Page 74 of Claiming the Dhampir

“My wolf needs to run,” Elliott said, interrupting my thoughts.

“Do you need someone to go with you?” Damon asked.

Elliott looked from Damon to Lorna, then to me. Shades of blue still swirled in his eyes, like his wolf was barely under control. Damon was right; Elliott didn’t need to run alone. He needed a pack, but we were all he had. As his leader, I should be the one running with him.

“I’ll go,” I offered.

“His wolf might also need to fight,” Damon said.

I frowned, knowing that Damon was much better at dominating Elliott’s wolf. Before I could agree or disagree, Elliott pulled Lorna from me. His magic blanketed her, and he pressed his cheek against her neck. I beat back my desire to tear her away from him; Elliott needed his mate. He needed the physical reassurance that only she could give him.

“I’m sorry, Elliott,” Lorna mumbled, holding him tight.

“Don’t you dare try to blame yourself,” he growled. “I wasn’t prepared to fight against my wolf. I’ll know better next time.” He released her and gave her a pained smile. “I’ll see you soon.”

“Be careful.” Lorna’s soft plea made my chest ache.

“Always. Besides, the big guy will protect me from the boogie man.”

Damon rolled his eyes before leaning down and kissing Lorna’s forehead. “We’ll be gone for a couple of hours, but I’ll come find you when we get back.”

I almost argued that he wouldn’t take her from me, but I kept my mouth closed. She didn’t belong to me. Not only me.

Damon and Elliott left, and Kenrid pulled Lorna into another hug. She sighed as his fae magic wrapped around her, just like Elliott’s shifter magic had. I would’ve been jealous, but neither of them could share what she and I shared.

“Are you okay?” Kenrid asked. “Is Mir okay?”

“Yeah. I actually feel kind of good right now.” She looked over her shoulder at me. “Could we redirect the magic into a spell or something, like at the warehouse? To keep that crazy influx more manageable?”

Kenrid took a step back, putting more space between them. “I think I can find a way to contain the magic into an object.” He tapped a finger on his chin. “Like a talisman or artifact or something. Maybe even make it with specific intent, like an enchantment. I’m not the best enchanter, but I know the basics.”

His eyes became unfocused, and I smiled. Kenrid loved an intellectual challenge. He was right. It would be the perfect use for the power we created, if he could find a way to harness it.

Kenrid continued mumbling to himself as he headed to the door. Lorna shook her head and sighed.

“I can’t even be mad about him just walking away,” she said. “I talk to myself like that all the time.”

I strolled up beside her and placed my hand on her lower back. She stiffened for a second, then leaned into my touch.

“It’s good to see his mind working on something positive,” I said. “It’s been a long time since he’s been completely engaged like that.”

She turned slowly and placed both her hands on my chest. For a brief moment, I worried that she would push me away, but the look she gave me wiped away my concerns.

Chapter 26

Nathan

“Are you okay?” Lorna asked. “With all of this?”

Lorna looked at me with true concern, like my answer mattered to her. Like whatever came out of my mouth next would either make her day or ruin her world.

I slid my other arm around her waist but didn’t pull her any closer. “I’m fine.”

She laughed, catching me off guard. “Aren’t men always saying that if a woman says she’s fine, it really means that she’s mad?”

I chuckled and shook my head. “The way your magic courses through my veins feels amazing. Your smile makes me feel like everything crazy in my life will work out. When you touch me, I want to relinquish my ironclad control and make you scream my name while I rock your world.”

“Um.” Lorna’s eyes darkened, and her face flushed. Her arousal had my dick standing at attention. Not that it already wasn’t.

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