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Daphne raised a brow. “And why should I let you do that? I asked you to come and you refused.”

“I need to see her. Please.” His voice broke on the “please” and something that almost looked like sympathy crossed Daphne’s face. She quickly schooled her features.

“She’s not taking visitors right now.”

A low growl rolled through him, but the dryad didn’t flinch. Instead, she crossed her arms over her chest and studied him. He was naked in his human form and Daphne gave him a little smirk as her gaze traveled over his body.

“Here.” She tossed him a pair of jeans. They were his own so she must have taken them from Fee’s house. He tugged them on and they hung low on his hips. He’d lost weight, unable to keep food down over the past few days.

“Now,” she went on, “why are you here?”

“I told you, I need to see her.”

“And I’m going to need more than that.”

“I’m dying without her!” He gestured toward his too-thin body and his sunken face.

Daphne scoffed. “If you think I care that you’re dying, you have another think coming, wolf.”

“She’s mine, Daphne. Let me in,” he growled, his patience slipping. He was so close. So fucking close.

“Try again,” Daphne snapped, her eyes narrowed.

Theo blew out a long, jagged sigh. “I need her, okay? I need her and I fucked up and I’ve been fucking up for a decade.” An unhinged laugh escaped his lips. A decade. He had Fee by his side for a decade, and it took him this long to realize he literally could not live without her.

“I want to take care of her. I know she’s sick, too. Please let me see her. Let me make it up to her. Please, Daphne.”

“Better.” Daphne lifted her hand and the nymph treehouses shimmered into view.

He started to run off but then turned and grabbed Daphne by the arms. The dryad squeaked as he lifted her off the ground and kissed her hard on the cheek.

“Thank you.”

Her eyes were wide with surprise. “Uh … you’re welcome. Don’t screw it up this time.”

“I won’t.” He put her down and ran to Fee’s house, clambering up the ladder and tearing open the door.

Only to be greeted by a room full of nymphs.

Gert was here along with Amethyst and a few others he didn’t recognize, but worst of all, Runa stood at the entrance to Fee’s bedroom.

He might as well lay down and die right here at the threshold.

“Well, look who it is,” Runa said, her hard gaze going right to his face.

“You came!” Amie chirped.

“I’ll put on some more tea,” Gert said, shuffling to the stove.

“No,” Theo snapped. “No tea. I need to see Fee. Now.”

Runa laughed. “Oh, really? You think you can come roaring in here and we’ll just let you in?”

“Runa…” Daphne, who had followed him in, tried to interrupt, but Fee’s mother kept going.

“You abandoned my daughter and now she is sick. Because of you.” She strolled closer as she spoke until she stood right in front of him. She poked him in the chest with a single finger. “What did you do to her? Claim her and then leave her? Is that what werewolves do now?”

Runa was small like most nymphs, but right now she stood between him and what he wanted. He swallowed every urge to lift her up and move her out of his way.