Page 62 of Whispers of the Water

He squeezed his eyes shut against the memories that were no doubt resurfacing.

It was true. The start of our friendship had been unconventional, and his attitude back then was, at times, hurtful. He had been fueled by rage, grief, and fear, but that changed. He changed. I came to understand his motives and the reasons behind his words and actions. I didn’t want his apology over back then, because it led us here to the point where I’d fallen in love with him. We’d both changed for the better because of our time together, which included the rocky start.

“Every time you brought up the fox, your face would light up,” he said, his gaze searching mine. “You’d get this undeniable excitement in your eyes at the idea of getting to meet him. After all I’d done, I couldn’t help but wonder if you’d still feel that way after finding out that fox was actually an asshole like me.”

“Rune—”

“I didn’t want to disappoint you. I wanted the fox to stay the way you imagined. Kind. Trustworthy. So, I asked Ardley to pretend to be him.”

“So that time when we were all sitting around, finalizing plans, and Bassel made the comment that I’d met Ardley before …”

Rune shook his head. “A lie. He said it to make you believe Ardley was the fox.”

This news was a lot. After Ardley’s slip-ups, I’d suspected my fox was someone else, but having Rune confirm it was like finding out a print of a painting was actually the painting. I was over the moon. Rune and my fox being one in the same was enough to make any anger I felt over the lie dissipate on the passing wind.

Stepping closer to Rune, I fought against the excitement trying to lift the corners of my mouth. “You’re right. If I had known the fox was you, it wouldn’t have been the same.”

He inhaled sharply as hurt flared behind his eyes.

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I finally let my smile break wide open, exposing my Fox Fae canines. “Knowing that the fox is you makes him even more special. He means more to me now. How could he not? He’s actually the guy I’m in love with.”

His eyes softened, and a swell of affection flooded them. “I don’t deserve your love.”

I shook my head and pulled him closer, pressing our foreheads together. “We deserve each other.”

His arms went around me, and he pulled me all the way against him. The warmth of his body seeped through my clothes and into my very bones, bringing forth a sense of calm. This was where I loved to be. In his arms, pressed flush against him, our breaths intertwining, his heartbeat pounding in sync with my own. This was my safe place. This felt like home. We didn’t need words. We just needed each other.

He gave a humorless chuckle, and the sound vibrated against my chest. “I was an idiot if I thought I could actually do this.”

“Do what?”

“Pretend. Pretend I was fine only being friends. I was an idiot if I thought I could deny you. I can’t do it anymore. I don’t want to be just friends.”

My heart started beating erratically. I held my breath and waited.

“I have a lot of flaws,” he started.

I shook my head. “Not to me.”

“I’m hot-headed.”

“I don’t mind.”

“I’m naturally possessive and territorial.”

“I know.”

“I’m not good at expressing my feelings.”

“Debatable.”

He was quiet for a moment. “Even knowing all that, you still want me?”

I pulled back and grinned. “Always.”

Looking completely at a loss, he shook his head. “Why?”

“You say you have flaws.”

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