Page 62 of Marked By Moonlight

“Marius.” Roux greeted me with a nod.

It was a cool, wet day in Paris. The wind rushed up the Canal Saint-Martin, making Roux’s jacket flutter.

Bene was right behind him, and Mina behind him. It took everything I had not to rush over and hug her.

“Hello, Marius,” she said casually.

A bluff, but one she pulled off better than I did.

“Bonjour,” I managed on my second attempt. The first got caught in my throat.

The next gust of wind teased her hair — and my heart. During the nights we’d spent together, I’d often stayed awake just to marvel at her. Her soft, trusting touch. Her light, peaceful smile. Her silky hair, splayed over the pillow…

Mina sucked in a sharp breath and jerked her eyes away.

Damn. Even after a week apart, our connection was stronger than ever.

A lifetime won’t change that,my dragon growled.

Her scarf fluttered, catching my eye. One I’d never seen before. In fact, I’d never seen her wear a scarf at all.

My heart pounded. All week, I’d been wondering whether I’d marked her or not. What did the scarf mean?

Mina must have noticed my sharp look, because she fingered the scarf as we moved toward Gordon’s front door and hissed, “It’s hiding that hickey you gave me.”

A hickey was the least of our problems, judging by the faint glow radiating from the edges. Damn. I really had given her a moonlight mark that night.

And the problem is…?my dragon rumbled proudly.

Big problem, though Mina seemed not to have noticed. Bene’s knowing look said he had, however. Roux too. Had the scarf been their idea?

You’re welcome,the tiger shifter grumbled into my mind.

I did my best to maintain my dignity by growling,Hickey?

Bene shrugged.We thought we’d leave the explaining to you, champ.

Can’t believe you fucking marked her,Roux added.

I couldn’t either. A moonlight mark was akin to an engagement announcement. What the hell had I been thinking?

Destiny,my dragon murmured happily.

Someday, I might be ready to take that step. But not without her permission, and not at a time like this.

It took forever to talk her into the scarf, not to mention the perfume,Bene added.

So that explained why her scent was more Coco Chanel than her usual blend of rose and lilac. Not a trace of my scent on her either.

Like I said, you’re welcome,Roux muttered.

I owed them, big-time. But, damn. I did not look forward to explaining any of this to Mina.

Something else seemed off, and I looked around with a frown.

“Where’s Henrik?”

Roux looked at Bene, who looked at the clouds. Mina crossed her arms and glared at no one in particular.