Page 86 of My Solemn Vow

Valor snorts.

“Wolf.” I correct. “Married to a fucking wolf.” I drag a long, steadying breath and shake my head. “Thus the ‘will keep me locked up’ bit. Because I can’t tell anyone, and if you don’t trust me to keep my mouth shut well... that, yeah.”

Valor gives a massive sigh, resting his head on his paws.

“Your secret is safe with me. I was willing to kill Berto for Kerrianne, and we both know you can’t trust the government. What would reporting you do? No one would believe me anyway.” I press my hands together like in prayer, tapping them against my mouth, self-silencing.

What will this mean for me? How will this change me?

I swallow hard. “And now I’m expecting you to talk back because clearly I’ve lost the plot.”

Valor stands and I freeze. Every muscle tenses as he takes two tiny steps forward and brings his big muzzle toward me. The big muzzle full of big teeth that would probably hurt. Valor runs his nose up between my breasts and then nuzzles his cold nose against my neck.

I squeak in surprise and immediately regret it. I’ll get myself killed at this rate.

Then his big, long tongue licks up my neck and flicks my earas he moves, giving me a big lick up my cheek. I scrunch everything together.

“Ew, Valor.” I push at the fluff.

The fur on his neck is softer than on his back where I’d used him to hold myself up.

He stops licking me but doesn’t back away. He lies back down, and he’s so large he has no issue lying on the ground and using my lap as a pillow.

I put my arms on the armrests and take him in. This bouncing back and forth between fear and understanding is giving my heart all the cardio it needs for the week. For a lifetime.

“I’m going to pet you because you’re kinda soft, so if you don’t want me to, then quit acting like a big dog.” I warn him and try to hype myself up to do it.

Picking up a hand, I place it on his massive head. The dark fur is so soft, and when I pet the ridge of his forehead, he closes his eyes.

Valor relaxes, and I keep running my fingers through the short hair on the top of his head and out toward his ears. The cupped triangles are almost as big as my hand, and I wonder if this will be some sort of dream. I’ll wake up in Valor’s bed with him wrapped around me and laugh it off as having too much wine at dinner and watching a science fiction show before bed. Or maybe I’ve caught what Kerrianne has?

One of Valor’s big ears twitches, and he stands suddenly. He lifts his nose in the air and draws deep breaths, pulling them into his lungs and then exhaling. It’s hurried.

He steps back and nudges my leg with his nose. When I don’t move, he does it again.

“You want me to stand up?” I ask while pushing to my feet.

Valor flicks his nose to the house, and I don’t bother questioning it. The movement very clearly says go inside. I followhis ‘instructions’ and walk back to the glass door, holding it open for him to come in behind me.

I smell it instantly. Burnt food and hot metal. I leave the door to do what it will and dart into the kitchen. The celery, carrots, and onion are burnt to a crisp in the pan. It smokes and threatens to start on fire.

Valor comes inside. Human and dressed.

I try to deglaze the pan with warm water to clean it up.

But as I do, it doesn’t seem to be helping anything.

My head is still reeling as Valor approaches. I note the knife he carries in his hand, and he tosses it into the sink unceremoniously.

“You took that surprisingly well.” Valor rests his forearm on the countertop and looks up at me. “And I love to be petted.”

38

VALOR

IT TAKES REAL SKILL TO BURN THE SAME SOUP TWICE

“And literally everyone else in your family?” She throws her hands in the air. “Royal? Ian? Elizabeth? Kerrianne?”