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“Uh, partner?” I peered at Fane, and he just shrugged.“How did she know my name?”
“I didn’t tell her,”he said into my mind.“She just knows things.”
She waved us in, and I stepped into a quaint room, the scent of apples and nutmeg sifting through the air. An array of plants spotted the room, and a lumpy sofa had been moved against a wall, but the scuffs on the hardwoods made it clear it usually sat in front of the large brick fireplace.
“Thanks for seeing us, Cirilla.” Fane reached into his pocket and pulled out a dainty gold necklace. “I thought you’d like this.”
A smile tipped her lips, intensifying the wrinkles around her eyes. She took it from him and examined the glittering jewelry. “Thank you.”
I gave Fane a curious look when she turned.“Is she a freaking leprechaun?”
He gave an exasperated sigh.“She’s a wolf, Teague. But she does have fae blood.”
“Really?”Nightworlders did mix, and even though Cirilla seemed all shifter, she could have recessive genes from another race.
“Interesting,” Cirilla muttered, standing a few feet away as she studied us.
“What’s interesting?” I crossed my arms, my hackles lifting. Something about her seemed off. Why did she live deep in the woods instead of in one of the neighborhoods?
Cirilla ignored my question and motioned to the center of the floor near the fireplace. “Sit back to back and remove your shirts.”
“Why?” My muscles wouldn’t move an inch until she explained what the hell was happening.
She peered at Fane. “Is she always this exasperating?”
My mouth hung open, but before I could return the insult, Fane spoke into my mind again.
“Just do as she says.”When I remained frozen, he stepped closer and tilted my head toward his.“I’m not going to let anything bad happen to you. Trust me.”
“I trusted you once and look how that turned out.”I pulled his hand from my face and quickly dropped it.
A low growl rumbled in his chest.“This is different.”
“Whatever you say, Maverick.”
Cirilla cleared her throat and pointed to the center of the small room. “Do you two want me to analyze this link, or are you going to stand around, silently glaring at each other?”
I stepped away from Fane, shucked my shirt, and dropped to the floor in front of the fireplace. Goose bumps puckered my flesh that wasn’t covered in my black bra. Fane’s annoyed sigh echoed through the room as he folded onto the ground, his body heat enveloping me like a warm blanket.
Damn Fane for making me want to lean into him.
Cirilla wiggled her long fingers, rings glinting on them. “Back to back. You must be touching.”
I scooted until my back met Fane’s, his skin scorching mine and elevating my pulse. A low hum vibrated through him and into me.
“Reach around and hold hands,” Cirilla instructed, clinks echoing as she ground something in a bowl.
Fane grabbed my hands, his fingers weaving between mine. I clamped my jaw shut at the contented sigh that wanted to burst from my lips. Why did touching him feel so good?
Cirilla came to my side and kneeled, placing the bowl on the ground. She dipped her finger inside and coated it with a green mixture. “Before you ask, I’m going to draw some runes on you.”
“Why?” Did she really expect me to not press for details?
She sighed. “This is my way of examining the link between you two.”
I allowed her to paint symbols below my collarbone, the cool mixture pouring shivers down my spine. Fane covered my arms with his to warm me.
My lips thinned. He really needed to stop being considerate.
