” I ask cautiously.

Pulling his hands from his pockets, he steps away from the trees and into the clearing revealing full, ruddy cheeks under a set of laughing eyes that dart behind me to my mate. Leaning to the side, he winks at her.

I snarl in warning and take another step to block her from his view.

Unfazed, he rocks back on his heels again.

“Why don’t I send you and yer little sex pot here, back to yer home plane?

She can’t very well stay here now that ye’ve bitten her and changed her into a lycan, anyway.

” His eyes flash with a kaleidoscope of colors as his lips quirk up into a smirk.

“And I don’ think being trapped in these woods as a wolf except durin’ full moons holds much appeal to ye. ”

I huff. “That doesn’t sound like much of a favor, more like fixing a mess you created.”

The soul eater shrugs. “That’s the favor. Take it or leave it.”

It’s not much of a choice. Especially when put like that. Hana’s hands tighten around my upper arm and her breathing has started coming in quick pants. Before I can stop her, she steps around me.

“Who the fuck do you think you are to play with our lives like that?” she shouts, stabbing a claw-tipped finger at the soul eater .

His brows lift into his hairline, and I grab Hana around her waist, pulling her back against me. “He’s a soul eater, Hana. Be very cautious of your words,” I whisper harshly into her ear as I wrap my arms around her to hold her still.

The soul eater rolls his eyes. “Actually, I’d prefer ye call me Wizard. Sounds less… murderous.”

Hana takes a deep breath and completely ignores my warning. “I don’t know, nor do I care, whatever the fuck you are or what you want to be called. I want to know why you would help the hunter trap Vuk here?”

“Hana. Stop. Talking!” I grit at her. Tightening my grip on her and backing away while silently begging the soul eater not to take offense.

To my surprise, he laughs, long and loud, before wiping imaginary tears from under his eyes.

“Ye’ve got yerself a firecracker there, lycan.

” Then turns a serious look on Hana, “Aye. I played my part in takin’ him and I’ve said my sorry’s.

Ye can take the favor or not. But the offer won’t stand, so choose. ”

“Oh. You motherfucker…” She lunges forward, nearly breaking free of my grip, but I’m able to wrangle her back into my arms where she vibrates with fury.

Luckily, the soul eater only laughs again at her angry reaction.

“Look, luv, if yer gonna be mad at someone, maybe ye should remember that it’s yer new boyfriend here turned ye inta a lycan.”

My little mate goes completely still and slowly lifts her hand to the side of her neck.

I growl a warning at the demon as she brushes her fingers across my bite mark.

Will she truly be angry with me for her change?

I suppose I can’t blame her, but it’s not like we were given much choice.

Lycans are ruled by their instincts, and it was riding both of us hard through the night.

When she starts to turn in my arms, I loosen my grip so she can face me. Her dark eyes flash golden as she tips her chin, looking up at my face, then down across my shoulders to my arms wrapped around her. She lifts one of her hands up, examining the change in them, as if she’s already forgotten.

I expect her to scream at me. To funnel her anger into violence, like she did earlier. Instead, she does the opposite. She’s utterly silent as she compares my form to the changes in her.

“Look, Hana,” Wizard says softly. Slowly, Hana turns back to face him.

“I’m giving ye both a chance at yer happy-ever-after in Vuk’s world.

The other option would be for ye both stay here, where Vuk will be trapped in this forest as a wolf except during the full moon.

” He points to the tree’s that are once more glowing with the strange runes.

“That kind of magic is one time use. Once its cast, it can’t be undone.

And, Hana, now that ye’ve been changed, there’s no changin’ back fer ye either.

Ye would be free to leave the forest, the barrier wouldn’t affect ye, but ye’ll never be human again.

Yer only real option is for both of ye to return to Vuk’s home plane. Where ye can be lycan’s together.”

Hana goes quiet and I rub circles into her back as she mulls over everything. She’s quiet for a long time, before she takes a deep, shaky breath.

“This sounds like a fucking Grimm’s fairy tale,” she mutters under her breath.

Wizard snorts. “Where do ye think Grimm got their ideas?”

“That’s a pretty shitty choice,” she grumbles, then looks up at me and gives me a sad smile. “No offense.”

So far, she’s being much more reserved than I would expect. I’m about to ask why she’s not tearing into me with her teeth and claws, when Wizard chuckles.

“Ah, Lass. I wasnna expecting you, and I suspect your beastie here wasnna either, but yer perfect for him. I can tell.” He claps his hands in front of him then rubs them together. “So, what’ll it be, luv? Stay here or return with yer lycan?”

Hana is quiet for another beat before she asks, “What would happen if he went to his plane, and I stayed here?”

My stomach drops. Before I have a chance, the demon slowly shakes his head.

“That’s a terrible choice, I’m afraid. I’ve been told its agony when mates are separated. Ye’ll be half mad in less than a week. Fully mad and murderous in a fortnight,” Wizard explains gently.

She twists around to look up at me and I nod my head. “It’s not often it happens, but if a mate dies the survivor often chooses to follow shortly after.”

She drops her head against my shoulder with a huff, and I tighten my arms around her.

“What about my family?” I don’t miss her soft sniffle or the salty scent of her tears.

“My friends. School?” She steps out of my arms so she can look up at me again.

The pain in her eyes guts me and I want to reach out and pull her back into my arms. “Tell me the truth. Did you do this— ” she curls her claws at me “—on purpose or was it some kind of compulsion or instinct or something.”

“It was not on purpose.” I assure her, reaching up to wipe away the moisture collecting under her eyes.

Where the fur covering my face is lighter, hers is dark.

The consequences of claiming her were the farthest things from my mind.

If I’d given it any thought, I never would have bitten her.

But instinct took my rational thought from me.

She nods her head. “Okay.”

Okay?

Just… Okay?

Even the soul eater gives me a curious look, not quite believing she would accept her fate so easily. “Aren’t ye… ma d?”

“No, I’m not mad,” Hana says, turning sharp eyes on him and curling her lips up over her sharp teeth.

“Mad doesn’t even come close to expressing how I feel right now.

I’m furious. No, I’m pissed the fuck off!

” She turns her steely look on me. “But I can’t change what is done and I’ll protect my friends and family at all costs, even if it’s from myself. ”

I crush her against my chest and tuck my face against the side of her neck. I nuzzle at my bite mark, loving how the gentle touch makes her shiver against me. “I don’t regret claiming you, my beautiful mate. Although I’m sorry for it too.”

She sighs against me and pats her hand again my chest. “Good. I’m gonna be mad about this for a long time. Probably forever. So, I expect lots of groveling.”