Page 54 of Veil of Shadows

I loved his nickname for me. It filled me to the brim with warmth. “Let me know if you or your troops need anything, all right? I want to make sure they get fed and stay hydrated while they’re patrolling.”

Ronyn studied me for a while before he nodded his head. “I’ll let you know if we need anything.”

He disappeared into the woods with a gigantic leap.

“He ain’t tellin’ me shit, is he?” I asked as I looked over at my newfound friend.

Merida cackled as she linked her arm with mine. “Not a cold chance in hell.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “I figured.”

As Merida and I started away from the woods and back toward the pack, the sun began setting. The fire illuminated the space around the darkening meadow as the sun sank quickly behind the trees. The sunset cast shades of red and orange and purple across the sky. Merida and I took our time, marveling the beauty of it as we strolled back toward the party. But when I finally pulled my gaze out of the clouds, I found a very familiar and determined set of piercing emerald eyes staring at me.

Voss.

He towered over his pack. At least, it felt like he did. He stood there in his stereotypical worn-out jeans with a t-shirt that was at least one size too small for him. Oh, and those muddied-up steel-toed boots of his. Goddamn it, he looked delectable. Good enough to eat. I felt Merida’s arm fall away from me as I stood there, allowing Voss to devour me with his gaze. His stare raked down my dress. He studied the flowers in my hair as the autumn breeze blew strands away from my makeshift crown. Something stirred in my gut when his gaze connected with mine. The way that smirk crawled across his lip made me feel big. And brave. And… bold.

Fucking hell, I couldn’t wait to get him alone.

Even though I still wasn’t sure what that meant for my future after all this shit with Delilah.

17

VOSS

Now.

I snaked my way through the crowd as the rays of the setting sun framed the outline of my mate. It was as if the world offered her to me on a little silver platter for my taking, and I wasn’t holding back a second longer. I stayed for the opening. I waited for the children to sing. I even helped the men to get the goddamn buck on the spit, for crying out loud.

Now, I wanted my fucking prize.

She looked delectable in that little dress of hers. The spaghetti straps accented her broad shoulders while the fabric that swirled with oranges and reds and blacks draped across her strong curves. I weaved my way through the crowd. I held her sparkling yellow gaze as I made my way for her. The petals of the flowers in her hair blew away in the breeze, and some of them had gotten stuck within the tendrils of her hair.

She looked like an angel from heaven sent just for me.

And I was the demon about to ruin her with my filth.

“Bexley,” I said as I stood above her, towering, with my hands clasped behind my back.

I always had to stand with them behind my back when I was around her. It was the only way I knew to control them.

“Voss,” she said as she smiled up at me. “You look the same as ever tonight.”

I licked my lips. “You don’t.”

“A good don’t?”

I drew in a deep breath. “A great don’t, darling.”

She swallowed hard before that tongue of hers darted out to lick her lower lip. Fucking hell, she was a walking tease.

“Walk with me,” I said as I started across the meadow.

She was almost too eager to fall in stride with me, and fucking hell, it tugged at my dick.

“So,” she said breathlessly.

“So,” I said matter-of-factly.

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