Page 83 of Spirit Trials

He doesn’t even blink. “You’re my mate.”

My mouth falls open a moment before I recover. “You mean, our wolves are mates. You and I are just...” words fail me.

“Just what?” he asks, taking a step closer. I resist the urge to take a step backwards.

“Just two people...who have wolves...who are mates.” By the time I finish getting the words out, we’re practically chest to chest.

“Listen to me very carefully, Farrah. You. Are. My. Mate. My soulmate. Our wolves are both corporal, something that hasn’t happened in this century. Now who tried to kill my mate?”

I hear two voices behind me and am not surprised when Harper and Kinsley step into my line of sight. “Oh, sorry,” Kinsley almost whispers. “We thought you went upstairs.”

Rysden never looks away from me. “Names.”

“Oh, uh Kinsley,” Kinsley answers from behind me.

“Notournames,” Harper says in exasperation.

I resist the urge to laugh as Rysden’s scowl deepens. “What are the names of the guys who tried to drown you?” He says the words slowly and loud enough my friends can hear.

“Morvek and Kaedrun,” Harper says from behind me.

I close my eyes and hiss Harper’s name. That’s the second time she’s succumbed someone to Rysden’s wrath.

“I’m not sorry, Far. Not after what they tried to do to you. They tried to kill you.”

I ignore Harper’s words and focus on Rysden. His eyes never leave my face. “I’ll be back.”

“Wait, Rysden.” He walks over to the front door. Shade appears at his side a moment later, but Solace stays at my side. Without thinking, I run my fingers through her fur.

“Protect her,” Rysden says to Solace before turning to me. “Stay here.”

I throw my hands up. “Where else am I going to go?”

“You seem to always find trouble.”

I scowl at him. “You better watch it, Prince.”

“I don’t know when I’ll be back.”

Desperate to stop him, I call out, “Shouldn’t we talk about this? The whole...mate thing?” I’m scrambling now, trying to stall him from whatever it is he’s going to do to those boys.

“What I have in mind doesn’t involve much talking.” He meets my gaze head-on. “I’ll be back.” His voice is softer now, and then he’s gone.

“Oh, ho, ho,” Harper calls out, laughing loudly.

“You should see your face,” Kinsley says, joining Harper.

I can feel my face heat to a thousand degrees. I head back into the dining area and grab a plate of food. Without a word, I sit at the table. “I don’t know if you know this or not, but your face is red,” Lox says with an easy grin. I pick up the roll on my plate and throw it at him.

Chapter 43

Two hours. That's how long it takes for Rysden and Shade to come back. “Are they dead?” I ask as soon as I see him.

If Rysden is surprised to see me still sitting at the table, he doesn’t show it. “I’ve told you not to ask questions you don’t want the answers to.”

“Yeah, and I’ve told you—” I stop suddenly and push away from the table. “Rysden, what happened?”

“I’m fine,” he says, waving me off.