Page 91 of Wishing for a Werewolf

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 hellispossible.” 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.