Page 42 of Wrestling With Werewolves

“Done,” he states, placing his hand flat over his heart. “Te lo prometo.” I promise.

A weight lifts off my shoulders at the idea of seeing him and showing him around Ever. I think he’d love it here.

We say goodbye, and the moment he disappears from the screen, I dial Papá. Except it’s not Papá who answers. It’s Nuñez, who tells me in a curt tone that they’re already aware of what Eliel’s up to. My former bodyguard clicks off before I get a chance to ask exactly what’s going on. I stare at the comm disk, experiencing a range of emotions from fury to understanding to worry to resignation. I don’t want to be another thing for Papá to worry about, but damn…

In the silence that follows, I stare around at the beautiful guest treehouse I’m currently staying in. Glancing at the ceiling, I let out a wry chuckle. “So, friend, what’s a girl to do given the current sad state of my sitch?”

On cue, the giant round window to my right splits in half down the middle and opens like shutters, a breeze blowing into the room and rustling my curls.

I sigh. “Point taken.” Rolling out of bed, I dress and put my guitar back in the case. Slinging it over my shoulder, I leave the treehouse and run almost immediately into Hana. Her hand is poised to knock on my door, and she’s got a plate of what smells like freshly baked cookies in the other.

“Oh moons,” she says with a laugh. “I was about to knock and see if you wanted cookies. I haven’t seen you all day.”

I beam. “I was just about to make the rounds and see if anyone needs help with anything. Want to come with? We can share the cookies.”

Hana smiles, black lips parting to reveal perfectly straight, flat teeth. “I’d love that.” Her tail swishes side to side, brushing against her fuzzy dark coat.

I lift the foil covering to see red velvet macadamia nut…brownies? Glancing up, I cock my head to the side. “Are these the fluffiest cookies ever, or did you make cookies into brownies?”

Hana chuckles and glances skyward as if considering her answer. “Umm, technically cookies but you’re probably right that they’re really brownies? These are Arkan’s favorite, so I thought I’d bring them over. He’s in meetings in town with haven leadership.”

Ah. So Richard isn’t around then, unless he skipped.

I take one of the brownies and turn it over, admiring every perfect, moist side. When I take a bite, the familiar sweetness combined with the sugary hit of the white chocolate fills my senses. I moan and shove the whole thing in my mouth, grabbing a second one as Hana smiles.

“I take it they’re okay?”

“Two thumbs up,” I murmur around a mouthful of brownie.

We head down the mossy flagstone walkway between my treehouse and the next one over, onto the side street. Hooking a left, we walk slowly toward the main drag—in silence, because I can’t stop eating the brownies. Shit, I don’t stop until there’s only one, and I realize Hana hasn’t eaten yet.

Grimacing, I lift the foil to show her, but she just laughs.

“Not a problem, friend. I always make two trays—one for Arkan, and one for everybody else.”

I grab the last brownie and shove it in my face without further ado. Damn, they’re amazing.

“Need that recipe,” I manage.

Connall and a shifter I vaguely recognize from the challenge appear around a bend in the road before Hana gets a chance to respond. They wave as they come closer but stop when they reach us.

Connall glances at me. “Lola, Richard was looking for you earlier. I had to remind him that he had a meeting downtown, but he seemed in a rush. Maybe find him later, if you’ve got a minute?”

My cheeks heat, and I’m thankful for my dark skin tone that covers what I’m sure would be a bright red if I were as pale as he is. “Noted.” I gesture to Hana. “We were going to take a walk and see if anyone needs anything.”

“Rounds, nice.” Connall beams at us. “Don’t let us hold you back. There are a group of kids playing Skyball the next street over if you want to go join in. I’m sure they’d appreciate a little grown-up assistance. Plus”—he winks at Hana—“Hana is an all-star.”

Hana pretends to brush something off her shoulder and laughs at me. “I used to play on my haven’s official Skyball team. I’m pretty good.”

My eyes spring wide as I laugh with her. I never followed Skyball all that closely, but I resolve to look her up if she played for her haven’s team.

Connall and the other wolf continue up the street, and Hana and I make our way over to find the kids. It’s a mix of shifters, centaurs, and pegasi younglings. For the next two hours, we play, basking in the joy of the children’s carefree adoration of sport.

My thoughts take a turn back toward Richard at the end of the second hour. There’s a prickle down the back of my neck, like he’s somewhere nearby watching. I can’t shake the feeling, but every time I turn, there’s nothing.

Maybe it’s simply instinct, that deep tether that pulls me to him. Just like last night.

I don’t know if it’s the release of endorphins from playing, but I come to a determination.

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