Page 34 of Gone Hunting

“Just ignore him,” I grumble. I shoot forward, pausing when Celia hesitates. Her fingers slip away from mine. I think Liam scared her off. But just as they near the pads of my fingers, she slides them back within my hold.

I squeeze her hand to reassure her. It’s something Dad does with Mom. Mom seems to like it. I hope Celia does, too.

She glances down, as if ready to run the other way and all the way back to Jersey. But then she looks up and smiles, and all sorts of feelings melt my insides.

“Are you guys going to be bed buddies again tonight? Do you think your parents will mind? If they don’t, could you tell them to talk to mine? I’d like a bed buddy. Wouldn’t you, Koda?”

Only Liam can kill a moment like this.

Another wave of heat prickles my cheeks. Liam sticking his foot in his mouth is usually good for a laugh. Not now. The good thing is that it usually only takes something shiny to distract him.

Today, that shiny something is the sum of Mimi’s power.

Like a strong wind, it comes at us from all sides, surrounding us.

“Don’t move,” I tell Celia. My voice cuts off when the magic pokes at me like a long, crooked finger. It’s not aggressive, but it is a warning against moving or starting trouble.

I try to get a handle on where Mimi might be. I sense her magic all around us, on the ground, in the plants, and all the way up to the darkening clouds. But while I feel her power, I don’t actually feel Mimi.

“Something’s touching me,” Celia say, her raspy voice close to a growl.

“It’s Mimi’s magic,” I explain. “It’s trying to determine if we’re friend or foe.”

Celia swallows back a growl. “What happens if she thinks we’re foe?”

It’s Liam, the ray of sunshine, who answers. “Oh, then we’re totally screwed.”

“Is she close?” Celia asks.

I reach out with my senses, taking care to appear unthreatening as the magic continues to prod. “I’m not sure yet. This is more akin to a security system, meant to keep the bad guys out.”

“And blast anyone she doesn’t like into oblivion,” Liam adds. “Oh, look. Tomatoes.”

“Touch those tomatoes and I’ll tear your fucking liver out,” Koda snarls.

Gemini inches closer to Celia. “I know you’re scared,” he tells her. “But try to relax so the spell doesn’t misinterpret your fear for danger.”

“I’m trying,” Celia says, her breath releasing in quick bursts. “But my tigress wants out and I’m having trouble controlling her.”

“Did you say you’re having trouble controlling your inner beast?” Liam yells. “That big tiger with the huge claws?”

By now, even Gemini is ready to knock him unconscious. “Yes, Liam.”

Celia’s breathing harder than she did when she ran. “I’m not sure if I can keep her in.”

I tuck her against me, speaking quietly. “Baby, you have to. I swear,I won’t let anything happen to you, and my wolf won’t let anything happen to your tigress.”

“Baby.” It’s not what I meant to call her, but it’s exactly what came out. Had it been Koda, Gemini, or even Liam who referred to a female that way, I would have laughed in his face and thought he’s an idiot. But it’s me and no one is laughing.

I expect a jab thrown my way, or at the very least a few eye rolls. Aside from saying hi and offering the occasional wave, I don’t know how to communicate with girls and I’ve never really tried. It doesn’t matter. What I said is enough.

Celia lowers her eyelids, her breathing slowing. It takes a moment for her to open them again, but when she does, she appears in control.

I relax and so does my wolf.

“Aric,” Koda says, taking a cautious step forward. “I think Mimi’s inside her house.”

He motions ahead, where an old battered door covers the mouth of a cave, the warped wood it’s made from barely clinging to the rusty hinges.

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