Page 39 of Wishing for a Werewolf (Ferndale Falls Forever #2)

Rune

“Lukendevener!” I pound on the castle door, big resounding booms that echo in the large spaces within. “Open this door this instant!”

Finally, the wood falls away from my hand, jerked back by the dragon, who wears rumpled clothes and a scowl that promises fire. “What?”

“We need answers.”

His eyes flick toward Autumn, who says, “Please.”

Luke spins and stomps into his castle, the claws on his bare feet clicking against the stone floor, his wings rustling.

I wave Autumn forward and follow as we head for the library. When we step inside its large central room, the wisteria trees ringing the space shiver as if brushed by an unfelt wind. Magic thrums through the air, and their lavender blooms turn the pretty peach of the first blush of dawn.

“Oh!” My fire’s green eyes go wide, delight dancing in their depths. “What did that?”

Luke grunts. “Magic, of course.”

“That’s hardly an explanation,” I snap.

“The flowers react to visitors.”

It’s my turn to grunt. “They didn’t do that when I came to see you before.”

His lips pull back from his fangs in something only loosely associated with a smile. “They didn’t like you.” He gestures toward my fire. “They’re reacting to her.”

I tip my head. “Fair enough.” I like her better than me, too.

Luke flings out an arm. “As you can see, I’ve been researching your problem.”

The golden light coming from the bespelled windows falls across several tables covered in books and parchments. A chair stands shoved away from the central one, a litter of scrawled-upon paper circling the floor around it.

“What have you found?” Excitement thrums through me. I want more than anything to give Autumn the answers she needs.

“Nothing.” Luke scowls even harder.

“Surely there’s more you can find.”

He jabs a clawed finger toward one of the archways that leads off into the stacks. “I’ve searched that half of the library, and there’s nothing.”

Autumn wanders over to where he pointed and peers in. “Oh, my god! How big is this place? That hallway goes on for longer than your castle is wide!”

“Fae buildings are often bespelled to be bigger on the inside,” I explain.

“My library is one of the largest in all the realms,” the dragon says, pride filling his voice.

“Fat lot of good that does, since you can’t find anything,” I grumble.

She spins around to gape at him, her tone horrified. “Don’t you have some kind of organizational system?”

Instead of answering, he points to the other archway on the opposite side of the room. “I’ve searched that half as well, and there’s nothing, because you gave me a nonsensical problem. Wishes don’t get swapped. It’s not possible.”

“It sure as hell is possible.” Autumn’s hands go to her hips, and her eyes flash fire. “Because it happened to us.”

“No. It didn’t.”

“Then how do you explain everyone expecting me to be town protector or asking Rune for handmade soap? That’s clearly a swap!”

“And yet, it isn’t.” He shakes his head, his horns catching the light.

“Then how do you explain it?” I growl, irritation burning along my nerves.

“I think a more powerful wish—or wishes—overrode the others. You told me the Wishing Well asks for three wishes, yet you never mentioned the third.”

I bristle, horrified at the thought of telling him of my longing for a fated mate. It was difficult enough to tell Riselda, and she’s my twin.

The only other person I can imagine being that vulnerable with is Autumn, and doing so might hurt her. What if she’s not my fated mate? Will that make her doubt our connection?

The dragon turns to Autumn. “Did you make a third wish, too?”

Her eyes meet mine, full of uncertainty. “I did,” she whispers.

“You need to tell me what they are.”

“They’re private,” I grit out.

“Then I can’t help you.” He folds his arms, his wings rustling, his mouth set into a firm line.

“Tell us if we’re still caught in the spell,” I say. “You can do that much at least.”

He spins away and starts digging through piles of parchment, sending scrolls rolling off the table.

“You know, if you need a librarian, Skye’s an excellent one,” Autumn says.

Luke grunts and keeps searching. Eventually, he unearths the red crystal he used on me during my other visit.

Muttering under his breath, he activates it and waves it over first me, then her.

There’s no flash of light like last time, and hope stirs in my chest before he says a single word.

“You’re clean. There are no spells on either of you. ”

“That means Operation Wish Swap is a success!” Autumn spins toward me, her eyes wide, her mouth curling into a glorious smile, like the sun cresting the horizon, dawning with delight. “If the wish spell is fully broken, that must mean all our wishes came true.”

Joy fills me at the thought. Autumn’s my fated mate! I can’t wait to tell her, yet I’ll utter not a single word of it in front of the dragon.

I stride over and scoop my fire into a bridal carry.

She gives a soft huff of surprised laughter.

“Thank you,” I say to Lukendevener. “We’re leaving now.”

“Yes, thank you!” Autumn waves over my shoulder at the dragon as I hurry from the room.

Then I’m outside and running, the beautiful fall forest wrapped around us just as my arms wrap around my Autumn, my fire… my fated mate.

So many questions to answer. So many things to discuss! I finally want to be open and vulnerable—but with her, only her.

“Where can we be alone?” I ask, my voice a raspy growl. “There are too many pack mates at my house.” All with keen fae hearing.

“My cottage.” Her fingers curl in my hair, teasing over the back of my neck as she holds on to me and making every nerve in my body come to life. Will I ever get used to how sensitive my skin is when she touches me? Goddess, I hope not.

Anticipation makes my feet fly over the ground, using all of my shifter speed. I dodge around bushes and leap clumps of ferns, making my fire let out little laughing squeaks as she clings to me.

I’ve never been so happy that her cottage backs onto forest as I am now. I slide to a halt mere inches from the farm’s fence and set her down on the other side. Once I vault it, I grab her hand and pull her toward the backdoor.

A goat baas in the distance, and Autumn yells, “Not now, sweetie!”

My steps don’t slow as I hustle her inside and into her bedroom, leaning over to kiss her.

“Wait, wait!” She pushes at my chest with a breathless laugh. “We need to talk.”

I press my lips to her temple. “Do we really?”

“Yes, really. We need to talk about the wish swap and what actually happened.” She taps my chest until I straighten enough to meet her eyes. “Luke said wishes can’t be swapped, that more powerful wishes must have overridden the smaller ones. That can only mean….”

“Our heart wishes were so strong they’re what caused everything that happened.”

“I, uh… I should have told you about mine, but I didn’t.

” Autumn’s cheeks turn red, making her freckles seem darker than ever, and her next words pour from her in a tumbling rush.

“At first, I was too embarrassed to tell you my third wish. Then we spent so much time together that I started to care about you, which made me worry. I thought my heart wish might be making you feel things you didn’t actually feel. ”

“I’m sorry, my fire. I don’t quite follow.”

“I wished for love, true love, head-over-heels, full-gaga love.” Her beautiful green eyes search mine. “And I found it with you. I love you, Rune. I love your strength. I love your belief in me. I love how much you love your family, how you’ll go out of your way to help a stranger. I love you.”

My fire loves me! Her words are the most wonderful thing I’ve ever heard, their sweet warmth burning through the last of my doubts and leaving nothing but joy.

“There’s something I must tell you as well,” I say, my voice a deep rasp.

“I also made a wish of the heart. I wished to find my fated mate. And I have done so. Autumn, my fire, I love you with everything that I am. You are the flame lighting my life, bringing me love and joy. You are the other piece of my soul.”

Her eyes brighten, filling with all the warmth of her spirit.

I can no longer resist. Crushing her to me, I take her mouth with mine, a fiery hunger consuming me as the tingling pressure in the middle of my chest grows.