Page 6

Chapter 6

Evie

W hat in the seven hells had I done? Thirty minutes into our quest and all the feels that made kissing Ward seem like a good idea now turned into an impulsive move on my part. I wasn't one of those girls who got their head turned by one crumb of kindness. I batted away villagers for years before choosing anyone. Did Ward have his own gravitational pull? Did Fate make me lock lips with a complete stranger? Sure, he had stacks of muscles and an easy smile—a noble sense of duty and a protective streak, but that somehow got me on a quest? I needed to get it together and give the girly bits a rough talking to. We didn't kiss strangers.

Our route skirted Clarus, the next territory over, which meant we were walking through a bog. Not directly in the bog, but a narrow road wound through the clumps of grass and pools of water. The path was within touching distance of swamp gunk and mysterious, luminous eyes.

I wouldn’t admit I was out of breath, so I took a deep one to say, “Hey, long legs. You want to cut back the pace?”

Ward glanced back at me and smiled. He looked bright and shiny on the road in his travel outfit, with too many straps and too many weapons. He listed them before we left and apparently there was a weapon for everything. Daggers for stabbing, magic sticks for magic—I guess, curved axes for chopping, short swords for more stabbing. He carried enough of them to lose. He wouldn’t lose them, would he?

There had to be an easier way to save the realm and become human again than entrusting my life, limb and honor to a giant bear—even one that called me his mate. I swished my skirt back and forth, hoping it would revive my enthusiasm and stop my legs from shaking underneath. When we geared up, I chose the long linen skirt because it had pockets—deep, wonderful pockets. Pockets were the Godds’ gift to clothing.

I even had various things in my pockets. Ward made me carry a fire starter kit I didn’t know how to use. Mags gave me a crystal. The woman never failed to find crystals, even in a shifter’s keep. Fallon gave me some spices she found in the kitchen, not that I knew what to do with them, but she was insistent that travel food would be terrible. At the very bottom, I tucked a little hope that I wouldn't completely fuck up my one job of finding the next relic. That meant I hurried to his pace instead of slowing him down. It didn’t matter that I hadn’t exercised for most of my adult life. I could do this.

“How much longer do we have to go? Another ten minutes?”

Ward laughed, then saw my serious face, and apology entered his eyes. He glanced down the road. “At least another two hours until there’s a decent resting place out of the bog. We can't camp in the water and we don't want to be here when night falls. I can carry something for you if you want.”

I eyed the road ahead. Ward was right. The trees trying to grow on either side of the bog did not look like shelter. I couldn't give up so soon. The road was fairly flat. The wind was at our back. Thankfully, Ward hadn't yet asked anything of me that smelled like adventure.

I stiffened my resolve. “I want to walk.”

Ward eyed me heavily, with a bit of admiration shining through, and my girly bits sparkled. He continued walking. “You should really save your energy. You wouldn’t want to end up so depleted you can’t run.”

I whipped around as if something rose out of the bog at his words. “Run?! Is something going to eat me?”

His somber face made my blood go cold. “You never know, those flowers might come back and try to bloom you to death.”

My blood pressure beat against my ears. “What do you mean? You said the Angel’s Bells weren't dangerous.”

He shrugged. “They might kick up some allergies.” He couldn’t contain his smirk.

My mouth fell open. Oh-ho! He thought he was cute. He really was kinda cute. Not that I would admit that about a huge, fearsome bear shifter. Usually I would be tongue-tied if a man tried a joke like that—well, not exactly like that. I never believed I would joke about flowers with legs. Humor in our village tended to run toward local gossip. Instead, I dredged up a little sass.

“This is going to be a long trip if you think you’re that funny.”

His smile only grew. “I am wise and smart and funny, mate.”

“Says you,” I returned.

It wasn’t the most brilliant comeback, but Ward laughed anyway, like I was the wise, smart, funny mate. His humor crumbled a bit of my resolve to deny the bond, allowing my mind to wander to places I rarely trusted myself to go. I didn’t know getting dressed would be anything sexy, but it was hard to watch him get ready earlier that morning. Ward adorned himself with so many straps, buckles, pouches and leather over his clothes, that my brain wandered into devious places which included that kiss in front of the Grove. It couldn’t happen again. We were complete strangers—strangers who had kissed and seen each other naked in the dirt. It wouldn’t happen again. No matter how big I remembered his dick being, or how many straps he adorned himself with for hanging onto. Maybe I should have brought that Terminator dildo Mags gave me for my birthday. I startled, convinced he heard my dirty thoughts about him.

“Dare I ask what induced this quiet?” he asked.

I could not, would not, tell him of his starring role in my wandering thoughts. That was just too embarrassing. We were supposed to be questing, or something. Walking at the very least.

I groped for something responsible to talk about. If the Goddess was going to use me as a sock puppet, I should learn more about her. “I was just wondering about the Goddess. Veretis, right? I thought all the old Godds were long dead.”

His face arranged itself into a frightening smile. “We thought they were, too. But since you’re so interested in learning about shifters?—”

“I never said—” History scholar, I was not.

“Over a millennium ago,” he started, talking right over me as we ambled down the road. “With an exceptional display of power and faith, the Goddess Veretis opened a gate and brought shifters to the Harrowlands, looking for refuge. In the Shadow Veil, they treated us as slaves, pests, even food, and the Goddess grew weary of her people’s oppression.”

This was going to be a long trip, if these were the stories he was going to tell. My feet felt heavier than ever. My legs rubbed together with every step until they burned a bit raw. Perhaps this skirt wasn’t such a good idea.

“Evie?”

I snapped to, stiffening my spine. Was I sagging?

“Sorry. It looked like I was boring you,” he said.

He was definitely boring me, but I wasn't thinking about walking anymore.

“Oh, not at all.” My polite tone was totally not fake. I would focus on his hair to get through the lecture—the soft fuzz at the back of his neck, the waves that tumbled over his forehead.

“Veretis guided her people well in the new land before all the Godds died and, though it took over a thousand years, shifters eventually became an essential part of the fabric of the Harrowlands.”

“A thousand years? They sound like the worst neighbors ever. Who takes a thousand years to warm up to a giant teddy bear?”

Ward’s face wobbled into a smile, suppressing a laugh. “We’re not all so cuddly. Once all the Godds were gone, the shifters didn't unite under a single King like the Elves or Fae.”

He continued with an extensive history of the shifter race, descriptions of the pockets of the Harrowlands they spread to, various culture changes throughout the years and my head ached. How did one person remember so much? My numbed brain resorted to staring at his flexing biceps as we did not stop walking. It wasn’t the most elevated thing to think about, but it kept my eyes from wandering lower and lulled me into walking.

“Mate.”

I blinked.

“Evie?”

This was becoming a bad habit. The story must have ended because he wasn’t drowning me in history anymore and we hadn’t conveniently arrived at dusk, though we had made it out of the bog. Still, there wasn't a city in sight, just picturesque forest and fields, so there was still so much trudging to do.

“Do you need a break?” Ward put a hand on my shoulder, a concerned look on his face. “I will carry you and your pack when you shift into your snake form.”

That was quite an offer. In my new jumbo size, I easily spanned his whole outstretched arms and then some. It wouldn’t be the worst thing to be held by him, but I didn’t want to give up so soon. Ward’s skin glistened. My sweat dripped everywhere. Ev-ery-where. How did he manage that?

“I can do it,” I gasped, stepping forward and out of his concerned grasp. My leg wobbled off to the side like a pile of cold gravy. I crumpled into the dirt, right in the middle of the road. My legs gave up for me.

“Evie! What’s the matter?” Ward knelt in the dust to check me for injury.

“I just need a break, like you said.” No way was I going to tell him what was really wrong. Gravy legs highlighted a fresh problem.

Ward joined me on the ground, more at ease in the dirt than I expected a King would be. He turned me over and I had to separate my legs. They were threatening to fuse.

“Viper. Do you normally sit with your legs apart like you want me between them?”

Had he heard my walking thoughts? I backed up a bit. “No, thanks.” This was too embarrassing for anyone to see. What if he laughed, or winced?

Ward pressed a hand on my knee. “Let me see. I will be an utter gentleman.”

It was completely unfair. He looked pristine and refreshed, like we were out for an afternoon stroll.

“My thighs need a moment to cool off. You’re not seeing them. Not a chance, buck-o.”

I shoved my hands down over my skirt. I didn’t care that it made it impossible for any breeze to reach my burning thighs. That was, in no part, the way to keep us in the “not mates” zone.

“I’ve already seen you naked. Don’t be shy, Evie.”

Was he drooling? I caught a glint around his mouth.

“It’s not chafing the outside of my thighs, Ward.”

That only sharpened his gaze. I cringed.

“You trusted me with a kiss. You can trust me with this.”

I didn’t want to. Impulse kisses were one thing. This was truly vulnerable. It would only leave the door open for criticism. That madcap kiss was going to haunt me. I couldn’t believe I did that. Salty sweat trickled over the burns, inflaming them further. My skin sizzled, and I couldn’t keep going at this rate. I’d failed before I even started.

“Fine!”

He scooped me off the road, and I dropped my pack to the ground. Just sliding it off me let the sweat cool on my back. A small hollow off to the side of the road shielded us enough that maybe the entirety of the Harrowlands wouldn't see my angry thighs. The scent of grass and flowers was calming at least and my muscles seemed happy we stopped. On his knees, Ward created a decent amount of shade I refused to act grateful for.

“Let me see, mate.” The rumble of his voice made my legs shake.

Heat flared in my cheeks. Mags got rid of this problem when she forced herself thin. When you wore braies or pantaloons every day, you didn't worry about your thighs chafing. I didn't particularly like being an unholy mess around the one guy who seemed determined to find me hot, but he kneeled there patiently like we had all the time in the world. It gave me the courage to gather up the ridiculous amount of fabric that made up my skirt and inch it up my legs, watching Ward’s expression for any signs of accusation or distaste.

Instead, his eyes latched onto my legs like I was doing the sexiest strip tease on earth. The private show just for him ended with my skirt around my hips. My noodle legs refused to do anything but fall open. Ward’s avid gaze didn’t seem to register that my lady bits were securely covered. He flexed his hands, face angry. My thighs must have looked as bad as they burned.

“You should have said something before, Evie. I can’t help if I don't know. Communication will be important on this quest and into our forever.”

Forever wasn't something in my plans. I guess I assumed he really would grow tired or exasperated with me and just leave me behind. The genuine care in his voice undid me. “I just wanted to keep up,” I mumbled.

“I’ll make it better,” he said.

Before I could think of a reason not to, he flattened himself on the ground and gave my right thigh a long, sensual lick. I would have jerked back if I had control of my legs and if it didn’t feel like a blessed splash of ice water on my skin. The yelp turned into a moan in the back of my throat. I bit my tongue to choke back any more sounds.

I willed my eyes not to roll back in my head and squeaked out, “This usually requires a wedding first.”

His next stroke glowed along my skin, bringing relief and tying my ovaries in knots. Anyone looking down at us would assume he settled between my legs for a meal. It didn’t matter that the last of my modesty remained preserved. All my panties were good for were catching the lady liquid flooding out of me. They didn't stop Ward from grumbling in pleasure with his next lick as he inhaled deep.

Dying from embarrassment wasn't possible when his tongue swept over me like my salvation. Precise, tantalizing strokes met at the juncture of my thighs, where he breathed heavily before licking down the other leg. Ward's magic was truly wonderful. His leashed lust, though, that was something else. The control he showed and the sounds he made frayed my sanity. I didn't trust he wouldn’t take advantage, but damn, every lap was incredible. I clung to my curious nature to keep my head above water.

“Do you have to lick my skin directly for this magic to make it better?”

So far I had never heard Ward utter a spell, and he never had a wand, so what did I know about how magic really worked? His eyes sure glowed amber, though. Whatever he did worked well enough. I gained control of my muscles again, like they had been massaged and pampered.

He gave me a sheepish look. I snapped my legs closed.

“WARD?!”

A few more swipes of his tongue on the top of my thigh before he sat up again.

“Do I have to? Or want to?” he asked.

The silence was deafening while I waited for his answer. I inched the skirt down, so I didn’t rip it completely off and throw myself at him—mates or no mates.

“You’re healed up in any case, and we can stop here for the night.”

He smirked at me. ‘Night’ was a generous interpretation of the time. He was definitely stopping for me, but Ward didn’t seem bothered. So we were just skipping our raging lust. Fine.

Ward walked further off the road and stopped at a flat area with a few trees. I was determined to be useful if we couldn’t get any further, so I took out the book on foraging I found in his keep. Foraging was just like collecting, and that I loved, so I figured it would be an interesting read. I kept him in sight as I searched the surrounding area for anything edible listed in the book. I gathered a surprising haul in my deep pockets, tucking rishi mushrooms, deep-purple berries and some sort of root called beggar’s buttons that the book assured me was edible. Ward busied himself being frighteningly competent at traveling on the open road—using his magic to guard the clearing, gather water, and build a fire ring. He patiently taught me and watched me start the fire at least twelve times. I expected him to grow impatient and take it away from me like everyone else did, but he lounged on the log he dragged over as though darkness and the cold weren’t fast approaching.

“You can do it,” Ward said.

I didn’t know why I flushed. He was only encouraging me without yelling at me. I struck the flint one more time, and the tinder sparked, letting me breathe on it until a little flame burst forth. I smiled back at Ward, whose hooded gaze held a spark as well. It made my heart beat faster and tied my tongue. With casual grace for such a large man, he stood. I should have felt afraid of him looming over me, but my mind only replayed his tongue against my skin.

“Let’s eat, mate.”

I stayed on my knees, pulling out my haul, passing him handfuls to put into the pot until he started laughing.

“Anything else?” he asked.

I fished around in my pockets and pulled out one last leaf. His hand lingered on mine, but he resumed his lounging when the pot bubbled. Ward was completely at ease with the quiet and soon I was, too. We watched the sun set in a glorious display of purples, golds and streaks of red worthy of a Goddess. Our meal was the nice kind of quiet, too. Ward even pulled a slice of chocolate cake from his pack—neatly wrapped, with a note attached to it.

Ward showed me the scrawl: It worked for me!

“What worked?” I asked.

It was Ward’s turn to blush. “The man thinks he’s funny. Try some, Evie. Dane only gets the best.”

This cake was the best and watching Ward enjoy it wasn't half bad, either. There was a breathless moment when we finished cleaning up and there was nothing else to do but get ready for bed—or sleeping rolls, as it were—when I thought he might try to convince me to kiss him again. I wasn't sure I would say no.

Instead, he set up his blankets, rolling out his bed and faced away from the fire. I made it look like I knew what I was doing and copied him, realizing as I lay down, he put me closer to the banked fire and away from the terrifying amount of open space before us. Anything might be hiding out there.

My mind spun. The road had proven me almost useless on our first day. I wasn't going to be a baby, just as it was ending. I had never needed a guy’s protection before, but then I'd never been on a collect-them-all relic quest before, either.

“Ward?” I forced my voice to sound casual.

“Yes, viper?”

If only I was as dangerous as the nickname he had graced me with.

“My back is kinda cold.”

I could almost hear the grin he cracked. I wasn’t giving in to the mates thing, just making myself comfortable.

“We wouldn’t want you to be cold. I don’t mind sharing my blankets.” And by blankets, he meant dragging me against his whole body in one scoop. He wasn't lying, though. He was warm, scalding even. I was afraid to move, but when nothing else happened, the blast furnace of his body won and I definitely did not drift off into naughty dreams.